Royal Air Force Yacht Club

Well some might consider the Royal Clarence Easter Rally to be the first all boat rally but that would really annoy the hardy souls who managed to get their boats ready in time for Ocean Village. It would be truer to say that Royal Clarence and the Easter Rally marks the first en-masse voyage of the rally season and so it was that more than 19 boats sailed to Gosport to kick off another season of pontoon parties and club camaraderie!

The weather was for the first time in more than a few years what us Brits call "changable" for which read a mix of sunshine, sleet, hail stones, wind and rain. Despite which a good time was had by all. Perhaps it was a case of third time unlucky as for the last couple of years Easter has been marked by warm sunshine and gentle sailing.The pontoon party on Saturday was convened beneath the Georgian pillars of the property developers paradise and the RAFYC members were found tucked into a corner of the walkway as if they were penguins - backs to the prevailing wind. Canapes and glasses shielded carefully. (Ralliers - not penguins!)

David Le Mare was rally organiser and for those that don't know what a cool character he is. As a helicopter pilot he is used to flying into (and out of) dangerous spots and so it was just another campaign to manage, as he bravely took on the organisation of the traditional Safari / American supper. Well done Dave for maintaining the sang-froid, I think that everyone got dinner and some even had some desserts left over for the following evening. This exercise sometimes makes the D-Day landings look like a walk in the park, but it really is a great way to mix up the rally goers and get to know everyone in a socially fun and culinarily delicious way. Typically the socialising goes on until well into the evening and the cabin lights were on in a number of boats until past midnight, as could be seen by a number of the lie-ins in the morning!

Thankfully weather improved on Sunday which was a day for some to head off for the traditional Tapas, some to the cinema or the submarine museum, there was even some enthusiastic deck cleaning going on. Some others decided to head home to Hamble. The Castle Pub was the selected venue for the evening get-together and as normal the reservations grew exponentially, and as the reservation time approached, the Gosport pavements were filled with hungry RAFYC rally goers who took over more than half of this successful pub which yet again provided excellent food with professionalism and humour. After dinner some continued the party back on board.

On Easter Monday, Dave Le Mare invited us to participate in the pasage race back from Pompey to the Hamble with a Gentlemen's start at 12:30 from Gilkicker via a couple of marks, finishing at Bald Head. There were a decent number of entrants who set off back into the SW strong breeze, Arriving back at the Hamble the leading boats finished at just after 14:00. The results of the passage race are yet to go through the handicappers abacus, but it is clear to see that the speed demons are going to provide quite a challenge for the new season.

Thanks to all who made Supper and joined in for the Clarence Rally and thanks to from the dockmaster who is always pleased to see a good turn out from the RAFYC. Unfortunately despite preparing for our arrival by shuffling around quite a proportion of the marina to allow us to moor in the same area. A certain other club who was also booked, cancelled at the last minute leaving all that work for a little return.

As usual. I am sure we will be welcome back!