SNOW !!! That white stuff greeted us in the days leading up to the weekend and we were that close to cancelling the weekend, it’s a miracle it happended at at all. !!!

Saturday saw our host Paul totally ignoring the icy northern blast sporting shorts !! together with the Noyces, Ryde – Weller, your writer, Browns and Francis’s. We had a fine run down the Bewl straight to Tinkers Marsh – what a lovely name, and then it was back beating all the way. Paul gave his crew - including Mathew his 8 year old son - something to chew on by coming within an inch of capsizing and testing their hi tech cold weather gear, but they scrambled to the “up” side and avoided the icy drink. The club house provided a cosy haven for chips with anything.

A shorter PM sail was around the other 2 fingers - Hook Straight and Copens Reach but by now the sky was made of steel and we weren’t so it was quickly back to the shore and warm up.

Saturday evening was arranged by Paul at a local – “ The Brown Trout” – Bruce had one !! actaully out of Bewl Water - and a pleasant evening was had by all – thanks Paul!!

Sunday came with clearer skies and a touch warmer, so it was off for a two finger cruise – Way up Hook Straight past the Noyce and Francis B&B waving to the Landlord ! and then down the Bewl Straight again - with a quick elevenses stop at the end. The wind was the same N’ Westerly meaning a run down there and a fine beat back with ever clearing skies so that by the time we were back de-rigging the sun was on our backs – a satisfying end to a good weekend.

I am sure we will be back for either a first or final sail of the season, a lovely setting , excellent facilities and friendly club.