Fambridge May Day Rally (3-5-2010) Battlesbridge Barbecue (in Hall if Wet) I suppose we gaffers can count ourselves lucky to have enjoyed two years of good weather for the popular barbecue at Battlesbridge, on the first May bank holiday. Saturday’s weather was good, dry and sunny with a light easterly, but the forecast for Sunday was dire, rain, cold and strong winds, but this didn’t discourage the fleet and at least sixteen boats set out for Fambridge. It says something for the persistence and optimism of the gaffers that only two didn’t make it; your editor failed to allow enough time to get into the Crouch before the ebb set in and went up the Colne instead, while Nigel Basset in his lovely bermudan ‘Quiet Days’, had engine trouble off the Crouch entrance. There was no wind and Nigel was unwilling to call on the emergency services, so he and Terry pumped up the inflatable, attached a 2hp outboard and made it back to West Mersea – four and a half hours later. Those who made it included ‘Kajun’ from the Medway, ‘Deidre’ from Maldon and Ian Kemp’s newly acquired Pintail from Benfleet, via the Havengore. The ‘Janty Men’, having sold ‘Janty’, were there, have up-sized to a Heard 28 and even Graham ‘Menuhin’ Jenkins got there from the Blackwater, and all enjoyed the evening meal in the marina Bistro. Sunday’s dismal forecast proved correct and only one boat made it up to Battlesbridge – and that was Mike McCarthy’s motor cruiser ‘Emma Hamilton’, loaded down with gaffers who preferred to leave their boats at Fambridge. Others came by car, so that over 30 folk eventually arrived at Battlesbridge Hall, where host Roy Hart had wisely substituted a hot meal indoors for the planned barbie. Guests were welcomed with a roaring log fire and then sat down to lasagne and baked potatoes, followed by apple pie and ice cream, all in a very convivial atmosphere, further lightened by a trio of fiddlers bringing out the shanty singer in everyone. (Graham’s new instrument performed well in spite of, or maybe because of, its exposure to the continuous rain the previous night). Many thanks to organisers Roy Hart and Trevor Rawlinson for another great weekend; Trevor spoke for us all when he said, ‘no matter what the weather, gaffers always have a good time’. Bernard Patrick.