Mid week rally to Newtown Creek
by Maggie Widdop on 11 Sep 2016
Mid week rally to Newtown Creek Maggie Widdop
During the winter months the Cruising Committee plan the mid-week rallies and we usually say 'we hope to have a BBQ on a lovely evening at Newtown' with our fingers crossed. This year the finger crossing worked! Six boats had booked in for the event and we had one later comer. The Tanners on 'Oojah' had rung me in the morning to warn me that Newtown was quite crowded with two other rallies in the creek. But we all managed to find a space to anchor.
It had been a gentle sail down the Solent in the sunshine with the ebb tide. Graham and Darne Rabbits had invited us all for the BYOB party on their boat, which was anchored just inside the entrance, and it was a beautiful evening sitting on their after deck.
It was soon time to go ashore to light the BBQs and luckily the tide was still ebbing, especially kind for those who were rowing. It wasn't too long before the sausages and steaks were sizzling on the hot charcoal. We were still enjoying the food and wine as the sun set. It had had been a really warm evening and again we had the tide with us to take us back to our boats in the dark.
Next morning we were on deck ready at 0800 as the RYS sounded a hooter to remind us to raise our ensigns! It was another sunny morning so many of us had a swim and luckily the seal did not join us but was seen swimming along by the oyster beds obviously enjoying a fishy breakfast. Many of the crews enjoyed a walk ashore before heading home. Sadly although it was a hot sunny day there was no wind so it was a motor all the way back to the mooring.
It is hard to believe that all of our mid-week rallies this year have been blessed with sunshine and fairly gentle winds.
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sailworldcruising.com/148078
