In early September we thought we had witnessed the Commodore having some sort of a nervous breakdown, or was he trying to get rid of some old fenders, or divest himself of some scurvy crew member?

We espied Ariel somewhere in the vicinity of Hamstead Ledge, up in to the wind, engine on, pretend Mayday, jib in, point at the victim, lots of activity on deck, waving and discussion. Ah! A fender in the water, at last all was clear, at least it seemed like a familiar routine. The only problem was the victim did not appear to want to be rescued as he (or it) bobbed around in the spring tide.

Of course! A man overboard exercise, the routine did seem familiar.

But try as he (or was it she) might, that pick up person at the bow was evaded by that damned elusive piece of plastic flotsam.

Then at last to rounds of applause across the Solent the victim was hoisted unceremoniously aboard, as wet and bedraggled as a fender can be.

Then lo and behold they did at all over again!

Top marks to Ariel and crew, they well deserved their prize for being the only ones to take the test that had been set for them by the Lymington Rally organisers.