Page 22 - Yachter Autumn 2024

22 CRUISING
COMBINED RSYC AND RIVAL OWNERS ASSOCIATION RALLY TO ST VAAST-LA-HOUGUE
Five boats and 12 intrepid sailors made it to the delightful port of St Vaast-la- Hougue, for the combined Royal Southampton YC and Rival Owners Association (ROA) Rally, with three arriving via Cherbourg, one directly from Chichester Harbour on Friday 31st and the final boat, Lhasa, directly from Buckler’s Hard on Saturday 1st June.
We (Wild Rival) enjoyed a fast passage from Poole to Cherbourg (10 hours), arriving almost in company with Harmoney, whilst Samphire joined us from the Channel Islands.
After the arrival of the Olympic Flame
in Cherbourg, Wild Rival, Harmoney and Samphire sailed in company from Cherbourg to St Vaast, enjoying increasing wind as we approached Tatihou, with generous helpings of fair tide all the way. Idle Wild (ROA) joined us later at the lock opening and we all adjourned to our favourite St Vaast restaurants for the evening.
Saturday 1st June saw a variety of explorations, whether to the weekly market and the delights of Monsieur Gosselin’s emporium, or further afield by hire car to Omaha Beach and the surrounding area, as well as some grabbing the opportunity to book tickets to Tatihou before they sold out. All of this was conducted in pleasant sunshine – almost as if Summer had finally arrived!
Ten of us enjoyed (cosy) drinks in Wild Rival’s deep but narrow cockpit, before repairing to La Marina Restaurant for a very pleasant dinner, where we were joined