Pink Fleet report.
What a glorious day it was, some wind and lots of sun and the need for the gazebo, for some shade, to be erected. The boat park was very busy with some 20+ boats getting ready for the race – for some who had camped overnight, it was an early morning sail or canoe before breakfast as well. Paul and Barbara did so well providing 30 Pink Fleet breakfasts.
After Ken's briefing on the deck, we started from the club transit, with 6 the first mark, then 9s, 4s, 8p and back through the line to 6.
Monica, Alice, Mike and James had a good swapping of places throughout the race. While the boys enjoyed the club Sport 14, Tracey in her Leader with Carole, lots of yougsters in club boats, Allister and Grace in their Topper looking very relaxed…..was it as a result of having a good time at Henley Festival the night before…….rumour has it that he spent the afternoon in a hammock before returning for the BBQ in the pm and to join the campers?!! The undoubted winner of the coverted Pink Fleet cup was Gary who managed to get all tangled up in his sheets and capsized at no 4 – nice one Gary!!
There was a brief respite, lounging in the sun, splashing about in kayaks and surfboards before….
Pirates began at 1400 with a briefing from Gary at the log.
Everyone had to put a bottle of water on a mark and retrieve it, then there was 'follow the leader', all around the lake on the outside of all the buoys. The usual capsize practice, some towing and finally general mayhem with everyone just having fun…..
The rest of the afternoon saw Bernadette, Nathalie and Barbara, busy in the galley, Jerry getting the BBQ ready, lots of people young and old messing about in boats or just cooling off in the water, before everyone just chilled out with a glass or 2 and enjoyed an amazing feast.
Even the commodore and his lady wife were seen going out for a sail in their Enterprise, a wonderful sight. The commodore does know how to sail!!!
The sailing, swimming continued well into the night…….but everyone had a fantastic time…Tracey made it to her tent alone. Monica wimped out and went home to bed – old ladies do that – and Laura 'saved the day' by doing a mega shop and coming back with all the forgotten goodies for the BBQ and breakfast in the morning.
The club was a hive of activity by 0700, some swimming, some sailing and others still sleeping….all the wine had been drunk the night before!!
Jerry stocked up the BBQ and breakfast bacon was cooked on that, with Elaine busy in the galley, making coffee, tea, and toast, finding rolls, baguettes from the depths of the freezer, meeting everyone's dietary needs.
The week end was a great success with most people 'mucking in', clearing up rubbish – great job Maurice – cleaning pots – you are as good guy Gary – club house cleaning, well done, Debbie, John, Rupert Mark and many others.
…as the commodore said…" 75 people had a brilliant time, the weather was perfect and many thanks to everyone who helped and made it all possible…"
The Sunday racers arrived with all the boat rigging areas cleared, but even after the race many people either just stayed on for another sail – the wind got up in the after noon – or just came back to chill out on and in the water on the hottest day of the year.
Link to more photos below
