A contingent of optimistic, (ludicrously optimistic as it turned out!) headed north on 19th October in fine weather. The Dartford tolls booths were breached successfully by all –I am assured.

A few of us had the opportunity to take our time over rigging in the warm mellow autumn sunshine, soft lush green, and very wet grass underfoot…..

James really does love taking his time over rigging and brought out all manner of medieval instrumentation to check and fine tune. Actually, I am sure his mast was indeed pointing forwards by at least 20 degrees.

Friday evening saw most of us back at the Premier quaffing back the booze and sending ever increasingly lewd, yet brilliantly synchronised texts back to the ‘missing links’, Dave and Carol.
 

Saturday saw us down at the club getting the boats ready in brilliant sunshine but not a breath of wind, not anywhere. We abandoned any hope of racing at about noon and headed enmasse to the bike hire place. Fourteen out of control cat sailors roared around the banks of Grafham water in under two hours to tea at the finish. Only one had a power assisted bike, guess who? No, it was not Graham!

Saturday evening, more booze, food and of course the rugby- less said about that the better.
Sunday, we remained hopeful until 9amish when it was clear that more of the same weather- no wind. We commenced the de rigging, I understand there was a race on, who could do it the fastest. I think it was won by Gary and Lynne. I do know that Gary was somewhat distracted by playing with the megaphone and Grafham SC was hailed by ‘Alan Parsons’ and something about ‘hanging like donkeys’ at one stage. I have no idea what that was all about!?
 

We also heard a very sonorous rendition of James’s snoring, recorded by Matt the previous night and megablasted through the same instrument.
 

Five of us headed back to Eastbourne in time for tea whilst the others raided Cambridge. I have heard they enjoyed punting on the river but that the Cambridge wildlife underwent a rude awakening, something about a flying squirrel? How to lower the tone of that studious environment…………..
 

Everyone returned safely to Eastbourne although no boat touched the water the entire weekend, we all had a really great time.
 

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