July 23rd to 27th

[Michael]

Wednesday 23rd - First day of school holidays; went out with Jaja in his Mirror, just the mainsail - mast forward. Before that we took the Rescue Boat out laden with the new weights for Race Mark B. Alan Round and John Holt helped load the weights on to the boat - no one around licenced to use the JCB for lifting. They also helped with the recovery.
Friday 25th - Jaja wanted to go out on the Dart. Ivan was out on his Laser and Martin and Sammy were in their RS400. Thunder, lightening and black clouds curtailed our sail! We had lots of excitment as the wind increased. Robin Boardman was out on his sailboard
Saturday 26th - Walked out to the weights Jaja and I had dropped into place on Wednesday and moved them inshore a bit and dug them in. Fastened John Holt's 45 gallon 'lifting drum' on to the two old anchors and chain that I've been trying to get out of the mud/sand for over a year - two green cans outside the OOD Box. Success at last, the drum lifted the anchors, mind you the river had washed out considerably too.
Sailed out to the lighthouse with Ivan in his Wayferer. Chris Elleray was out in his Mirror sailing well.
Chablis arrived with her new owners, the Shaples family, a bit late but just managed to get on to the bottom of the jetty.
Sunday 27th - The Summer Cruise Fleet had sailed away towards Port St. Mary at 0500 hours. Ian and family had scrubbed Chablis's bottom clean.
Spent a couple of hours before the tide came in with Sue dragging the two anchors and heavy chains across the sand/mud and up the slipway, we used the car to drag them up the slip.
Nick had been for his new Blaze on Saturday and rigged it for his first sail. Sue christened it 'Nellie' with a can of Boddingtons. He was very pleased with it. Ivan went out in his Wayferer again, this time with Richard as crew. Doug and Chris were out in their Post Boat, it looks lovely on the water.
On Friday Jaja said to me "I'm taking Dad for a sail on Sunday will you come and rig it for me". I was full of trepidation but he was so serious and confident! Well the wind got up a little and his confidence sapped a bit. I went out with him for ten minutes and then he took his dad out, still only one sail. His dad only has full use of one arm and he's never been sailing before! I needn't have worried because he did very well. He took his mum out later too but by that time we were all tired and we had a few anxious moments when we launched for the third time. I sailed alongside him in the Topper all the time.
John Bacon was taking his pipe relaxing on his new boat, a Leisure 23, on Avanti's mooring.
Ian Hall and Mick Clough returned from a day's fishing in Ian's boat.
Northern Star was ready to launch on Monday. Chablis was off towards Ramsey at the same time.