The Top Hat events get better & better…
A HUGE Thank-you to Denis for organising the weekend, obviously a lot of time went into the details & it was very much apprieciated!!
Also thanks to the other members of HRYC who were there(lovely people), they helped with the race, catering etc, & sailed their own yachts in the race. What a great set-up the HRYC is!, built stronger than a brick….outhouse.
Night Cap moored at America’s Bay on the fri night, I underestimated the time required to get to the start line
, as I motored sailed up to Brooklyn I could see the yachts preparing to start, it was obvious I wouldn’t make the start, I radioed Mij’a to see if I could just tag onto the back of the fleet as they sailed past…Denis said sure, but he also said “try to go across the start line if you can, shaun”, & I’m so glad I did go across the start line.
It was clear the yachts were now racing, but I couldnt hear the starters gun.
I turned off the engine & gybed around the starting buoy, it was only then I realised that I had to sail to windward..how do you do that again??
Thought to myself, I would be coming last if I started on time, so now..excellent ive got the perfect excuse for coming last.
Anyway rounded second last at the first mark, & was totally chuffed with the awesome 2nd place medallion.
The catering was great, just what the Dr ordered after a few days of make-do meals from my galley!,
All the boats from the first get-together were there(except for Dulcamara), & it was good fun to see them again, it would have been great to have caught up with Michael & Gabi, but at least all the boats went home with the same amount of kitchen utensils as they started the weekend with
…no tongs etc went for swim
!!
Dan & the beautiful bride Kate, you would of won the Sunday Observation Rally, but you missed a Std marker, there were 4. Fantastic to meet you both, & put a face to the many emails i have exchanged with Dan over the last year or so.
We had a swim & lovely Sunday lunch at Refuge Bay, thanks to all the boats for that in particular Curly Tops for the very nice rolls & salad, then Sonia & Ally backed it up by doing all the washing up!!, does it get any better than that?!
Also good to meet Mark on his very well kept Storm Petrel, & his motley crew Jacko & Jake. And also very nice to finally meet Tom on Alley Oop, who was also one of the very first members of the Top Hat owners group.
cheers
Shaun