Mighty Christmas Craic -ers!!!!
We had a great day out!
QHM was reasonably happy at the general air of merriment around Portsmouth Harbour as we gathered in a variety of craft. Aging Youth led the way and a little later ( looking not unlike Santa’s sleigh) Nautibuoy headed for Cowes having waited for the Wise Men from the East (Northney & Chi). The skies were blue as was the sea and the wind whistled through the branches of Nauti’s Christmas tree, which stayed firmly in place throughout the entire trip! Viv & Pete 7’s new craft leaned alarmingly as they stormed past with their family looking quite the hardboaters in sunnies & t-shirts. We steamed up the Medina not a bauble out of place in the glittering Christmas sunshine, atmospheric music blaring from the Nasher craft.
All ages gathered at The Folly and there was a relaxed and happy air as people caught up or met for the first time. Food and drink orders seemed to be proceeding smoothly and Ribald and Tim & Jane Griffin arrived from landward places to meet & greet the invasion
The student population was well represented and are up to all sorts of exciting and progressive things this year (some even planning for the Zapcat racing season 2007! You Know Who You Are Craig!). Another couple of intrepid zapcatters BenC & Gray joined the Southampton group of Ozz et al while DJL made nothing of the long haul from Poole. Charlie and Nina were really glad they’d joined in at the last minute and Ian Mc C asserted his tubes had stood the test! Tim M, Ju and Natalie were in good spirits! RIBnet Kaiser JK and AndyB007 joined in the festivities while Baron Andre from the East looked after his trusty international crew (Wiesia, Bogib & Adda). Great to see Wendy & Steve of the mightily friendly Littlehampton Ribsters, Milo72 & assorted crew peeps also.
The best indicators that it was a ‘good out’ (as JK put it) were the grins on the faces of the occasional boaters and of course, strictest judges of all; the children! Natasha (in charge of clan Halliday!), Ben, Chris, Susie, Andrew, Jerry’s three and Ian’s lad all looked extremely happy and delighted to see so many grown-ups had made an effort to wear silly hats & outfits not to mention the festively decorated boats.
There was a long queue to use Pete 7’s new toilet and cocktail bar
and after lunch Tim & Jane counted us out as we headed off in blazing sunshine for the trip home. Not before a few photos were taken outside Cowes! (Somehow we seem to have a photo of Hightower & Biggles adopting unusual positions down the Medina???) Nos4r2 lived up to his self-confessed ‘petrol-head’ leanings as his hull spent most of the time in the air! The boats looked fab (great-looking boat that Viper Chris & Debs!) and all of a sudden the sun was setting and we turned for Portsmouth. Nav lights were supplemented by a string of blue Christmas lights on Nauti’s RIB as 4 (slightly sinister looking
)Santas, and 4 assorted others hung on tight for a final blast. The Wise Men headed further east and we followed a star!!! Rickuk 3!!! into Portsmouth harbour.
We looked across at Pete 7 & crew and a force greater than gravity caused us to swing towards the Lightship!!
NautiBuoy Sen x 2 & Ollyit were raising no objections!
Susie gazed at the changing colours of the Spinnaker Tower in delight as grown men had a few bevvies and queued up to sit on Santa’s (Lynn’s) knee
Thanks to all who turned out and made it a Christmas outing to remember. Thanks for kind messages and texts also, especially those which said you were home safe. Three other special texts on the day came from Amy (off ski-ing), gArf -lovely to hear from you! and best wishes from Whiteshoes in Australia.
Thank you to Richard and Sarah of Nautibuoy for having us aboard!
We’ve written a ‘thank-you’ card to Cheryl Greenwood at The Folly. Loved looking at everyone’s fantastic photos (great quality as usual Slimtim & yer mate Mike!). We will post ours on ‘Christmas Folly’ in the gallery as soon as we get home for Christmas.
Nollaig faoi shéan ‘is faoi shonas,
merry and peaceful Christmas to all,
Joyeux Noel and thank you for your wonderful company!
Kathleen & Paul
