Bembridge Rally
10th September 2005

Report by Peter Lowry

It was the Tuesday when I had a phone call to say about the weather front coming from the Atlantic, primarily thunderstorms, winds and rain from the tail end of the hurricane that wiped out most of New Orleans.

This would not normally interfere with our Solent sailing but the up and coming weekend was to dry out on Bembridge beach in front of the lovely Bembridge sailing club, not the place to be on a wet and windy day.

Having kept a close eye on several weather reports on the web and on local TV and radio it seemed the worst of the weather would clear north of the Uk and we would have a good weekend. This proved so and on the Saturday we had 19 Seals and Parkers on the beach with 2 more “boats” coming by road.

We had a few newcomers so welcome to them and hopefully we will see more of them in the future, namely Pegasus and Miss Fidget (welcome)

Many thanks to the club and its caterers for a wonderful evening and great food.

On Sunday morning we tried something new, normally we BBQ in the evening but as low water was in the morning we had a group Breakfast so kettles were boiled on board and tea bags and jars of coffee were brought ashore and the barbies were lit to cook sausages, bacon. black pud and toast.

Someone asked how every could we fry an egg on a Bbq, the Rascal (Philip Linsell) had the perfect solution his on board cooker is a portable two burner with bottle attached, so donned with frying pan he was chief egg fryer.

Bembridge sailing clubs Commodore had a stroll down the beach to see us and was amazed to see us all tucking into a full Ulster fry or should I say full Bembridge!

The weather turned out nice again and as we floated on the rising tide we all headed home to our moorings.

Happy sealing!

Peter Lowry.