Chichester Harbour – Summer family rally & Spit Roast BBQ, 1 – 3 August 2008

Chichester Harbour  –  Summer family rally & Spit Roast BBQ, 1 – 3 August 2008

Another excellent rally with a good turn out – thirty all told representing 11 boats –  and a great Spit Roast courtesy of SD Marine!

Another new format Rally.  This time it was in Chichester harbour with space to include all the family.  However the seasonal weather persisted with overcast sky, fresh breeze and more, although the rain was occasional.  Northney Marina provided a very friendly, suitable sheltered surroundings and a good base for us.  SD Marine arranged for an excellent BBQ.  We had our own Celebrity, the stranded whale right outside the marina entrance.  The trouble was she arrived 24 hours early and we only had the pictures with the news reports.

I called out across the ether on Friday evening for any early Maxi’s to join a raft up for supper at East Head.  There was no response.  We sheltered in Thorney creek and enjoyed our evening aboard with just an occasional other boat on this first August holiday weekend.  However by midday on Saturday several other Maxi’s arrived in Northney and we were underway meeting the others as expected. 

The games kit was out and our leader and Chairman started off with a bold French cricket.  His plastered leg provided a good sized target.  This was gained during a recent holiday on land.  Supported by his family and daughters, later in the evening we went on to an all-in Rounder’s game.  Other options included volleyball and frizby.  We prepared three gazebos as shelter and saw at least one march across the field of play in the wind.

The BBQ was well prepared and set up with some 4 different meat choices and 8 salads for us all.  Alison Skipper had prepared a lovely range of deserts too.  In total there were 30 from 11 crews with Roger & Sue Moon to bring us up to date with the changes to the Maxi brand ownership.  Two came by wheels with 2 more resident Northney bertholders.  The additional boat Intrepid arrived just too late having been delayed in their cross channel passage.

Sunday morning was a gentle start, taking advantage of the Board Walk marquee restaurant for breakfasts 4 or 5 crews gathered, before finally departing to catch the last of the flood to Chichester or about midday well reefed to catch the ebb Westwards.

28 Participants in all… and many thanks to SD Marine for the BBQ!

Peter Stonestreet                Whale Photos courtesy of Mike Smith, MDL Northney Marina