MCC Report Autumn 2011
The first event held for 2011 was the fourth Good Friday Pub Games evening, held at the Corinthian on 22nd April. There was no danger of a repeat of the somewhat suspicious three way ties in the previous events, with the Medina Mariners failing to interest the scorer at any point in the evening! So East Cowes SC and Cowes Corinthian YC battled to a two-way tie, the result hinging on a final gripping game of Toad in the Hole, which went right to the wire and was edged by East Cowes to secure the draw.
A lovely sunny day on 21st May saw the annual Riverfest event held at Newport Quay, again organised by the Footprint Trust. Whilst not a Combined Clubs event the Medina Mariners and Newport Rowing Club did take a joint stall to promote both organisations. The Rowing Club displayed a lovely river sculls and also brought along an Ergo rowing machine for people to have a go on. The Medina Mariners displayed a rigged Mirror Dinghy and offered some knot tying tuition and a sound signals game, and also ran a dinghy race up to the Harbour from the Folly, the finish coinciding with a flotilla of boats through the Harbour for the crowds to admire.
Unfortunately, weather conditions were not quite so benign for the annual Sail the Wight event hosted by East Cowes SC the following Saturday, 28th May. Winds gusting up to around 40 knots resulted in the event being restricted to a course within the Solent rather than around the Island and even then several boats had to retire. The evening function at the Club was also affected by the cold wind but those hardy souls that attended still had an enjoyable time. Funds as usual were raised for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, with most money raised by a single crew being that of Dabra, from Cowes Corinthian YC skippered by Andy Cassell, with John Nelson as fund-raiser in chief.
Combined clubs members were welcome guests at Marchwood Yacht Club’s annual barbeque at the Folly on Saturday 9th July, hosted by the Medina Mariners. This was a breezy but otherwise pleasant evening at the Folly, with a good turnout and plenty of tasty grub and drink in evidence. All present appreciated some traditional sea shanties, sung by the Bilge Rats aka David and Caroline Harris with help from their border collie Skipper.
The weekend of 16th/17th July saw the first cruising rally of the year, to Chichester Marina, with twenty boats initially booked in. Sadly, the weather turned out to be absolutely filthy and only one boat actually made it over from Cowes on the Saturday. Fortunately, four others had taken the precaution of arriving the day before so an intrepid party of ten enjoyed themselves for a superb Saturday lunch on “Blue Thunder”, feasting on mackerel Jill and Steve Smith had caught on their way over on Friday evening. The rain and wind relented enough for all to have a drink on the patio of Chichester Yacht Club before an enjoyable slap up evening meal in the clubhouse. A couple of boats braved a departure back to Cowes on Sunday, the remainder deferring until the wind eased. A special mention should go to Ray and Tyffany Foster on Shikari, the only boat (and crew) to make it over on the Saturday to return on the Sunday – what stalwarts!
The abysmal weather of our so called summer continued for the planned cruise to Southsea Marina on the weekend of 10th/11th September. Thirteen boats were booked in for this. Clearly this unlucky number did its job as it was decided to cancel in advance rather than have a repeat of the Chichester situation, where the organiser’s blood pressure rose to alarming levels!!
And again, the weather trashed the planned Newport Rowing Club Barbeque on Sunday 18th September. This was a particular disappointment for many members as this is potentially the most idyllic annual event of all. Hopefully, we will be third time lucky in 2012.
At the time of going to print, again we are confident we will be third time lucky with a planned cruise to Port Solent on the weekend of 1st/2nd October as, finally, finally, we have a spell of hot, settled weather! And, we learn that Newport Rowing Club are taking advantage by rearranging their barbeque for Sunday 2nd October. It is just a shame about the clash of events! The weather should certainly not be an issue for the final event of the year, a Quiz Night on Saturday 12th November at the Corinthian. Please look out for details nearer the time.