Ginns Farm Rally
Saturday 14th June 2003
For the first time this year the weather for the weekend was really promising. So it was down to the boat on Friday evening, dinner in Hornet Sailing club and then on board for an early start on Saturday.
As it happened we left our Mooring at 1000. So it wasn’t a too early start. At this stage the weather was a little disappointing. An overcast sky but a fair wind from the NE. Going from Portsmouth that meant that it was behind us and what with the tide behind as well we were soon doing a fair speed.
It wasn’t too long before we were looking for the entrance to Beaulieu river with the weather turning for the better. The sun came out and as usual the sail up stream was very pleasant. We were soon off the Royal Southampton Sailing Club and experiencing the wonderful hospitality shown to us by the members. The club bosun came out to meet us and directed us to a mooring alongside the club pontoon. Our time of arrival was 1230 and by now the weather was glorious. It was an idealic place and most of lunchtime was spent trying to identify the birds on the mud flats.
Quite a few of the Guildford boats had arrived by the time we got there and most of the afternoon my sun bathing was disturbed by the cries of other boats arriving. In all, about a dozen boats turned up which is quite a good turn out for us.
In the evening we all mustered at the RSYC for a pre dinner drink or two. At this stage things started to go slightly awry. No names no pack drill (as they say) but a couple of our members were slightly confused. They didn’t seem to know whether they were at a rally or a wine festival. By the way they were throwing it around it must have been the latter. Robert the steward will always be reminded of us whenever he has an occasion to use his wine soaked appointments book. That was nothing compared to a later incident when one, also not to be mentioned lady, was seen to be on her hands and knees in front of her husband rubbing his thigh very vigorously. I was just about to faint from the shock of it all when it was explained that the husband in question had spilt wine all down his gin palace type chinos.
After that the alcohol started to take affect and things became a little hazy and as far as I am aware nothing else happened apart from the meal being very enjoyable and the company congenial. I am told about thirty members sat down to dinner and we will have to wait until we try and return to see if we will be welcomed back.
Sunday morning my crew were up bright and early taking advantage of the tropical like weather and doing the ornithological bit. Isn’t it amazing how you can never identify the bird you are looking at with anything in the book? Was it a Greater Spotted Weed Shoveller, or was it just a piece of odd driftwood?
Alas all too soon we had to wend our ways back to our various home ports but everyone who attended agreed it was a great weekend and somehow when the rally is a good one, looking toward the week ahead doesn’t seem so depressing. Lets hope the weather is as good next weekend.
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