Is it a bird?

[rickp]

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! Its a 'Blue Angel' and she's moving! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Nice one Col, great to see you back on the water and in fine form!

Rick

 

[RogerRat]

Definitely going well there Col. Well snapped Rick! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Great weekend from a very rough start, glad you all made it to Yarmmouth. Not bad though, seven out of eight
boats made it, right in the middle of winter. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Who would have thought on Saturday morning after it blowing upto 45 knots through the
night at Chichester that we would have maqde it out past the bar and out to the west? It was certainly
bumpy to start with. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Whitelighter]

Such a shame you cant record VHF coversations for posterity - there were some Sparkler's classics on Saturday,

Thatnks to Rick and Mandy who invited us along on Trogdor - even if we did have to ride out on Ocean Tigress. Its was lumpy to start with, even found a hole big enough for a squaddy to fall into, but it soon flattened out and the advanced party kept us abrest of the improving weather conditions.

Its was flatter than a flat thing in flat land in the west solent, with the only thing breaking up the mill pond was the wake from a certain Targa 40 that seemed to have its throttles jammed wide open /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Hurricane]

Wasnt very rough for us but might have been a bif "Ruf" for Col though.

Oh... thats an dreadful joke - needs some explaining.
Col was single handed this weekend with just "Harley" his dog as crew.
Shame Harley wasnt able come carol singing - he had to stay in charge of about 7 forum boats whilst we all went out to seek some festive cheer.

Seriously though.
SWMBO and I had a fab weekend back in the Solent again. Thanks to all for making us feel so welcome especially to djefabs for his hospitality and a very comfortable night aboard the fabulous Ocean Tigress.

Mike

 

[Col]

Excellent photo Rick.
Thanks to everyone for a good weekend and for not making me feel like a "Billy-no-mates!"
Blue Angel is indeed out and about again. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the new Donks!

Roll on the next meet!

 

[studgies]

Hey Col,

Looking great! Let us know when you are next out and about and we will see if we can track you down!

 

[alt]

Did ye have a get together or something? Great to see the boats being used year round, i'm going back in the water (or the boat, rather) on the 18th Dec for some winter BBQ'ing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Ah, so it was you lot who had booked the walk-ashore pontoons, which meant the rest of were not allowed on them after 2.30! There was about 5 boats in there when we left.

To be fair, it made no difference as the pontoons were free and the ferry was optional donations for the RNLI, because of the Needles Relief celebrations.

 

[Hurricane]

And - whats your point?

 

[BlueSkyNick]

My point is that I was in Yarmouth, saw a fleet of boats coming in and five had arrived when we left, that's all.

I also merely pointing out that the HM kept the walk ashore clear after 2.30 to make space.

And - whats your point?

 

[RogerRat]

[ QUOTE ]
the HM kept the walk ashore clear after 2.30 to make space.


[/ QUOTE ]

Nice of him really as we had booked several weeks earlier... He also knew we were coming cos only 'Hell or High Water' would have prevented it! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Oh, and we phoned him. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[benjenbav]

Not like me the last time I was in Yarmouth....

In my defence, I would say that it was pretty busy and we were in a bit of a rush....

Anyhow, we park in the slot directed by the HM, not looking too shabby as the skipper manipulates the levers like he knows what he's doing, the crew fail to sling both ends of the warps into the drink and nobody shouts at each other at all.

Engines off and the skipper gets on the vhf. "Taxi, taxi won't you pick us up and take us to the shore post haste. We have a fair old hunger and a thirst upon us and we need to satisfy it now. Over."

Water taxi replies, "Snow Goose, why don't you just walk? You're on a walk-ashore pontoon." /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[djefabs]

Great shot Rick, I bet Col still has the silly grin /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
What a great weekend, thanks to everybody for the great company. Shame about the lumpy bit getting out of Chichester /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but it just got better and better.

Special thanks to the Yarmouth HM and all his crew, he looked after us very well.

Had a fabulous run back yesterday, I love winter boating /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BlueSkyNick]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
the HM kept the walk ashore clear after 2.30 to make space.


[/ QUOTE ]

Nice of him really as we had booked several weeks earlier... He also knew we were coming cos only 'Hell or High Water' would have prevented it! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif


Oh, and we phoned him. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Well we go on the same weekend every year, and have done so for a lot longer than I know about ...... so there !!! We already know which weekend we are going next year. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

It all goes back to when there was a man in the light house. The Needles Relief, as I understand it, was a sail down to the lighthouse to watch the lifeboat and helicoptor deliver the christmas presents and hamper, provided by the local Clubs, then back to the pub in Yarmouth for thirst quenching and carol singing.

Since the lighthouse keeper has been redundant, the 'ceremony' takes place just outside Yarmouth. There is an exchange of presents between helicoptor, lifeboat and ILB by high wire, then a very brief fly-past and display.

Donations are made to the lifeboat, the visitors pontoons are free to encourage boats to come and spend money in the town, and the ferry takings go to the lifeboat too.

All in all a great day out.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Was there any forum burgees flown? Maybe I just did't notice them, due to dimininished eyesight...... erm..... I mean daylight.

 

[djefabs]

Hi Nick, Dont know if you saw me coming into Yarmouth but I have a forum burgee flying at the bow. However it has done a fair tour of duty and is getting a bit ragged.


However I think you may have noticed Ocean Tigress a little later in the afternoon

(Note the burgee) /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Col]

Was it still foggy when you left as it was clear by the time I got to Newtown creek?