The RCODs try a picnic 9 Jul 2006

The intrepid fleet captain, John Heathfield, never faint hearted in a blow, opted to take the yellow submarine, aka Corpo Santo. Crewed by John Waterhouse, Ben Riley and Gerrie Blake, Corpo hoisted a reefed main (reefed mark you, almost unheard of for John!) left the mooring at 10.48 and screamed into Fambridge at 11.39. The land fleet had to scramble to get there to meet them and the Mallers, leaving the Marina at 1100, blinked and missed them flying past.

Upon checking the empty mooring, sail was set and the chase was on, much to the delight of young Matthew Lewis who, accompanied by Dad Barry from Corindelle, insisted on helping Victor and Gill’s crew, offspring Simon & Claire. The company of 20 representing Corpo Santo, Coryphee, Corinna, Corindelle, Corinthia, Corella and Corsair, had a convivial Sunday lunch and then, ever mindful of Wendy’s instructions, a veritable barrage of photographers stood on the pontoon to catch shots of Corpo’s sail past under main, jib and spinnaker for the return journey. Corpo beat her timing to return safely in 43 minutes.

Victor Maller reports on Seaspray’s return trip to Levington. We had a pleasant sail back; grey but reasonably mild with sunny intervals, although not much wind at first,(8 to 10 knots). Ran under spinnaker all the way from the Spitway to the Medusa Channel into Harwich, where the wind suddenly strengthened (20 to 25 knots). Dropped spinnaker very quickly and reached up the Orwell. Back in berth in Levington at 1800, having left Burnham at 1100hrs; then the skies opened and it poured! It was bad luck about the weather on Sunday; let’s try again next year.