Page 15 - Yachter Spring/Summer 2020

ISLAND HARBOUR MEET AND THE COWES WEEK FIREWORKS
Inclement weather is always a risk to yachtsmen’s plans... and so it was for the 2019 Island Harbour Meet!
Arrangements had been made for the Folly Taxi to take us on Friday evening from Island Harbour to the entrance of the Medina River for a close-up view of the end of Cowes Week fireworks. However,
the weather was exceptionally bad and so we cancelled the water taxi and assembled instead for drinks in the warmth and dryness of the saloon of MV Spirit of Avalon. Through the saloon windows we could
see the fireworks display in the distance with rockets disappearing into the low rain clouds. It was a relief we had not taken the boat taxi trip!
Earlier that day, a reduced RSYC fleet of four yachts had locked into Island Harbour Marina and all berthed together in time for lunch.Three other yachts had cancelled due
to the bad weather! Those who had made it gathered at the Breeze Restaurant where we had a very pleasant lunch in good company.
After the stormy firework night, we awoke on Saturday to a much better day. Some walked to The Folly Inn for lunch and others to Newport. It was encouraging that the staff at Island Harbour Marina had set- up barbeques with benches and a table for us to use that evening.At around 1800 we fired up two of the barbeques and serious cooking started. Food from the barbeques was shared around the group in good humour. Eventually darkness arrived so we all tidied up and re-embarked the yachts.
Despite the weather which reduced
the number of attendees, it was still a very enjoyable event.
The fleet of RSYC yachts at this Meet comprised: SY Aquarius Ventures, MY Clarkie, SY Solent Blue and MY Spirit of Avalon.
Martin Alexander
CRUISING REPORTS 15