Tag: lifestyle

There was a touch of midsummer madness at Weir Quay when sailing club members gathered for the Annual Regatta!

Before the two big events – the Trans-Tamar model boat race and the dinghy race – Commodore, Rob Kirby put on his Taskmaster hat to set a series of fiendish challenges for the members.

His helpers, Alan Duncan and John Giblin divided the regatta-goers into two groups, Port and Starboard with pink and green wristbands, and put them through their paces.

The games kicked off with a three-legged race round an obstacle course. Steve Kirby had to be be brought to order when he tried to run round the course carrying his much smaller partner in his pocket.

The relay race that followed had a bizarre touch. Alan Duncan demonstrated how the participants had to hold a plastic bottle between their legs as they ran – this is not a sight that is easy to forget.

Weir Quay sailors are used to getting wet. That stood them in good stead for challenge number three: passing a bucket of water over your head to try to fill the bucket held by the person behind you. Repeat down the line until everyone is thoroughly soaked.

The bucketeers had a chance to dry off during the next challenge as they ran madly round the field looking for the hidden gear of two Picos. Once the Picos were rigged, the teams had to balance on their boats. This they did until their tormentors – John and Alan – asked: “Have you remembered your R-clips?” Of course they hadn’t and there was another mad rush around the field before the boats were boarded again.

The final challenge was for the mudlarks: a relay race that involved wading out through the Tamar ooze to a tender and fetching balls to pop in a bucket.

The overall victory went to the Port side. Better luck next year, Starboard!

Once the competitors had washed off their mud, it was time for the Trans-Tamar Model Boat Race.

There was a huge number of entries this year. Models ranged from carefully crafted craft with big keels or keelboards to tiny boats – and even a flying chicken/duck/avocet.

Hard work was not always a guarantee of success. A beautifully built black catamaran got off to a flying start before capsizing seconds later and needed a helping had to get it going again.

Steve Kirby’s boat did a Teignmouth Electron, sailing halfway across the Tamar before turning back to Devon, pretending it had completed the journey. It must have felt ashamed because it then turned round and tried to complete the course properly.

The eventual winner was the Tamar Flyer built by Patrick and Saoirse.

Then it was the turn of the proper dinghies.

The race was won by Don, Wilfred and Sampson, with Charlotte and Aoife second and George and Hugh third.

After these hectic events, it was time for a barbecue with music provided by Charles, Ralph, Ben, Mark, Ali and two Johns.

Our thanks to everyone who came and especially those who worked so hard behind the scenes to make it all run smoothly!

If you would like to see more, take a look at this video of the Regatta.