Download PDF - Oyster News 66 - Oyster Yachts

14 www.oystermarine.com
OYSTER REGATTA COWES 2008
Sunshine in the Solent... continued
“A strong fair tide made it
all too easy to be over the
line early but both classes
made excellent starts.
”
ABOVE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Crew of Oyster 46, Marela winners of the mixed
Lewmar Grinding Challenge
Crew of Oyster 461, Blue Fox enjoy the entertainment
aboard HMS Warrior
HMS Warrior on a beautiful summers evening
FAR RIGHT: John Nelson & Philip Riesco’s Oyster 42,
Sundancer and David Wansbrough & Prue Moon’s Oyster 47
Jubilate, overall winner of Class 2.
For the crews that still had some energy left after racing, Lewmar, who sponsored the day,
put on a winch grinding competition before dinner. No records broken, but some fun and
camaraderie, especially from the mixed pairs.
Overnight, the wind swung through 180 degrees giving the fleet a windward start for their
easterly course from Cowes to a finish line off the historic dockyard in Portsmouth. A strong
fair tide made it all too easy to be over the line early but both classes made excellent starts.
During the day the wind faded from 14 to around 6 knots and there was even talk of
shortening course, but in the event the fleet pressed on and, coaxing the yachts along in light
airs, managed to round No Mans Land Fort, just to seaward of Ryde, as the penultimate
mark. This fort and two others were built in Napoleonic times to protect the British fleet and
submarine barriers were added during WWII, now thankfully removed on the No Mans Fort
side. Some years ago the fort was massively restored to provide luxurious living
accommodation with everything including a heli pad and tennis court, and was later sold
at a fraction of it’s original cost. No chance to pop next door for a cup of sugar!
Portsmouth harbour was busy with yachts and commercial craft getting ready for Navy Day
at the end of the week. Oyster’s Liz Whitman had wisely reserved berthing at the Royal
Clarence Marina on the Gosport side where a ferry had been chartered to carry everyone
across the harbour to the historic Portsmouth Dockyard for the evening’s entertainment.
HMS Warrior was the largest warship afloat when built in 1860 and the first with both sail
and steam propulsion, but throughout her 20 years of service never saw action. There was
however plenty of action on board for the Oyster fleet, starting with drinks on deck on what
was one of those truly fabulous English summer evenings, and then below for dinner between
decks. While admittedly Navy life was never like this, the atmosphere created by scrubbed
wood tables between the guns, low headroom and dimmed lighting, did give some feel for
what life might have been like, and certainly created a unique atmosphere for a great dinner
party. Groups of musicians and entertainers, dressed in traditional sailor costumes, toured the
tables and never was "What shall we do with the drunken sailor" sung with more gusto! >