The 2000
GP Picnic

SATURDAY 5th AUGUST 2000
This annual jolly is becoming increasingly popular by the year and word must be getting out.
Would you believe that we're now getting visitors !! Philip Hoath turned up from Chew Valley (Bristol) and joined in.

Something else, it's also getting  hi-jacked !!, not only did we have our 9 GPs and the folk in the club launch invade the quiet secluded beach, but from the club, two Toppers, a Phantom, a Wayfarer and a Mirror got to hear about it.
Stewart and Gemma even borrowed a GP and what's more they brought a tent !!

"These Burgers are dammed good !"

The anchor man from Bristol

Anyway we picked another gorgeous day, sailed to our favourite spot and did the usual Boule and Tug o War stuff with the Wooden boats versus the Plastics. The Woodies won the Tug o War thanks to their anchor man, the visitor from Bristol.
(we made some use out of him).

"Any sand on your burger ?"

The smell from the bar-b got a stream of takers as endless burgers, hot-dogs and onions were churned out on one of those disposable jobs and we even fed the gate crashers bless 'em.
Talking of gate crashers, we got more use out of them as we noticed that John in the Wayfarer had brought his outboard, so the ferrying of the non sailors from the sands to our anchored club launch was a much more sophisticated affair this year and six up wasn't a problem.

After a nice easy going afternoon messing around in boats and stuff, it was time for home. The getting back to the club business was easy this time as a stiff sea breeze had set in from a favourable direction allowing us to sail round Brownsea Island, port tack all the way. 

The nice man in the Wayfarer

We had a load of gear and five in my boat and the good 'ole GP handled it well but having to tack may have changed all that.
The anchor's now been put away, the wife tells me she's done her one bit of sailing for the year and I should be grateful, so lets wish that next years picnic is as good and hope that the nice man in his Wayfarer hasn't bought a GP !!

Den Valentine (GP 13117)

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