The Victoria Shadow Association

The   East Coast Rally on      Saturday, 7th June 2008   to the                   River Medway and               Gillingham Marina   The arrival of our East Coast Regional Organiser, Anne Grubb, aboard her Frances 26 'Louise' signals the beginning of the rally. Sail covers are in place because Anne had anchored overnight at Slaughterhouse Point in Stangate Creek, having sailed from Brightlingsea the previous day.

'Louise' arrives on the flood and turns towards Gillingham Marina lock

 

The Harbour Master has the temerity to suggest that Anne may be holding his berthing plan upside down!		Jonathan Hopper, of 'Francesca', ships as additional crew on the short passage to the allocated berth.

 

Gillingham Marina is home to three of our members boats, thus ensuring a good attendance. Another five boats sailed to the rally bringing the total to eight. The weather on the day was much as you see it in the photographs, rather overcast a with a cold breeze but no particular hazard.

 

The first of the visiting boats to arrive was 'Jenter' that had sailed in from the Walton Backwaters a couple of days early. 'Louise' was spotted out in the river so we were able to obtain the earlier photographs. 'Redwing' arrived from Creeksea on the River Crouch early on the day of the rally and managed to slip in unnoticed. Shortly after Anne's arrival, 'Bonny Flighty' from Pyefleet secured alongside, close to 'Jenter'. By the time she was secure, 'Symphony' had secured alongside 'Louise' in a very tight berth. 'Symphony' had made a quite short passage from Hoo, just across the river. We were very pleased to see 'Symphony' and her crew, Mark and Sheesh Bloomfield, who were attending their first Association rally. Being the largest vessel present, a Victoria 34, she was also to host our pre-dinner get together.

Jonathan, Anne, Jenny and Peter aboard 'Louise' (photograph by Mark Bloomfield)

 

Jonathan, Emily, Sam and Frances aboard 'Francesca'		and Emily aboard 'Louise'

 

Sam		all aboard 'Louise' then!

 

Ken Capstick adjusts the aft mooring line		'Bonny Flighty' is secured alongside

 

Why are Martin's shoes on the sprayhood?		Anne and Martin aboard 'Redwing'

 

Martin Hunt and John Sadler and 'Symphony'		Sheesh and Mark Bloomfield aboard 'Symphony'

 

	'Rosy Brier' is Owen Clarkson's Victoria 30, which is sitting on the hard still waiting to be launched. Apparently, Owen's regular crew is away working on some lucrative contract in Scotland and is unlikely to be able to sail for a while.   In the meantime, Owen is tackling some of those maintenance jobs aboard 'Rosy Brier' and keeping her in first class condition.   She is certainly looking in fine condition, Owen.
Victoria 30 'Rosy Brier'		Martin with Owen Clarkson

 

John and Wann Sadler attend almost all of our rallies in their early Frances 26, 'Maria Frances' but this year the boat was not ready; something to do with paint needing to cure and name transfers yet to be applied. However, that did not deter them from coming by road and we were very pleased to see them. At this stage in the proceedings, we had taken tea aboard 'Louise', eaten all of Anne's toasted tea cakes and generally put the world to rights. We were most grateful to Anne and to young Frances, who tackled the washing-up in no time at all. It was clearly time to move next door and clamber aboard 'Symphony' and indulge ourselves with something a little stronger! Sheesh and Mark had done us proud with some exotic crisps and a great variety of dips along with nuts and soon the wine was flowing freely. It was rumoured that there were seventeen on board at one stage but most of us would have had trouble counting. It was, in any case, very comfortable and not at all crowded. David and Susan Macgregor of 'Victoria Rose' were also with us and we learnt that David would retire from work next year and they would sail away. This year, however, it seemed that 'Victoria Rose' might not be launched at all because of the pressure of work. Next year, though, she would sail to Dubrovnik and the Dalmation Coast in a planned three months!

Wann Sadler of 'Maria Frances' and Jenny of 'Jenter'

 

'Victoria Rose'		Owen and Susan Macgregor

 

Anne and Owen		Jenny, Wann and John

 

Glenys Hunt of 'Redwing' had joined us by road and It was soon time to move to the marina's own bar and restaurant for our evening meal, which was really very good despite our numbers.

 

Our thanks go to Anne for organising a splendid rally that was enjoyed by all. There is more for those that would like to know a little of the voyage home for two of the yachts attending. High water was at 5 pm local time on the Sunday and it was clear to the crews of both 'Louise' and 'Jenter' that it would be better to wait in the river and depart early, with the ebb, on Monday. Slaugterhouse Point in Stangate Creek was clearly the place to anchor.

 

'Redwing' prepares to depart		'Redwing' in the lock (pictures by Mark Bloomfield)

 

'Louise' at anchor		'Louise' in evening light

 

Sun setting over Medway mud with bird		'Louise' motors by on smooth seas

This page last updated on the 13 June 2008