The Royal Southern Folly Rally

What a great success the last major rally of the season turned out to be! Almost 20 Royal Southern boats set off as usual for the mid-river pontoon on the Saturday. This followed the excellent Cruiser Supper the night before which was, as always, very efficiently organised by Maggie. A short hop across the Solent was just the ticket, with even the breeze obliging as the day progressed. The excellent weather forecast had encouraged more & more members to make a Rally reservation. In fact, I think I had about six supplementary conversations with my new best friend, berthing master Dave, as the date got closer. Responding to apologies for very short notice from some late entrants, Dave & his team remained a model of calm, slotting in our variety of sailing & power craft ranging from 27ft to 55ft in length, while at the same time, somehow fitting in another rally on the same pontoon! Once secured, everyone basked in their own or in friends’ cockpits in the hot autumn sunshine, limbering up for the 6pm Pontoon party slightly later. Everybody was on fine form throughout, with Canapes, bubbles, wines, (some traditionally mulled) & beer going down a treat. Afterwards, and surprisingly, with still dry feet, quite a few crews subsequently repaired to the Folly Inn for supper, while the rest of us either hosted or were hosted aboard boat supper parties. The good weather continued the following morning, and pretty soon the smell of bacon & eggs wafted along & across the rafts as Ensigns re-appeared in true Sunday style. Once enough breeze had established (shortly before 11am) the call was made for crews participating in the legendary Model boat Race to assemble at a suitable gap on the pontoon. The creative imagination of Southern Members never fails to impress, with some models being almost worthy of the great Brunel himself. On the appointed signal nearly a dozen craft were launched onto the Medina with varying success. Soon, the leaders had established a convincing lead… Very fittingly, it was the youngest entrants who showed the rest how it was done. The overall winner was 10 year old Arthur Korshunenko, with Tilda & Freya Clatworthy’s entry coming a close second. A worthy third was Claire Dresser who, in mitigation, it’s fair to say, is more used to campaigning somewhat larger boats. Corinthian spirit prevailing, each was rewarded with prizes. After perhaps another coffee, the mother ships gradually dispersed, taking with them, it is hoped, another raft of happy memories of a jolly good time amongst friends filed away and to be reflected on over the coming dark winter evenings…