The Victoria Shadow Association

 

South Coast Rally The Folly Inn   Saturday, 26th September 2009

 

After failing to attend the Gin's Club rally earlier in the year, we had promised John Tyer, the South Coast Regional Organiser, that we would certainly get to The Folly Inn and arrive in 'Jenter' this time. Our sail from Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex had not been without incident. After a rough crossing of the Thames Estuary, we had put into Ramsgate late at night instead of continuing to Brighton. The next day we had sailed only to Dover. The following day was to have been to Brighton but again rough conditions off Beachy Head caused an unscheduled stop at Newhaven as dusk fell. Finally, we sailed to Port Solent to pick up Gillian and John Walker for the last leg to the Isle of Wight. John and Gillian own a Shadow 26, 'Heavenly Daze', and normally cruise in the peaceful waters of the River Thames. They had given us a splendid day out on the river towards the end of the Henley Regatta week. There is an account of it on another page of the website. If John was looking for a little excitement, well heeled and crashing through waves then he was to be a little disappointed as the day was almost flat calm with only the lightest of breezes. However, it was sunny and warm for the rally.

Attempting to sail in light airs off of Southsea

 

Also sailing from Portsmouth were Peter and Kate Hunt who usually cruise in their Shadow 26, 'Jolly Olly' on the River Thames. This time, however, they had borrowed a friend's boat for the weekend. You can see Kate and Peter on the right, whilst John Tyer stands on the left. Just astern of 'Eighth Day' there was a raft of three Victoria Yachts. On the inside was Ken and Elizabeth's Victoria 34, 'Tessera' with Tim and Dee Clarke's Victoria 30, 'Widegeon' alongside. On the outside of the raft we moored our own Frances 26, 'Jenter'. Bringing up the rear were John Cade's Morris Yachts Victoria 34, 'Cadenza' and Jerry Bottrill's Victoria 30, 'Tracker' soon to be joined by the Frances 26, 'Grace Darling', belonging to Richard and Angela Jones.

'Eighth Day' occupies a good portion of the Folly Inn pontoon

 

'Tessera' and 'Widgeon'		'Widgeon' and 'Jenter'

 

''Cadenza' and 'Tracker' with John Tyer and John Cade		Angela aboard 'Grace Darling'

 

Also present, but avoiding the camera, was Dick Walters arriving aboard Cadenza with John Cade and Tony Howard, who spoke at our social earlier in the year. Joing us later were Peter and Eileen Tibbetts who moor their Frances 26, 'Rush' just across the river from the Folly Inn. Before going to dine, we all gathered aboard, 'Eighth Day', which was really very roomy. The Folly Inn turned out to be very crowded and a little noisy but we were given a row of tables by the window and as far from the bustle as possible. Everyone enjoyed the day and the weather remained perfect, as you can see from the photographs. John Tyer did an excellent job of organising the event. Thank you, John.     Postscript 'Jenter' had another deadline to make back on the East Coast and departed at 6am on Sunday morning. Thank you Tim for getting up early to help with the lines. We left a cold and misty River Medina and sailed to Brighton and then Eastbourne the next day. Here, Jenny departed and John Tyer joined 'Jenter' to sail first to Dover and then to Burnham-on-Crouch, arriving on Wednesday evening.

John Tyer, Jenny Cosker, John and Gillian Walker, Lynda Tyer, Kate and Peter Hunt