Summer Rally 2016 – Island Harbour, IoW

After several years of using East Cowes Marina for the ‘BBQ rally’, it was decided to move the venue this time. Island Harbour, just a bit further up the River Medina looked like the perfect candidate. The date was set, all we needed was the weather to play ball…

Carina set off from Gosport in warm sunshine, however, the wind was up and she was in for a lumpy trip. With the wind blowing a good F6-7 she turned into the River and made her way to the lock, having timed her arrival to coincide with free flow. Once on her berth the crew had a late lunch and rest before tea and cakes on the pontoon.

As always the quality and number of cakes supplied by members was high and it was noted that several members were doing their best to ensure that none went to waste!

At this point Dave announced that, rather than the usual cocktail competition, we would try something a little different. The crew of Hotch Potch was volunteered for duty. Each of the other boats was to supply something for a cocktail, these would then be presented to the ‘volunteers’, who would need to make up one or more drinks that would then be judged by the group (are you still with me here?).

Just after 1930 the BBQs were lit and the merriment began. The eventual winner of the drink-making contest was Mike Bassett’s ‘Tom Cruise from Cocktail’ impression, oh, and the Gin one… things had started to get a little confusing by then.

Dave and Anne did a fantastic job supplying and cooking the food, including some great kebabs. As the last of the evening light faded into the night we wandered back to the pontoons for a night cap.

The next morning the weather had taken a turn for the worst; the wind was still up and the rain was coming down sideways. During the morning it brightened up and by the time Carina left, the sun was out and she headed back to Gosport.

9th-10th July 2016