Beneteau Rendezvous - Amble Boat Company

The weekend beginning Friday 1 st July, the third Amble Boat Company Rendezvous got underway by virtue of a chilled Champagne reception on the pontoons at Royal Quays Marina, Newcastle. Boats started to arrive from all ports throughout the day.   Nick and Katie with a marina trolley full of ice buckets and fizz greeted all arrivals in the warm evening sun until the last boat arrived at around 11pm.

Saturday was a sharp call - a 9am briefing for all the power boats, predominantly Beneteau Antares, entering the fishing competition.   The signing on and locking out of the fishing fleet got underway whilst the yacht briefing began.

A triangular Olympic style course was laid just south of the Tyne, off South Shields hoping to provide three average timed laps to accommodate the range of eighteen vessels within one class. We had a slight sea, a N/NE with 0-2 kts of breeze and poor visibility. The sports boats jumped to it taking advantage of the gossamer like zephre.   The start of the flood tide, with it's southerly flow created difficulties for most of the competitors, allowing only the light boats to achieve one lap.   The first boat eventually crossing the start line 9 minutes after the gun!

The committee boat was kept amused by boats as they attempted the line for the second and third time.   The race was eventually won by Roger and Nona Wilkins in Harry Eau on their First 210.   Glen Jones and family in Blue Amethyst   an Antares 1080, and Gary and Joan Sharp in Christina, a Lagoon 41 were impressive officiating vessels along with Ray and Gill Edwards in Jannika, the very hospitable committee boat

All vessels, both sail and power returned to raft up for lunch outside the Marina lock gates and as luck would have it the sun came out and shirts came off! People gathered to observe the weigh in of the fishing   - rather serious stuff and magnificent catches!

After lunch and further instructions the convoy of boats lead by Ian and Gill Gibson in Freebooter, an Oc473   made their way up the Tyne River and milled around until the magnificent Millennium bridge was majestically opened, there were hundreds of shore side spectators waving and cheering in the sunshine, the boats and their crew answered the cheers with blasts from their   foghorns - this in everyones' mind was without doubt the highlight of the day.   'U' turning under the bridge all competitors gathered their first clue and poker card and the Treasure Hunt began!

Clues and cards were at numerous designated stations with marshals at each all the way back down the River Tyne.

The prize giving was a jovial affair with the infamous punch and beers on ice being consumed whilst results were being considered.   Our thanks to our sponsors for generous prizes and support, namely Bank of Scotland, Raymarine, Navigators and General, Plastimo, Marinac Scotland.

The day was rounded off with 125 crew members on board the Earl of Zetland for dancing and a Thai supper.

Go to our Gallery to see more photographs.

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