Eight boats and 12 people attended the first Aldeburgh small boat rally and were blessed with nearly perfect conditions. The sailors were greeted on arrival at Slaughden Sailing Club by Stephen Foxall who is a club member there but also belongs to the OGA. He opened up the clubhouse for us and by 11.30 all the boats were launched. A little more wind would have been welcome, but there was just enough to give steerage way and the spring tide carried the fleet of eight up river for a picnic on the beach, then down again in bright sunshine. The dinghies were anchored off to avoid having to re-launch them for Sunday, and Pete Thomas provided a ferry service in ‘Happy Days’.
Aldeburgh was bustling with tourists, and everywhere was busy, but thankfully we could eat our takaway fish and chips or Chinese meal at the Sailing Club where we were treated to a spectacular sunset. Sunday produced the perfect weather for a small boat event, as we beat up river with the tide all the way to Iken where we enjoyed our picnic on an ever decreasing beach. The very high tide was still rising as the boats reached and ran back down river to the club where it was necessary to wade to yesterday’s picnic tables!
Watch Steve Miller’s video from the weekend . . .
Once all the boats were safely back on their trailers the club treated us to a final cup of tea in the clubhouse before the drive home. Many thanks to Slaughden Sailing Club for the use of their clubhouse and Demon Yachts for providing space for those who wanted to camp.
Report: Alison Cable
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