The parties...
The parties...
A lucky 13 boats headed down to the Soko Islands on Saturday morning, with some eight entering the Pursuit Rally. The weather was perfect - a blustery Force 4/5 on flattish seas and bright sunshine, though a heavy swell was running west of Cheung Chau.
The gullible (Sipadan, Santorini, Epic, Vega, Soko) headed straight for the gap between Sunshine Island and Hei Ling Chau, confident that the winds would blow them through. Alas, fate was unkind and the leaders struggled to make way, playing chicken with the jagged rocks which flank the narrow passage.
The smart money observed the chaos and chose to keep Hei Ling Chau to port and take the longer but safer route. Aegean, just weathering Cheung Chau, hoisted a confident spinnaker but then (perhaps seeking last year’s orange buoy) led the pack off to Wei Ling Ding on the scenic route.
Those choosing the rhumb-line fared best, some under spinnaker and some goose-winging in the old-fashioned way. Sipadan was first over the finishing line, followed by Soko and then Epic. Near the Sokos, reports from Salalah and Skellum (already at North Soko) reached the fleet of extreme roly-poly conditions, and so Rally Chairman Richard instructed all boats to make for the more protected waters of South Soko.
The very fast passage and early arrival permitted some quality zizz time before the evening pleasures began. First priority was firewood collecting and lighting of the BBQ before sundowners, noshing and the serious business began. The activities of certain Legs Eleven crew led to Legs being extended to Legless; Ian Cusack and Shelagh arrived by stinkboat (suspiciously late) at around 8 pm; and the prizegiving followed. Jug and Sue on Salalah, who had arrived the day before, were surprised to receive the infamous toilet seat, their crime being a clear case of calendar abuse.
Sunday dawned disappointingly dull, but calm and minimally rolly. Early birds soon cleaned up the BBQ debris, Bristol fashion, and a few hardy crews joined Richard for a ramble around the delights of this beautiful island. Finally the sun broke through around noon, and all yachts had a safe and pleasant voyage home.
