Rame 2019

27 Jul Rame 2019

We once again made our annual pilgrimage to Rame regatta. For many of us a high point on the regatta season. With 27 clubs competing this year it was crowded on the beach and the intensity of the racing was competitive. With 8 boys and 7 girls attending we mixed and matched it up and bravely faced the beautiful calm waters of Plymouth Sound.

Steve arrived first on Friday and wasted no time securing Avona a prime beach position. Once done he erected our prominent shelter reserving  the best corner of the beach for Clifton. I’m sure he has some German ancestors in there somewhere such was the ruthless efficiency of his beach grabbing exploits. We awoke to glorious sunshine early on Saturday morning and a somewhat optimistic request from Steve to be on the beach at 8am! Having politely declined to take part in his early morning beach yoga class in preference for a large fry up the campers on the top of the hill arrived several hours later to find everything beautifully organised. Having been on ‘patrol’ early an altercation with two long distance swimmers and  a canoeist was narrowly avoided  and the immortal words “ Get orf my beach” were fortunately never muttered.

A slight delay before racing meant those who had not partaken in a healthy breakfast could catch up on nuts, seeds and green stuff known colloquially in Cornwall as hot dogs, burgers and pasties… Ladies B were up first and disappeared off into the distance when they came back into view 20 minutes later they finished a respectable 18^th. A short break for more seeds and nuts and the ladies with one change were out again. This time improving on their first run coming in 9^th with some good close quarters racing in the ladies C race. Mens B were out after lunch and finished 15^th out of 20 having taken Cream of Cornwall on the second buoy and finished just behind Portishead and Clevedon for some local competition.  After more seeds and nuts the Mens C went out with Ant getting his first taste of racing action racing in number 2 (poor chap). After a solid start we slowly lost ground on an experienced Clevedon crew (coxed by Steve!!) towards the first mark. It was hard competitive racing and Ant must be glad I resisted the urge to empty some seeds and nuts over his shoulder as we went round the first mark. Challenged by Vault on the second leg we held them off and maintained 9^th for the rest of the race. As the mixed was cancelled this was to be our last race. We pulled Avona up the beach displacing numerous innocent families who had unwittingly not read the ‘private’ beach signs before setting up camp. Most of us then took to the calming waters and chilled out before wondering what to do next. One of us kindly decided to help Clevedon out and row another race. It was lovey to be able to watch his happy smiling face from the beach with a refreshing beverage in hand as he merrily paddled away.

Most of us then migrated into the square to partake in some more seeds and nuts all washed down with copious energy drinks. As dusk fell the band piped up in the gig shed. Suitably revived some of us had the energy for some quality Dad dancing. Andy and Sean had a ‘flossing’ masterclass and towards the end of the evening somehow managed to decline the opportunity to purchase 35 pints of real ale! Incredibly rare Glo-worms were spotted in the hedge leading to the campsite by some of the more eagle eyed and sober club members.

We concluded the weekend on Sunday morning efficiently loading Avona on her trailer with minimum fuss in far less than 2 hours before Fraser and Steve set off to take her home.