Clubbing

[Guest]

Okay everyone - this new boater wants to have a good time, repetitous thumping music, flashing lights, blue drinks called X12 and pills in lots of colours - what is the best cruiser club on the Thames?

Im not into my flags bigger than yours thing, nor your flags the wrong way around, but a social lot with a quiet likening for all things % by vol Also, every club must have expert in all things ready to fix my botches.

In other words, what is the boat club scene like? On a rented cruiser a few weeks ago, everyone we came across was great - friendly and helpfully - thank you all whoever you were

 

[martin]

Best illustrated by story my wife tells..

1st day in new marina...shes on board trying to take the cover off the flybridge...elderly lady (membership secretary) appears on bank and says...Is your mummy there dear?

Wife explains she is mummy to the sound of snorting and giggling from inside.

Don't let this put you off though...all pretty much the same...peeps from all walks, all experience levels...just choose nearest one and join in.

 

[colinroybarrett]

Possibly Sarsaparilla?

I’m busy cleaning off the grot under the hull and note a large quantity of “gin palaces” all bedecked with bunting various passing by.

I walk down to the river’s edge, in my boat jeans, hole in one knee with dubious long-johns showing through, old “lumber-jack” shirt and a woolly cardigan that my Mother knitted me 20 years ago, now hanging together only by virtue of the grease and anti-fouling paint splodges.

“What’s going on?” I ask the man standing taking photo’s of each boat as it passes (crews smartly dressed in Blazers and white’s all happily waving champagne or wine glasses – it’s 11:15 in the morning!)

“It’s the Local Cruiser Club, Commodores sail-past. All looks a bit poofy for my liking”

“Oh” I say, “I was thinking of joining the club this year”

A long hard look quizzical at me from top to toe. Finally:-

“Well, you’d better smarten yourself up a bit first!”

Seriously though, we did join and although old “Vic” (behind the bar) is not able to supply X12 and pills various, it’s been really worthwhile to meet up and cruise in company etc.

If you ignore the Blazers and flags, they are, as said, a very mixed bunch, always willing to assist and you should get a fair bit of drinking in anyway!

Drop me a message if you are in the Berkshire area, and I’ll point out a few clubs.

Cheers, CRB

 

[Guest]

Steady as she goes there matey! The best club is out on the water! You'll be one step ahead of 50% of most club members coz you have a boat! There is a lot more to flags than you will have ever dreamed of!

Find yourself a nice pub on the banks and go there a lot and you'll find the club I first spoke of ... maybe?

Genuine apologies to any club who isn't as I have so thoughtlessly described?

 

[Guest]

Re: wow!

I don't know anywhere like that within hundreds of miles. You need to go to Ibiza. What?!!! I SAID IBIZA.

 

[byron]

In defence of the occasional 'dressy' times in Clubs. There's all year round to be in [censored] order. What's wrong with having one or few times a year when one dusts off the reefer and makes an effort, my wife likes to see me tidy now and again.
As regards nautical etiquette that some clubs like to espouse. Yacht Clubs are the last bastion of civilisation and there's nowt wrong in maintaining the traditions that other countries try to copy. Many of the traditions have a grounding in common sense anyway. For example good flag etiquette makes an Ensign last twice as long and prevents misleading light signals being given at night by some pratt who has an Ensign flapping over his stern light.

©2001