….A large group of us then headed up to Alderney, for the infamous Milk-A-Punch. Stuart Crisp reminds me that it was 2013 when the Club last managed to join our sister island for their annual May bank holiday festivities. And what a blast it was for the seven boats and 16 members that took part. Cruising conditions for the motor yachts were perfect, and even Spaarkle and Mr Scarecrow managed a little bit of a sail. Top tip from me: remember to check your boat before you set off after a long winter layup. Otherwise you may be left stranded with a faulty gas regulator and no tea or bacon butties for your trip.
On Saturday evening, the Alderney Sailing Club (ASC) hosted us for what turned out to be a smashing BBQ, cooked expertly by Richard Babbé. Plenty of pork ribs, Alderney beef steak, and sausages; all washed down with plenty of beer, wine, and an apple and rhubarb crumble. A huge thank you to Jan Huntley and Sue Hunt (aka ‘the House Elves’) for preparing, serving, and clearing our wares. And also to Rosa, the ASC bar steward who served us late into the evening with her unfailing cheerfulness. The event brought on fond memories of past yacht races to, and parties in, Alderney, and we hope to create some new memories of that later on this year.
For those who have not tried it, I can attest that the Milk-A-Punch is great. Somebody described it as a mixture of “Christmas in a Cup” and “Amaretto Baileys”. Just make sure you have it early on, as the milk tends to curdle during the afternoon, something which didn’t seem to deter the locals from enjoying it even more.