BlueSkyNick
Active member
Great sail back, managed to overtake a larger Swedish made boat, but were then overtaken ourselves by a French Benny thingy - life is so unfair !
On a more serious note, I was more than a little disappointed with the meal on Saturday, both in location and quality/price of what was served up. Particularly as I had to pay double myself!
Having made many phone calls, some double-international on Saturday, and then spent 2 hours finding the place during the day - wearing out a pair of deck shoes in the process - it was not what I had anticipated.
We copied last year's method of rounding up some people and then finding a place to eat. It works OK for a smallish number, not so for a larger one. Once the date was agreed, we were still at the mercy of the weather. Then having estimated the number of attendees, and even counting them up in Cherbourg on Saturday lunchtime, 19 people mysteriously failed to appear in the evening (17 actually, because I spoke with one couple earlier in the evening). Fortunately the hotel took payment just from those who had a meal.
A good time seemed to be had by the vast majority of attendees - and there are no casualties reported to date.
SO LET'S DRAW A LINE UNDER ALL OF THAT.
If there is to be a similar event next year, I would recommend the following approach if possible.
1. Find a suitable venue close to the marina who can take a large number, and serve a reasonable value meal - the Yacht Club seems to be the best option.
2. Find out their availability for a weekend in September preferably with neap tides and make a provisional booking several months in advance.
3. Tell Scuttlebutters which date has been booked so they can plan around it. If you can't make it, bad luck!
4. Closer to the time, eg a month in advance, set up the special forum to enable skippers and crews to get together, work out mutual passage plans, argue over the weather forecast, take the piss out of Jimi etc.
5. During 4. compile a more accurate estimate of the number, and finalise arrangements with the venue (who are accustomed to dealing with groups of British sailors dependant on the weather).
6. During Friday and Saturday in Cherbourg, collect cash payments from all those who wish to attend the evening meal, and provide final numbers to the venue.
7. Attend event - with all monies paid, great meal, short walk back, all punters happy, fantastic weather for the trip back, and pigs flying across the Grand Rade.
Easy, eh?
We will always be at the mercy of the weather, and most venues are used to that. It will be more manageable if the other variablies are minimised, by setting the date up front and then collecting payment upon arrival in Cherbourg.
All constructive comments and feedback welcome.
<hr width=100% size=1>Sex is like sailing - its not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean which matters.
On a more serious note, I was more than a little disappointed with the meal on Saturday, both in location and quality/price of what was served up. Particularly as I had to pay double myself!
Having made many phone calls, some double-international on Saturday, and then spent 2 hours finding the place during the day - wearing out a pair of deck shoes in the process - it was not what I had anticipated.
We copied last year's method of rounding up some people and then finding a place to eat. It works OK for a smallish number, not so for a larger one. Once the date was agreed, we were still at the mercy of the weather. Then having estimated the number of attendees, and even counting them up in Cherbourg on Saturday lunchtime, 19 people mysteriously failed to appear in the evening (17 actually, because I spoke with one couple earlier in the evening). Fortunately the hotel took payment just from those who had a meal.
A good time seemed to be had by the vast majority of attendees - and there are no casualties reported to date.
SO LET'S DRAW A LINE UNDER ALL OF THAT.
If there is to be a similar event next year, I would recommend the following approach if possible.
1. Find a suitable venue close to the marina who can take a large number, and serve a reasonable value meal - the Yacht Club seems to be the best option.
2. Find out their availability for a weekend in September preferably with neap tides and make a provisional booking several months in advance.
3. Tell Scuttlebutters which date has been booked so they can plan around it. If you can't make it, bad luck!
4. Closer to the time, eg a month in advance, set up the special forum to enable skippers and crews to get together, work out mutual passage plans, argue over the weather forecast, take the piss out of Jimi etc.
5. During 4. compile a more accurate estimate of the number, and finalise arrangements with the venue (who are accustomed to dealing with groups of British sailors dependant on the weather).
6. During Friday and Saturday in Cherbourg, collect cash payments from all those who wish to attend the evening meal, and provide final numbers to the venue.
7. Attend event - with all monies paid, great meal, short walk back, all punters happy, fantastic weather for the trip back, and pigs flying across the Grand Rade.
Easy, eh?
We will always be at the mercy of the weather, and most venues are used to that. It will be more manageable if the other variablies are minimised, by setting the date up front and then collecting payment upon arrival in Cherbourg.
All constructive comments and feedback welcome.
<hr width=100% size=1>Sex is like sailing - its not the size of the boat, but the motion of the ocean which matters.
