Cowes End of Season Rally
A week before the rally we had 35 boats booked in to Cowes Yacht Haven and over 60 at the end of season dinner at the Island Sailing Club. However, three days beforehand some weather apps showed high winds and rain all weekend, not what we wanted to see! The steady drip of cancellations turned into a flood leaving just 20 boats to arrive at Cowes on Thursday, Friday and Saturday lunchtime.
Friday night was cool, wet and windy so pontoon drinks moved under the sheltered awnings over the Cowes Yacht Haven balcony. This was great - we even had party lights, tables and chairs for us to use and plenty of space for PSYC bunting. Cathy was able to make presentations of this year’s stylish navy blue PSYC T-shirts to members who had organised a rally or contributed something very special to the Club this year. Later that evening the long-predicted storm arrived and some of us had a rather bouncy night with F7-8 winds. Saturday turned out to be a lovely day – warm, dry and sunny. Some members split up into small groups, one party going to Osborne House and gardens for lunch while those feeling even more energetic walked to Newport and got the bus back. Others went to visit a local museum and the shops on Cowes High Street while 3 more yachts sailed over to join us. Some just took the chance to rest and relax.
Saturday night started once again with balcony drinks where we toasted the arrival of Martin and Alison’s first grand-daughter followed by a short walk to the Island sailing Club for our End of Season Dinner. Bottles of wine and sparkling water were provided on every table by PSYC complimenting the delicious meal served. I think we all agreed the food and the standard of service was excellent and good value for money. The fun and laughter went on all night – more so when Gail suggested that all the men move to a different chair (on the same table for their main course).
Sunday morning dawned wet with a light northerly breeze which soon faded to nothing so most vessels motored all the way back to Port Solent – even those with sails! By lunchtime the sun was out enabling lunch on deck in t-shirts and shorts.
Thank you for your company Active Day, Astrid, Ayesha, Bright Future, Blitz, Coral III, Enterprise, Jango, Never Enough, No Faffing, Nicknack, Paxi Moon, Pikorua, Pompey Lass, Reef Knot, Shiraz, Skoolie Too, Spree, Thomas Hardy and Valiant. Congratulations to Cathy, Dave and Gail for organising such a great – and very successful – end of season weekend.
Nick