Annual Regatta Dinner - John Mathias (ex "Etherea of Hamble"; now "Perchance to Dream")
I recall one Regatta dinner when Professor John Kinmonth was Commodore. The venue was a small private hotel in West Cowes, and the evening had been organised by John Wolfe, the Prof's Senior Reg at that time. Towards the end of the dinner the lady responsible for running the hotel approached John with a question. Not paying full attention, John assumed she had asked "Shall I serve the coffee now?" and answered "yes". In fact she had asked "Would you like my daughter to dance for you?!" Middle-eastern music then filled the room as a rather plump girl in a skimpy bikini proceeded to belly dance in front of the Prof.
John was thrown into instant panic thinking his boss would assume he had arranged it.....although the Prof actually enjoyed the dancing a lot!
John was thrown into instant panic thinking his boss would assume he had arranged it.....although the Prof actually enjoyed the dancing a lot!
Bramble Bank - Andrew McIrvine ("La Réponse")
I have memories of designing the course rather close to the Bramble Bank one year. My J24 was OK, but Bert T on "Saphena" ended up spending all afternoon hard aground .... watching the other boats.
Club Dinner - John Mathias (ex "Etherea of Hamble"; now "Perchance to Dream")
On one occasion the Club Dinner was organised at Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu. Mr Frank Cockett (yacht "Saphena") was due to attend as guest of honour, but uncharacteristically didn't turn up. In actual fact he hadn't consulted the charts and ended up spending the night with his boat resting at 90 degrees in the mud at Lepe.
The following morning everyone was awoken by rapidly fading shouts from Prof Kinmonth's departing yacht. They had been the inside yacht on a long raft....and now they were underway the remaining raft members were drifting freely down the river - Happy times!
The following morning everyone was awoken by rapidly fading shouts from Prof Kinmonth's departing yacht. They had been the inside yacht on a long raft....and now they were underway the remaining raft members were drifting freely down the river - Happy times!
Commodore-to-be's Knees - Peter Sonksen
These are Peter Sonksen and his son Julian's knees under the boom of "Nuts 'a Crackin" at the UH Easter Regatta 1974 (Julian was aged 10 at the time). The Photo was published in "The Guinness Book of Yachting Facts and Feats" in 1975....but Peter and Julian were unaware of this until many years later!
East Lepe Buoy - John Mathias (ex "Etherea of Hamble"; now "Perchance to Dream")
I was racing on Saphena with Bert Thompson and his Senior Reg Kevin Burnand. We were on an upwind leg towards East Lepe Buoy (to be left to port). Bert was on the helm, with Kevin and myself on the side-deck, when we hit the buoy at speed. Saphena had a steel hull, and so did the East Lepe Buoy. The resulting "Clang" was several decibels above the pain threshold, and when everyone had recovered Kevin turned to me and said "Well he can't blame us for that!".....how wrong he was as Bert then harangued the crew for failing to keep a proper lookout!
Professor George Prunty Attends The Royal Navy Fleet Review - Peter Sonksen
In June 1977 there was a review of the Royal Navy Fleet off Spithead as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations. Professor George Prunty attended in his yacht - crewed by members of St Thomas' Sailing Club. George had had to retire from working at St Thomas' Hospital due to serious health problems, but propped up in the cockpit he was able to salute Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He was delighted to attend the event, but sadly died a few months later.