The Westerly Owners' Association - South Coast Group

Shamrock Quay Rally 16th – 17th May (Another great Irish joke!!)

Ok, I’m not going to take this personally, but what happens to my Rallies? Last year’s Dog rally was hit by strong winds and my appendix demanding to see light of day, and this one again called up the winds to blow at uneasy strengths!

But are we deterred? NO!

So after a week of weather watching and an increasing number of (sensible) withdrawals from fellow Westerly boats, we all made our way to Shamrock Quay in gale force winds. Rather I should say our gallant Mr and Mrs Commodore on Sea Quest of Hamble and John and Joyce Easteal on Fair Encounter SAILED there while us others came by car. Martin and Dawn drove from Worthing and Gill and I from Dorking. The company was rounded off by Arnie the ships dog who made sure Brian and Denise moored safely in strong gusting winds on Shamrock’s famous cross-tide workberth.

Arnie the dog glad to be near land again!

We gathered in Sea Quest’s cockpit in the late afternoon sunshine for drinks, accompanied by some Irish music to help us remember St Brendan, a very, very early Westerly owner and navigator! So glad were MDL that we had chosen their marina for our event that they presented us with 2 bottles of wine to get things going! We had all dressed in a variety of Irish costume, including the dog, although Brian was heard to keep muttering “Where’s the Guinness?” On learning that the prize for the cunning Nautical Navigation Quiz was a bottle of old Black Bush Whiskey he ceased muttering and delved deeply into his Almanac for guidance! The very nice organizers Tony and Gill decided to open the quiz up to all present, irrespective of their method of travel to the event, so all eight of us talked through the questions and, fingers on buttons style, the couple with the first correct answer got a mark. Strangely, after a hilarious but very fair bout of adjudicating, Denise Easteal came out as winner!

Well done Denise, and how grateful was Brian! Better than Guinness eh?!!

Gill thinks they also deserved the prize for best fancy Irish dress, but thought that 2 prizes going to the Commodore rather rang of political corruption! So just what are they saying to each other in this photo?

What plot is being hatched here?
Answers to and watch the website for the winning entry.

Whilst enjoying sips of Brian and Denise’s prize, we quite forgot the time and the table booked at The Waterfront, so rearranged that for rather later rather than put the top back on the bottle.

A good meal was had by all, but a tip for future diners is to avoid the liver. We thought it had been made by Dunlop, but perhaps we were just unlucky. Some fellow Westerly Owners joined us from an adjacent table, bringing our Rally total up to 10 souls!!

We retired to Sea Quest for a nightcap (even more Black Bush!) before turning in (for some) or driving home (for others). The forecast for Sunday was for Southerly winds, due to make for a lively wind-over-tide passage down Southampton Water.

Fair Encounter was due to have a farewell gathering aboard at lunchtime before starting their 18 month Atlantic circuit, so a bash on their way to Lymington would be good practice!

Great fun just being together, we triumphed over adversity once again. I trust all returned home safely. Watch this space for our next event, likely to be round our place watching “Master & Commander” on the telly!! Only joking!

Thanks to Brian and Denise for letting us use their boat as a base for the evening, and well done to them and John and Joyce for sailing against the odds.

Tony & Gill Eakins