Page 13 - Yachter Spring/Summer 2020

CRUISING REVIEW OF 2019
Whatever did the weather have against us in 2019? Flexibility was the name of the game for Cruisers during last year’s season.We moved some events from clubs to pubs, and others from marinas to other ports but thanks to communications on GroupMe, many RSYC Cruisers managed to meet up.
The Easter Safari Supper was challenged by a misstep and the organiser’s summer was spent recovering rather than motoring and reports are favourable. Boats cruised on to Yarmouth and joined in the Egg hunts at Gins.
The May Day visit to Poole Harbour was well attended with an excellent dinner at DaVinci’s. Late May, the ‘StVaast’ rally was glued to Cherbourg as gales forced skippers and crews to explore the dining options available ashore – not to mention the laden trollies returning from the Carrefour.When the winds abated, some were able to attend the D-Day Landing Commemoration while others returned to the UK.
Weather grew kinder later and summer cruising, though disjointed, was rallied by crews using GroupMe to meet in Brixham, Dartmouth and even St Peter Port.The Heavens opened at the end of Cowes Week,
but the fireworks were determined to break the gloom as viewed from the comfort of the boats in Island Harbour.
Kites and Boules on the Beach in Bembridge in September was good fun though the harbour was really crowded with boats greedy to take advantage of the fine Indian summer weather.A bright full moon and clear skies were part of the magic walking to the Bay Watch for dinner.
As we watched the winds batter the
boats on the Beaulieu at the AGM, we
fully understood why the Newtown Creek meet was deferred to a finer forecast.The Thanksgiving Theme at the Laying Up Supper at Gins, in support of the RNLI,
set the foundation for the 2020 programme highlighting Mayflower 400 in August 2020. Laurie Bates
Captain of Cruising
CRUISING REPORTS 13