Marconi Sailing Club
Membership open to all
2008 Tollesbury Marina Cruise
Saturday 31 May & Sunday 01 June 2008
All hoped for better weather for the cruise to Tollesbury after the appalling weather which had led to the cancellation of the Burnham cruise the previous weekend.
Friday evening found a number of crews congregated in the Mamgu bar waiting to hear the 2210 weather broadcast from the Coastguard. When heard, it foretold of calm and fair conditions.
Most boats departed the moorings at 0800 on the Saturday morning without a breath of wind and high level hazy cloud. Motoring down the river the sea was like a mirror and the sun started to burn through the thin cloud.
Suruca called the marina as we approached the Nass beacon and was told that they had allocated the berths and were ready for our arrival. Then each boat in turn called up and was given its allocated berth; later in the day the Harbour Master complimented me on the way that the Club had used the radio with boats clearly listening to the conversations and waiting for a free spot to call, not easy on channel 80 where we can only hear one side of the conversation. Well done to all.
Saturday afternoon everyone did their own thing, some visiting the village, some carrying out the usual maintenance and others just enjoying the sunshine.
Towards 1930 people began to assemble in the Tollesbury Cruising Club bar for a drink before sitting down to enjoy an excellent meal for which the Club caterers are to be congratulated.
Sunday dawned grey, with a dampness in the air and again virtually no wind. The shallower draught boats started to leave about 0945 for the journey back to the Club. On arrival back at the Club many made their way ashore and returned home to await the next event.
Although only a couple of hours from the Club, there is much to recommend Tollesbury from it friendly marina staff to the very hospitable welcome by the Cruising Club, indeed a few hardy souls even made use of the swimming pool, unheated I gather.
Many thanks to Margaret and Malcolm Yeoman for their organisation of the weekend.
Boats attending included: Suruca, Trumpeter, Tahiti, Fraise du Bois, Green Panther, Charlotte, Sea Pearl, Icarus, Southern Hey, Rubicon, Serupin, Vida Loca, Shadow Fax and Evenstar. Twiga’s crew joined us in the evening for the meal.
Page last updated: 6/2/2008 9:04:37 AM