The Victoria Shadow Association

Limehouse Rally 2010

For the first time in the history of our association both Shadow Motor-cruisers and Victoria Yachts were able to attend the same rally and meet together. Such a rally had been discussed many times before but it had always been considered too difficult to arrange. This year it actually happened and was a great success. Four Shadows and Five Victoria Yachts all gathered together at Limehouse Basin in the East End of London.

The idea for a rally to the tidal River Thames in London came from John and Gillian Walker, owners of the Shadow 26, 'Heavenly Daze'. They had ventured down onto the tidal River Thames the year before and knew it was possible. If the Shadows could to it, then so could the Victoria Yachts and Anne Grubb, our East Coast Organiser, joined forces with John to sort out the details.

Shadows, from up river, needed to enter the tidal River Thames at Teddington near high water, whereas the Victoria Yachts needed to come upstream on the flood tide. The Shadows had already decided to come one day early so they wouldn't be late for the dinner. Peter and Jenny Cosker, in their Frances 26, 'Jenter', decided to go one better and get there in time to take photographs of the Shadows arriving. Here are some of the landmarks they passed on the final leg from a mooring at Erith Yacht Club.

With 'Heavenly Daze', 'Jolly Olly', 'Rebwelly', 'White Rose of York' and 'Jenter' all safely in harbour, we dined that evening at the Tai Pan chinese restaurant. This was Jenny's suggestion. It is the restaurant we use for the London Boat Show Dinner and was only a short walk from the boats.

The staff at the Tai Pan were pleasantly surprised to see the ten of us and looked after us very well. It was John Walker's birthday; we don't know which one! When the staff discovered this they provided ice cream for all of us and presented John with a carefully wrapped gift, which he was required to open before the evening was over. It was a beautiful porcelain tea container with lid.

The photograph was taken the following afternoon, on the day of the rally. You can see the masts of two of our yachts on the left of the picture as well.

Two Victoria 800's were moored the same side of the main pontoon as the Shadows.

'Volante' is moored at Benfleet Yacht Club, between Canvey Island and Southend. Although handy for the River Thames, it is only possible to leave Benfleet Creek at or near High Water and that is quite the wrong time to take the flood tide up to London.

'Thalia of Hamble' is moored in the River Thames at Gravesend but the crew would not be able to launch their tender to reach her right at the bottom of the tide.