Tim, Bev & Anna Roberts  – Virus Trimaran ‘Triana’
David & Margaret Spensley – Wanderer ‘Rhapsody in Blue’
Chris Hieke – Wanderer ‘Herbie’
Ed Wingfield – Dockrell 17 ‘Dolly Peel’ WB10 ‘Cuddy Duck’

Ed arrived Thursday 19.30 and rendevouzed with Tim who’d already launched and been sailing. As the forecast was Var 3 becoming NE F4-5 they decided that the night should best be spent tucked around the back of Guile Point at a place they named Oysterman’s Bay. It was utterly secluded and pristine. The downside was that it must’ve been the day of the year when a certain species of fly decided to hatch out in the evening – they were plagued by them. Thankfully they were not biters
Friday. Light northerlies. After carrying out further Ouze mooring reconnaissance Ed met up again with Tim and set off in ‘Triana’ first to collect mussels for lunch, then to carry out engine speed trials using the Suzuki 2.2 monitored by gps. They reported that cavitation occurred at 5kts
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They decided to go out to where ‘Mermaid’ was anchored she is a Trinity House Lighthouse Tender and she was carrying out buoyage maintenance
On the way out they were joined by an adult male dolphin which repeatedly dived and surfaced around them (see pics). When they throttled back for some photographs of ‘Mermaid’ he lost interest. As soon as they opened up again he returned.

On the return trip the engine played up and stopped. They hoisted all sail and ghosted back towards Holy Island in a F1-2. Later the engine was restarted and they continued in, motor-sailing. Later lunch was taken. Moules naturale was on the menu.
 
David and Margaret  arrived, and later Chris, who gave reports of a difficult road journey. Chris launched with the full liveaboard inventory. Tim and Ed decided that Oysterman’s Bay would again make a perfect anchorage and barbeque/booze-up place. The three boats dried at 1hr after HW, again in this most perfect spot. The flies that had caused bother the previous night, had presumably moved on to the next stage in their life-cycle, as they were absent
 
 Saturday - Light northerlies. Tim left early and drove to Berwick Railway Stn to collect the family. Chris and Ed walked the village, then decided to explore the church to do an historic building survey pretending to be experts.

Tim took the opportunity to introduce his family to the seals for the first time, and a picnic was taken on one of the sandbanks.

The evening was spent in ‘The Ship’ where the rally company were well fed and watered. We later learned that the pub would be changing hands later in the year. Chris and Ed left to get to the overnight anchorage. The others slept ashore.
 
Sunday - This was the last chance for an Island circumnavigation as tides were now off the high springs but with the forecast of var 2 bec SW 3-4 then W 4-5 it was called off. Local pottering was once again the preferred option. Chris and Ed sailed to Oyster Creek at low water and set up a barbeque behind a windbreak.
On the teatime HW 3 boats went across to the mainland to beach at Tealhole Point. David and Margaret picnicked high up on the grass, Chris and Ed joined them but also made preparations to remain for the night. D&M were watched as they sailed back to Holy Island in a pleasant N f3.
 
Monday - The two at Tealhole Pt lifted off in the morning and returned to Holy Island after another peaceful night. Here the rally was effectively over save D&M carrying out further Island exploration on foot.

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