As guests of the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, thirty or so members and friends enjoyed a weekend sailing with a difference. Peta Walmisley, our Commodore, who is also a member of The Royal Lymington Yacht Club had arranged a very full programme for the weekend.

CLYC members and RLymYC members racing in Lymington River Scows

We congregated in the bar of the club on Friday night, renewed old and made new acquaintances. We then dined together in the bar area enjoying the first taste of the very good cuisine supplied by the club.

Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny and then the fog came down. Mid morning it lifted but with no wind it was difficult for us to practice. Club members paired off into seven Scows with just Jo Head and Sir Clive Martin opting to sail single handed.

For those unfamiliar with them, a scow is an 11 foot dinghy, gaff rigged with a small jib to be flown if double handed. Those we sailed are owned by the RLYC and regularly used to train beginners.

With the afternoon came a light breeze and seven CLYC boats accompanied by five from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club set off to the open sea. We were shepherded down a backwater where larger yachts cannot go and in shallow water a course was laid for us to sail.

It was thoroughly enjoyable. We sailed only one race because after that the wind died but honours went to the home team.

First home was. Anne Blacoe from the Royal Lymington closely followed by Jo Head. The next CLYC boat was Nigel Reese sailing with Roger Moore in fifth place.

A great time was had by all in such light airs and calm seas as should attract more for the future.

Peta presented prizes to the first three on the clubhouse deck.

We dined in style that evening in a private dining room at the Royal Lymington and all present are eager to return and repeat the experience as soon as possible.

Nigel Reese

Left and below: CLYC members and guests at the dinner on the Saturday evening