Ocean Cruising Club 60th Anniversary Meet in Prince Rupert's Bay, Dominica.
Oriole
Sun 16 Mar 2014 13:06
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Prince Rupert's Bay,
Dominica
Sunday March 16th 2014
15:34.93N 61:27.92W
We left the Saintes, for Prince
Rupert's Bay ten days ago and last weeks blog did not get written. Chris
and I have been too busy with the admin for the OCC 60th Anniversary Meet, which
we have been organising, to get out the key board and photographs. We had
a good sail in brisk condition to get here only to find that there was a south
westerly swell coming into the anchorage which during the afternoons and
overnight when the wind fell light was causing the yachts to roll
violently. Life became difficult on board and on one occasion we moved to
a different part of the bay where conditions seemed to be a bit better.
This lasted for three days but for this week the wind, weather and sea state has
been idyllic.
 Ear to Eternity (Vice
Commodore) left and Oriole (Roving Rear Commodores) right with Fort
Shirley on the hill behind.
Over the last week Ocean
Cruising Club yachts have been gathering here for the first of the official
events to celebrate this 60th Anniversary. The first formal event was a lunch in
the newly restored British fort - Fort Shirley on the Cabrits Hills dominating
the anchorage.
 Lubricated with rum punch, we await
lecture and lunch.
After a welcoming rum punch we
enjoyed an hour's excellent lecture by local historian and the mastermind behind
the restoration Lennox Honychurch. He kept his audience spellbound with
the maritime history of the Bay. Forty members and guests then sat down
for a superb lunch with a local flavour produced by a well recommended outside
caterer Morica Casey.
 Early 16th Century boat boys in Prince
Rupert's Bay. Rapt attention for Lennox Honeychurch.
Chris and I had already sampled her
cooking in her restaurant and bar at the mouth of the Indian River.
Two members gave their reminiscences of sailing in the Caribbean 40-50 years ago
and John claimed with justification to be the only member present who was
proposed for membership by our founder Humphrey Barton who died in 1980.
Christine from Quadrille recited a hilarious poem she had written thanking the
Admiral and Captain of Oriole for the organisation of the Meet.
 The OCC House Flag flies alongside a
large Red Ensign at the Cabrits Fort Shirley.
The Club Vice Commodore Peter Whatley
gave a vote of thanks and a well dined and wined group returned to the fleet of
19 attending yachts. The crews have been meeting for sundowners
at a beach bar each evening and we have cemented more friendships. On
Friday twenty-one members did a four hour walk along the North Coast Path,
one of a network of trails which have been opened for tourists. We did not
see any. This section is an old mule track which until a few
years ago, when a new road was built, was the main route from East to West
at the north end of the island. We were able to paddle in a cool mountain
stream while having our picnic and as the majority of the walk is underneath the
rain forest canopy it is really cool.
 View from the North Coast Trail -
there are islands out there.
On Saturday a group had a
cooking demonstration of local food using ingredients purchased early in the
morning at the Saturday farmers' market. The predominantly male part of
the party then descended on the cooks to consume the results of their morning's
activity.
On Saturday the final event was
a drinks and nibbles party on the beach lubricated by the strong rum punch
left over from Thursdays lunch. There are certain to be some thick heads
this morning.
 Last week's BBQ and
disco.
Today, Sunday, yachts have
started to drift away but those remaining will attend the regular weekly beach
BBQ organised by the boat boys who have over the last few years formed
themselves into the Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services (PAYS) who
have their own large open events house on the beach. This has become a
popular event for yachties and the rum punch and BBQ supper is followed by
a lively disco at which the PAYS members excel in the dance floor with the
visiting ladies!
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