2019 Autumn Rally Report to Yarmouth
An Autumn gale didn't dampen spirits at the 2019 XYOA Autumn Rally to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight, UK. 1 week before the event, we had 19 X-Yachts and 53 people booked to attend, which would have been our best rally attendance by far. As the preceding week progressed and 40+ kts were being forecast for Saturday night/Sunday morning, many people decided not to venture out. Saturday still looked like being a windy but sunny day, and in the end 3 Xc45's and one X-37 made the trip to Yarmouth. We were the only rally of over 100 boats expected to turn up in Yarmouth that weekend!
I was luck enough to be invited to sail on one of the Xc45s and we had a superb upwind sail in 30kt gusts with 2 reefs in the main and an inner jib. All taken in her stride. Many members took the ferry over from Lymington to Yarmouth and 27 of us enjoyed a great evening together in 'Off-the-Rails' restaurant, swapping stories on the seasons' sailing and talking about all things X-Yachts, and more. It was lovely to welcome 2 new members to their first event and for another member to bring their two teenage children to enjoy the fun. Sunday was probably an exciting down wind ride for those who ventured home that day.
