Another Saturday on the water

                     The weather was behaving for a change, the skies were blue, the waters calm, a gentle breeze and everybody was looking forward to a pleasant afternoon on the harbour.

                                                 Lex was still putting the Doc in..

                                                                            

 

 

                               Friday was Happiness Day and the effects were spilling over ...

                                                                               

 

Christopher was ready for fast and furious action..

                                                  Peter had the crew who knew the ropes!

                                                                                
                                       
                                                                                   

 

Lynne went into cruising mode...

 

Restless made an appearance ,

 

 

                        club volunteers were sorted amongst the rescue boats and start boat...........


                                      Martin  and Marion were second time out on Herc
                       sorting out a course line that had some of the elements of a triangle! ..
                                                                    

 

Barry had an international contingent on board..

it was the first time for Maria on the start ..

 and they first had to get the United Nations on board with any issues!

 

 

The start was a multi hull triumph!

 

 

away they sailed , one by one , in a colourful array ..

 

 

 Miss Behaviour won the colourful award.. just saying!

 

 

Not happy about that hull though John... I think it is meant to be white!

                                              Love that boat!
              Having sent the big boats on their way it was time to turn to the really important little boats!

 

Steve and Morgan practised flying a perfect kite ..

 

Matthew won "most improved" sailor of the week..

 

there was time for a chat ..

 

Garth was there ..

                                                       Spinout was shortly to 'go into a spin'

                                                        Martin and Jackson just mosey along..

 

 

Steve was riding 'shotgun' while Morgan had the helm..

 

                                                                     Sheldon and Cooper cruised along

 

Peter and Chris were looking calm and collected

                                                  .. off they went in a flurry of orange..

                                        .. however on Spinout things were spinning way out...

 

Right... we got that ...

                                                            .hang on there Christopher!

                                             .. this ride is about to get hairy...

 

There was a moment when it looked like Matthew was coming aboard

 

 

.. and he looked as though WE were the problem!

 

.. around the ever moving mark...

 

.. and before long we were back to the beginning again..

 

 

Head of the Harbour/ Championship re - run.. Whatever! First time on the water for ages!

  The sailors rushed to the water this weekend as the weather finally turned favourable for a pleasant afternoon without gale force winds, rain, fog, mist, no snow or sleet, but nearly every other condition known to prevent sailing..

                    Out on the course the yachts were few and far between, but Wistari made an historic showing clueing us that  "it must be Championship" .

 


Tony and the crew on Intriigue and Lex and the guys on Doctors Orders made a good fast run for the line, while Rob Auty and team on Solitaire broke before the barrier and retired to repair a foreleg .. or forstay in this case!
                                         
                                                                            

                               The dinghy fleet made their way across the channel to the Quoin Basin
           

                                                     While the big boys got it started..

                                              Intriigue took a few practise runs at the line..

 

Tony led the charge across the start line ..

 

Wistari and Doctor's Orders pushed them along

                
                                                      the challenge was on...

 

                                     Then along came the old lady.. wish I was that well preserved!

                                                                           

                                                            .. and Sepia suits her..

                               Then it was over to the dinghy fleet in the chop hanging precariously
                                         to the sides of the red rib as Colleen " let it rip"!

                                                                           

                  Over here there were young boys working as hard and smart as big boys

                                     Matthew Eiser took Bic sailing to a new level..

                                                     Peter and Chris Mann were out in the 125

there was side gripping tension

                                         There was plenty of company..

                                                                     Everybody got wet!

Some made it look easy

 

 

There were family duos

 

 

 

some came in triplicate

 
                                                                there were races within races...

 

there were moments of fear..

                                                                and recovery.......

                                              for some .. it was a walk in the park....
        

 

there were close encounters........

                                                                                       

 

follow the leader...

                                                   .. do it 'my' way..

                                                                   and Dad's Way!

                                                 .. some added colourful sails

 

and some looked better without ..

                                    finally we all headed home ....with a grin from ear to ear..

 

 

but along the way ..

 

we found this ....

                                                       and .. Is that a No Don't take our photo?

 

I thought NOT .. it's an except the inevitable and have a laugh !

                           after all.. we're from the PCSC.. we know boats... and Middlebank!

                                                             See? No Problem!

 

then there was the MUD..

 

and the foreleg problem...

                                and since space at the pontoon was at a premium..

                                         Herc took Tiernan and the pacer for a tow...

                                           as usual the boys watched while the girls worked...just saying!

                                                      Captain Tim kept an eye on proceedings..

 

.. and a helping hand.. while others were knee deep in mud..

                                    .. to watch  Tiernan ski the pacer right into the ramp...

                                               quite successfully ! (for a boy)