The West Mersea rally report (1-3 May 2010)

All 20 who had booked, arrived for dinner in West Mersea Yacht Club in spite of the weather. 11 worked out their tides for crossing the Strood by car, (the causeway to the island covers at HW springs)  and the rest worked their tides and arrived by water in three yachts, Demeter, Kazbek and Melody.

The dinner was convivial, but the evening was cold and stormy with thunder and hail.  The seafood  breakfast was impressive  yet again and  we were all glad to be in the Company Shed rather than out in the pouring rain.

The predicted log was cancelled owing to lack of numbers and atrocious weather so most of the fleet made a rapid, very wet and rather unpleasant passage to Brightlingsea with poor visibility and very strong gusts.  Mike Dittner hosted the non-pontoon party aboard Demeter with Kazbek rafted alongside providing a tired and wet crew with crab bisque made to George McNeill's recipe.  The Harbour Master was kind enough to give us the rally rate, so it really was cheaper by the meter beside Demeter!

Eventually we all made it safely back to our home ports, Demeter on Monday, and Kazbek the following Saturday.

All agreed it was a great rally even if the overlanders probably had the best of it this year.  See you next year......