A very short trip

The Holbrook Rally was the first OGA event we ever went to, and having missed it last year we definitely wanted to go this time, so Julian booked a day off. We checked the weather reports, and they were just about okay, and we headed to West Mersea in plenty of time to catch the lunch time tide.

It was windier than we expected on the mooring, and spitting with rain, but we set everything up, and cast off at 1305. The radio had been silent all morning, despite being on 16, so when we did not hear the 1310 forecast announcement I went straight to channel 84, and luckily caught it all. General synopsis contained a gale warning for Thames of force 8, occasionally severe gale 9 later. The Inshore waters forecast was just as bad so, not being idiots, we turned straight round and were back on our mooring by 1320.

We drove to the rally next morning instead. Only five boats actually went to Wrabness, and they spent a very rough night on the moorings. The racing was cancelled (not enough boats), but the lunch at the Royal Hospital School, and the barbeque on the beach both went ahead as planned and were very enjoyable. The weather was fine.... as long as you stayed ashore!