Joint LSC and MLSC rally to Bradwell

In recent times it has been a real treat to get together with Maldon Little Ship Club after the separation which occurred back in the inter-war years.

The Bradwell Marina Rally was the latest in several joint events over the past four or so years and which have seen meets at Brightlingsea, and Heybridge Basin. Two LSC yachts and eight MLSC yachts and motor yachts gathered in the delightful surroundings of Bradwell on a blustery but sunny afternoon, some already based at the marina and others coming from Maldon, Heybridge, West Mersea,  Brightlingsea and Ramsholt.  A number of LSC and MLSC members also attended by road and our West Mersea HPO – John Davison with partner Sara Turnbull – tacked up in a van with built-in overnight interior! They moored in the car park for the night but failed to hoist his HPO flag……..

Fortunately, the pontoons at Bradwell are stoutly built and managed to withstand the crush of people who came along to the pontoon party on Saturday afternoon, even though MLSC Past Commodore and proprietor of The Mighty Oak Brewery, Maldon – John Boyce – arrived in his yacht ‘Maldon Gold’ with two kegs of his very best – Maldon Gold and Captain Bob. Needless to say, the entire contents of both was consumed within an embarrassingly short space of time, together with red and white wine and plenty of nibbles!

Dinner was arranged at The Green Man PH close to Bradwell Quay and we all squeezed in to the charming ‘Family Room’ with an unavoidable over-spill into the main bar area. Supper was a total success and a culinary experience for which the chef and the landlord were heartily thanked.

Post dinner entertainment was provided by Mike Birch who, with Val’s permission, brought along her ‘horse racing’ set, something that was a total mystery to the MLSC members, at least to begin with. However, in a series of four horse knockout heats, Maldon gained the upper hand and the final race produced an outright winner – Jasmine Knox – who won an equestrian trophy and a bottle of prosecco. Unfortunately the latter prize was immediately confiscated by her father – Kev (MLSC joint rally organiser with LSC Sue Cossell) – as she is only seventeen! However, as Kev was runner-up, he won the box of ‘Hero’ chocolates which, presumably, he exchanged with his daughter for the prosecco………Hmmmm!

Sunday morning dawned with the last of the overnight rain, but this soon cleared away to bring another bright and sunny day in good time for the 10 o’clock bacon butties on Greenwitch. Soon the pontoon was labouring under the weight of the massed assembly all munching steadily into the BB’s with or without butter, plain or with red or brown sauce. Some returned for seconds but the majority were still recovering from the sumptuous meal of the night before. Copious quantities of tea and coffee were kindly provided by Kev and Lauren Knox from ‘Scimitar’ on the adjoining pontoon and also from John Boyce on ‘Maldon Gold’.

Farewells were made as the tide rose towards high water and the various yachts left to return to their home ports or to join in with the MLSC week’s cruise down the East Coast.

Many thanks must be extended to Sue Cossell (LSC) and Kev Knox (MLSC) for all their hard work and organisation in making the rally such a success. Thanks also go to John Boyce for donating his wonderful beer and to Mike and Val Birch for completing the evening with their exciting and hilarious ‘horse race’ event. Altogether, another LSC/MLSC great joint meet - we hope for many more to follow.

Richard Keen

LSC Yachts attending: Greenwitch (Richard Keen & Sue Cossell); Silver Pearl (Pete and Nikki Hampson)