The Spring Regatta was disappointingly posponed and then abandoned due to the strength of the wind which was variosly estimated at 20-25 mph gusting 40 +. The time was spent cutting and strimming the moorings, treading down some of the bigger lumps of mud and eating the remnants of the night before's Rigging Out Supper which Sutton Staithe had kindly packed up in a doggy box for us.

Thanks to Jimmy, Malcom and Ian for standing by as RO, line crew and safety boat respectively.

Talking of Malcolm. he has just sent in these few words about the Rigging out Supper and The Spring Regatta (that didn't happen!)

EACC SPRING REGATTA 2010 AT CLUB MOORINGS

(A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?)

Who said “Hope springs eternal”?

It was Thursday and I rang JJ to see if Bishy was in yet and if so then, feeling confident (having undertaken the Jon Aves lesson on how to use the software) I offered to be ood as Waif was not in yet. It turns out that Bishy’s new self bailing system is flawed  floored is not working properly. Apparently she needs to be on the plane before the water drains away. I then offered to be his 2^nd in command (of 2) which was gratefully received. I suggested that we make final arrangements at the rigging out supper on Saturday. Having gone for supper on Saturday I enjoyed it so much I decided that I would go again Sunday when hopefully more EACC members would be there, and the films as well.

Sunday evening arrives and we get to Sutton Staithe for an evening of videos/DVD and a buffet supper. General greeting to those not seen since prize giving last November. I was informed that the supper was always going to be on Sunday. The first part of the evening was spent looking at film of the Yare Nav Race in the 60’s and a more up to date one. Then it was food fun and frivolity (DEF: acting like a clown or buffoon). Once the food was out of the way it was back to the films (apart from the person who said “I’m off to the other bar, you can only see so much of boats, are you coming ...”). These were selected by Steve Seeney and by some strange quirk of fate the last thing seen was he himself getting the overall winners prize for Breydon Regatta. Good shots of the boats, shame about the soundtrack.

Monday 3^rd May 2010. Forecast: Sunny intervals occasional showers Wind Northish and about 22 mph. Nothing about the 30 mph gusts. Meet JJ and get lift over to the start position of Andy & Jenny’s bungalow, many thanks to them. JJ ensures that the safety boat is on its way, and enquires where the staring horn battery is. It is in the shed, you know the one in Pedro’s yard. Oh well this is EACC time to improvise. We wander to the club site and locate the marks, and ever the optimists we get them to the quayside ready to be put out. Next we open the box and no we did not win the star prize, we got the booby prize, namely the flag poles but no flag box clock or entry forms. A call to the safety boat, where’s the flag box. You’re ahead of me I can tell.......... In the shed, you know the one in Pedro’s yard. A quick call to Skipper en route from Filby and the collection of same organised.

Briefing time arrives but alas no potential entrants, with lightning speed of thought the OOD puts the briefing back, apparently he does not like talking to himself. Safety boat arrives and looks good. Jenny tells us there is a sail coming from Potter way, well we thought we knew who that might be; and it’s got a topsail, that clinched it we knew Paul and Jane were on their way so we grabbed the cameras for the action shots. 

Amaryllis goes speeding past with 1 reef in, show offs I thought. Turns out they only had one reefing line onboard. Other crews turn up Mischief  Cordon Rouge Ranger. No Joy or Pixie. It comes to 10.50 and the big decision arrives. Do we sound the 10 min gun, postpone, or have another coffee. The postponement is sounded and appropriate flag raised. As we had no flagpole we hung it on the 5mph speed sign. After some further discussion along the lines of more coffee anyone, it is decided that as the wind forecast is that the wind is going to decrease by 2 mph by 19.00 hrs and therefore match abandoned.

It was agreed that there will be a working party to cut grass etc. Unfortunately I had other things to do so I managed to slip over to Thurne.

It is a shame that there was no racing; however I did learn some things:

1. It was warmer in Jenny’s bungalow than outside
2. It pays to find out where the battery is before going across the river
3. One should make sure the flags and clock are in the big box
4. Do not lay marks until there are at least 2 entrants.

I did not learn whether I had managed to download the program properly and use it.

I am sure some pics will follow.

Malcolm