The Victoria Shadow Association

 

Joint Motor-cruiser and Yacht Rally to London in 2010

The River Thames between Tower Bridge and Limehouse, as seen on Google Earth

 

This is the rally that many of us in The Victoria Shadow Association have talked about for a number of years. The opportunity for the Victoria Yachts and the Shadow Motor-cruisers to participate in a joint event. Then, during the summer of 2009, I received this message from John and Gillian Walker, "We've also been away - managed to join a 'convoy' of 4 other boats going to Limehouse and St. Katherine's and had a great week going tidal!" John had organised our Cookham Rally for Shadows earlier in 2009, which proved very successful, and now he was proposing a further rally to Limehouse but one which included Victoria Yachts. Anne Grubb, our East Coast Regional Organiser has been working with John Walker to find the best date for such a rally. As the boats will be coming upstream and downstream, it is clearly going to be difficult to please everyone but a date for the rally has now been chosen but boats may arrive and depart over a period of several days to catch a suitable tide. The day of the actual rally will be Saturday, 15th May 2010 and will culminate in an evening meal. Make a note in your diary now to keep this date and a few days either side free, as you would not want to miss this unique event.

Limehouse Marina, as seen on Google

 

Shadow Motor-cruisers The suggestion is that we Shadows meet at Teddington Lock when the tides are right for us to exit. We will go in convoy and the trip will take approx. 3.5 hours to get to Limehouse while the tide is ebbing.  We normally allow 2 days to get to Teddington from Wargrave (overnight at Windsor then possibly Hampton Court).

Victoria Yachts Yachts from the various East Coast rivers might converge on Queenborough and spend a night on one of the buoys there or go a little further into the River Medway and anchor in Stangate Creek. A very early departure will be required to take the last of the ebb into the River Thames and the full flood tide up to Limehouse.

 

Locking into Limehouse		Heavenly Daze in Limehouse

 

Exploratory visit by 'Heavenly Daze' John and Gillian have kindly supplied these three photographs. all showing their Shadow 26, 'Heavenly Daze', taken on their visit to Limehouse Marina earlier this year.   Possible maintenance at Limehouse in 2010 Limehouse Marina have shelved plans to install new pontoons this year so the rally is on.
	Locking down into the River Thames

 

The plans are still somewhat tentative at the moment and there is already a new suggestion that the Shadows come down a day earlier, as they might be a little late for the evening meal and miss out on the days fun. Response from the Shadow owners has been excellent but little has been heard from the yacht owners yet.   To get the latest information contact John Walker at johntwalker@talktalk.net or Anne Grubb at anne.grubb1@ntlworld.com.

Limehouse Marina, from their website

 

Those who have already announced their intention to attend: John and Gillian Walker aboard Shadow 26, 'Heavenly Daze', Anne Grubb, Peter and Jenny Cosker aboard Frances 26, 'Jenter', David Probert and Angela Cullinan aboard Shadow 26, 'White Rose of York', Paul and Patsy Townsend aboard Shadow 26, 'Rebwelly', Peter and Kate Hunt aboard Shadow 26, 'Jolly Olly', Leon Ferguson aboard Victoria 800, 'Thalia of Hamble', Eric Karas, Mark and Sheesh Bloomfield aboard Victoria 34, 'Symphony', Arnold Robinson aboard Victoria 26, 'Shikara', David Hewitt aboard Finesse 24, 'Frith', Martin and Glenys Hunt aboard Frances 26, 'Redwing'. 19 members and guests aboard 10 boats.