Ancasta Motorboat Cruise

[Nigelpickin]

Well we've just said bon voyage to the flotilla as it headed back East to the solent and left us working our way west to Falmouth.

I'm sure that there will be a load of great stories and pictures to come from forumites sharing their joy from the Bank Holiday weekend, so here is my twopennies worth.

We gatecrashed the Motor Boat Club Whitsun Cruise with about 1/2 a days notice and I have to say I'm glad we joined in.

We departed from Lymington at around 11am on Sarurday and took the offshore route to Weymouth, it was good to see the Needles in glorious sunshine for once and the water was about as good as we've seen it this year.

Lovely evening in Weymouth, rafted 4 deep on the Town Quay. Took the tender out for its first proper blast, across to Boleaze Cove we got 27mph with a 23 stone load so pretty happy with that.

Had a good Indian take away from Chilli's and enjoyed the ESC with a few popadoms and a bottle of Champagne.

Sunday morning saw the fleet head to Poole, we enjoyed a guided inshore tour of the Jurassic Coast, courtesy of the fantastically knowledgable Mr Mendez.

We found ourselves in lovely berths at Poole Town Quay and took the opportunity for a bit of Kayaking and Paddle Boarding, supervised by the fantastically irresponsible Mr Mendez!

Sunday evening was a chance to get together for a meal at Da Vincci's, I have very little memory of the food but the company was great, as were the Tequila Boom Boom's.

Any fear of a stinking hangover were put aside as the boys from Ancasta dragged us from our pits for a spot of dawn wake boarding in the harbour.

After a very polite telling off from the Harbour Master it was alas, time to return to the big boats and bid our farewell.

Thanks to all the crew from Ancasta and again to John, (the closest thing to a responsible adult). We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the trip, the company and the Tequila....here's to next year!

Pictures courtesy of Ancasta, (good shooting Will) and more to be found here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/131854767@N08/nn1p77


Peace

Oh and one more shot cos its a good one

 

[rafiki_]

Many thanks for the pics, looked a great trip.

 

[paul salliss]

These sort of trips are great for gaining confidence, we did a few of these with John and his ace team, they helped us a lot when we were complete novices to gain confidence to go further afield

 

[Greg2]

Cruises in company can be great fun as well as proving experience and confidence to those who are less experienced. We are fairly experienced but are going with Norfolk Yacht Agency on a cruise in company to Holland this summer simply because it will be good fun

Looks like this was a great trip, thanks for sharing

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

We did quite a few MBM cruises in company back in the early '90s and they were huge fun as well as being very educational so I can imagine that you had a great time. A big up to Ancasta for arranging these events for their customers (do Ancasta limit it to their customers only?)

Thanks for the pics

 

[Nigelpickin]

These sort of trips are great for gaining confidence, we did a few of these with John and his ace team, they helped us a lot when we were complete novices to gain confidence to go further afield

It was great to have John in the lead boat. He gave us a real insight into the pleasures of shore hugging that particular part of the coast, he certainly knows his stuff.

 

[Nigelpickin]

We did quite a few MBM cruises in company back in the early '90s and they were huge fun as well as being very educational so I can imagine that you had a great time. A big up to Ancasta for arranging these events for their customers (do Ancasta limit it to their customers only?)

Thanks for the pics

Whilst not the greatest hardship it's appreciated that the Ancasta guys gave up their BH weekend to the cruise, I'd imagine they would be delighted to hear of interest for future cruises from all comers but will check....it's all about engagement and networking but there's also a real sense that they want to see people enjoying their boats...good guys all round IMHO

 

[darryl_g]

Whilst not the greatest hardship it's appreciated that the Ancasta guys gave up their BH weekend to the cruise, I'd imagine they would be delighted to hear of interest for future cruises from all comers but will check....it's all about engagement and networking but there's also a real sense that they want to see people enjoying their boats...good guys all round IMHO

I'll echo that Nigel. It gave us a chance to meet new people, know just how close you can go to the coast & that divers get p***d off even if you slow down...

 

[henryf]

Some great photos!

I'll be honest and say that I've never had Ancaster particularly high up in my list when it came to main dealer representation. I've always seen them as used boat brokers with the associated conversations on over priced boats that they (are forced) to defend with a straight face. Too many different people in the organisation to have any solid knowledge on a particular builder.

But......

It's events like this which shine good feeling on the company. Once again it comes down to using the boats in anger / supporting customers beyond the initial handing over of the cheque. If you have constant problems then it's hard to face customers and spend time with them so you try to ensure everything runs smoothly and customers are happy.

Well done Ancaster for putting a bit back in the pot.

Henry

 

[Nigelpickin]

Some great photos!

I'll be honest and say that I've never had Ancaster particularly high up in my list when it came to main dealer representation. I've always seen them as used boat brokers with the associated conversations on over priced boats that they (are forced) to defend with a straight face. Too many different people in the organisation to have any solid knowledge on a particular builder.

But......

It's events like this which shine good feeling on the company. Once again it comes down to using the boats in anger / supporting customers beyond the initial handing over of the cheque. If you have constant problems then it's hard to face customers and spend time with them so you try to ensure everything runs smoothly and customers are happy.

Well done Ancaster for putting a bit back in the pot.

Henry

Ah the good old adverbial disjunct

Well I'll be honest too, first time I went into an Ancasta office, (won't say which one), I felt far too working class and out of my comfort zone but either they've now changed or God forbid, I've changed.

It's a broad spread of boats on a brokerage that peaks at around 900 listings at times so I'm sure there are more niche brands that can provide focused knowledge. OTOH my experience over the last four years has been a positive one.

From finding me a birth when I hadn't even bought a boat from them to arranging visits and meetings with Prestige and now taking us nicely into our second season of new boat ownership, they've still got me singing their praises...proof of the pudding I guess...year three and four will be interesting as warrantee work shifts to support but I have no alarm bells ringing at present....

It's a good point though, if a company are confident enough to enfranchise their customers through a 'club' environment where they meet peer to peer and exchange feedback, it speaks volumes....

 

[lisilou]

Great pics. Cruise in co's are great and like Mr Salliss, I've done a few now with Jon and met and made some really good friends as a direct result.
Glad you had a good time. Well done Ancasta!
L

 

[jfm]

Thanks for the pictures Nigel. Sounds like a nice cruise and bravo to ancasta for organising it. That photo of your boat with the spray shooting out both sides is fantastic - it would have been worth going just for that! Respect to the ancasta guy who was in charge of the camera. What's with the water bottle strapped to the back of the yammie 20?

 

[Cathy*]

We joined the Ancasta Cruising club but the trips seem very expensive and I couldn't see what you get for your money as all normal expenses are on top. It would cost us the same to join the cruise from Plymouth as it would from the beginning. I appreciate you have to pay for the lead boat's expenses but what else is included?

 

[jfm]

We joined the Ancasta Cruising club but the trips seem very expensive and I couldn't see what you get for your money as all normal expenses are on top. It would cost us the same to join the cruise from Plymouth as it would from the beginning. I appreciate you have to pay for the lead boat's expenses but what else is included?

What sort of £££ numbers are charged for this? I can see the need to pay the official skipper's cost (Jon Mendez) but I don't understand paying the lead boats' fuel and dockage, if that boat and its owners are participant on the cruise anyway. Or is the lead boat a sort of ancasta stock boat so all its expenses have to be covered?

 

[Nigelpickin]

Thanks for the pictures Nigel. Sounds like a nice cruise and bravo to ancasta for organising it. That photo of your boat with the spray shooting out both sides is fantastic - it would have been worth going just for that! Respect to the ancasta guy who was in charge of the camera. What's with the water bottle strapped to the back of the yammie 20?

Forensic eye as usual! An impromptu float for the tow-line bridle.

 

[Nigelpickin]

What sort of £££ numbers are charged for this? I can see the need to pay the official skipper's cost (Jon Mendez) but I don't understand paying the lead boats' fuel and dockage, if that boat and its owners are participant on the cruise anyway. Or is the lead boat a sort of ancasta stock boat so all its expenses have to be covered?

I would need to ask Ann re cost but I'd be surprised if we didn't get it back in merchandise and Tequila! Having JM on the trip was the added value, turned a jaunt into a learning experience and would be worth a couple of hundred £££ on its own. Then there was the lead boat, which was Ancasta stock and would have used around £1k worth of fuel. And Pimm and crisps of course

I didn't get the feeling that anyone attending felt that they had been fleeced. I nearly made a couple of quid back on spares sales but it turned out that the lead boats faulty fuel filter was just a case of tightening and it didn't seem right to charge for the use of my strap spanner

 

[Cathy*]

What sort of £££ numbers are charged for this? I can see the need to pay the official skipper's cost (Jon Mendez) but I don't understand paying the lead boats' fuel and dockage, if that boat and its owners are participant on the cruise anyway. Or is the lead boat a sort of ancasta stock boat so all its expenses have to be covered?

I've deleted my emails but I think it was something like a couple of hundred quid. It might be worth it to join at Lymington and do the whole trip but it was the same cost to join at any point. Plymouth to Falmouth and back wasn't worth considering. I still don't know what you get for the money though apart from contributing towards the lead boat. There was no info given in the original email.