Midsummer Cruise

Midsummer Night Cruise - Mike Hendra

Wednesday 20th June was a bright sunny Summer Solstice eve and around six o’clock a band of about 20 Aquarius enthusiasts rolled up at the club for the evening cruise. This year the idea was to sail, cruise or “Patrol” up to the “Weir Hotel” upstream of Sunbury for dinner.

The hardy folk this year included six single-handed sailors (although two were only going as far as the lock entrance) leaving four others to sail through the lock. Two rowers, well one rowing and one coxing, Richard in the “Patrol Boat” along with two boozing crew thanks to Stuart who had supplied the wine. David and son Ben, new members, in their half cabin “Olly Beak”, Don and Stuart with their cruisers. Stewart was splashing the wine so he had at least four crew. Don with no pre-priming managed with one plus wife and dog.

The wind was over the current so the sailors where soon running up river at a goodly pace with Graham rowing like hell behind. Stuart, in his other club’s rear Commodore disguise, took off early and left everyone rocking gently in his wake. Richard motored blindly into the sun worrying about everybody but his boat and crew, and Don sensibly and serenely brought up the rear.

It appears that whoever organised the event forgot that Don and Stewart (alphabetical order) always offer comfortable places on their boats for this event so some redistribution of crews took place at the club before departure. We all managed to reach the lock in time for a single pass but due to some misunderstanding regarding the number of sailors who were actually dining at the Weir, half the fleet watched the other half disappear behind the lower lock gates and had to wait for round two, wasting a whole lock-full of water in the process.

Eventually flotilla two got into the lock and without any mishap exited the other side. Two of the dining sailors were moored just before the bridge and here the other two joined them. Whilst attaching a state-of-the-art anti- theft device to the four vessels as a precaution against roaming boatnappers, the padlock with its keys slid impishly betwixt the thrashing limbs of the Locker-Uppers and plopped into the river. “Get a torch and boathook now” screamed one of the LUs but not understanding why such chaos was occurring, the onlookers remained in shock and did nothing. Disgusted by the inaction, one of the LUs sped off to get help whilst the onlookers, now victims of a tirade of abuse, strolled nonchalantly, if belatedly, to the pub.

Those who had been waiting anxiously at the Weir Hotel, now shared the amusement of the onlookers as the story of the Lock and Keys was spread. For the uninvolved and the onlookers the incident gave lightness to the evening which added to the pleasure of the company and meal. Eventually the Lock and Keys, who had not swum far, were fished out of the river, using Stuart’s large magnet (from a loudspeaker) and exhibited triumphantly before the diners.

By now it was getting chilly so we all drifted off towards the boats but not without some crew reshuffling. This time we all made it into the lock and all exited like skilful sailors. The rower sped down the river at full speed without his cox, who was tucked up in a cruiser and three of the single-handers tacked manfully down stream.

Peanuts, now abandoned by it’s crew thrashed tempestuously behind Richard in the “Patrol Boat”, eventually laying down on its side and stamping its sails in a fit of pique. Richard managed to overcome the fit of pique and coaxed the Laser upright, towing it back to the club.

By this time it was chilly and late enough for a warm chocolate and bed to call so after securing the various boats the revelers headed for home. All in all a very pleasant evening with some unexpected entertainment.

Thank you to all those who participated and especially to Don and Stuart for lending their cruisers.

12 of the 18 members dining at the Weir Hotel

Ideal conditions for running to the lock

Pictures by Frank Rainsborough

12 of the 18 who had dinner at the Weir Hotel

More pictures can be seen on Picasa Web Albums accessed from sailaquarius.org.uk by selecting More>Photos on the Menu.