Specifications

• THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR - THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY RALLY HELD AT COWES YACHT HAVEN 

  ISLE OF WIGHT 29 June – 2nd July 2010 

  Excellent weather was as usual ordered by the Commodore for this 3 day event. What a wonderful spectacle – 25 Fishers in the marina at Cowes Yacht Haven celebrating 40 years since the first Fisher was built at Cheverton Work Boats in Cowes, Isle of Wight. Here listed below the boats named and where they had travelled from to attend. What a gallant effort – the entire success of this event was down to the support of all these Fisher Owners – thanks to you for making it so special.

  F/Freeward 30‘PANPIPE’ (Heybridge, Essex), F25 ISLAND LADY (Guernsey, C.I.)
F25 PIPER (East Coast)
F25 MALLARD (Hythe, Hants), F25 MARY (Emsworth, Hants)
F25 TRISKEL (Belgium/ Holland)
F30 BONNIE KATE (Liverpool, N.W.), F/NE30ROMANZA (Port Solent, Hants), F/NE30 STELLA GIRL (Hamble, Hants), F/Freeward 25 ‘LYNNIE II’ (Brighton ,Sussex), F25 PUTZ II (Chichester, W. Sussex), F25 BLUE DOLPHIN (Plymouth)
F25 SEA KING (Gosport, Hants)
F25 FISKER (Chichester, W. Sussex)
F30 KESTER OF TROY (Hamble, Hants), F30 ROCH BRAIDIS (Brittany, France), F/NE30 TARQUIN (Chichester, W.Sussex), F31 SUSIKA (Poole, Dorset), F31 MERRIELANDS (Ipswich, Suffolk)
F34 HI HO (Island Harbour, IOW)
F34 WATERGEUS (Holland)
F34 KINGFISHER OF FORTON (Port Solent, Hants),

  F34 PJ FISHER (Dover) - sadly developed a serious engine problem in Portsmouth Harbour and was unable to reach Cowes – Bernard Neal and crew however, attended all three days returning each night to the boat – using ferries and taxis. A gallant effort. Bernard has reported that at the end of July he had to be towed out of Portsmouth and sailed non-stop back to Dover with no engine. Hopefully, the engine problem will be solved soon. 

  The furthest travelled Fisher was F30 BONNIE KATE from Liverpool nearly 500 miles duly rewarded at the prize giving. 

  Mention must also be made of the remaining Fishers represented by their owners - who due to various reasons could not attend with their Fishers but supported and enjoyed the event by road and ferry. A tremendous effort travelling from as far as the Midlands, Devon and as far away as Marseilles, South of France who had hitched a lift from Brittany on F30 Roch Braidis. 

  F25 HYPNOTIC - F25 FLADA MAID – F 25 OTTER – F 25 JACANOU F30 JOJAC – F30 WITSEND F31 NOBLE CAVALIER – F31 SAM STEEL 

  TIME TRIALS IN THE SOLENT – organised by Geoff Brown 

  On the Wednesday and Thursday nearly half of the Fisher fleet went out into the Solent for two Time Trial events, which were enjoyed immensely. The Designer David Freeman and Tony Saunders (who was involved in building the first Freeward) joined in and sailed on F34 Hi Ho and duly came first with David helming. (Perhaps an unfair advantage – should have had a handicap) 

  COMMODORE’S PONTOON PARTY 

  The Commodore hosted a pontoon party aboard and alongside ‘Romanza’ on the Wednesday – it was estimated over 60 people attended enjoying a drink, nibbles and a chat. Delightful cheese on sticks with the little Dutch Flags and the Fisher emblem were provided by the Dutch Commodore, Ruud and Anneka. The pontoon started to sink with the weight and Peter and Penny Hoskins’ little Poppy the Westie nearly got her feet wet. The drinks were served with the assistance of two glamorous bar maids – Vivien and Linn!! but all good fun and thoroughly enjoyed. 

  F34 SEA SCREW (Dartmouth, Devon)
F34 WIGHT MISTRESS (IslandHarbour, IOW), F34 BRIGANTIJN (Holland) 

  Two evening meals were enjoyed at the Cowes Yacht Haven Events Centre both served on the balcony as the weather was warm. A barbeque on the first evening and a three course meal on the Wednesday evening – good food and good company. 

  FINAL DINNER AND PRIZE GIVING ON THE THURSDAY AT THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADON 

  The final dinner held at the Royal Yacht Squadron was the icing on the cake! This was held in the Castle on the Platform thanks to the special permission of our RYS Sponsor and his Flag Officers a privilege not freely given. A total of 83 attended. 

  Special guests included David Cheverton, Tony Saunders representing Cheverton Work Boats (and their good ladies). Also the Fisher Designer, David Freeman and Mary and John Warne and Francine from Northshore were present. 

  The excellent meal served with military precision was followed by speeches from the FOA Commodore and a surprise and hilarious speech from the Commodore of the Dutch Fisher Club – Ruud Heruer. André Mouren, our member from Marseilles, presented a burgee from the Société of Nautiqué de Marseille, the largest and famous sailing association in France, to the RYS, which was reciprocated by our RYS Sponsor in presenting André with a RYS burgee. An honour indeed. The prize giving followed organised and presented by Geoff Brown and ably assisted on the mike by Gill Saunders. A very memorable and magical evening. 

  AND FINALLY 

  On Friday morning a parade of Fishers lead by George Whitchurch with his F/FW30 PANPIPE motored in line up the Medina towards the site of Cheverton Boats, where the first Freewards were built, before finally departing for their home ports. 

  Special thanks are due to Geoff Brown (Rear Commodore South) for agreeing to organise this special event which took months of work and commitment and resulted in one of the most successful boating events the Fisher Owners Association has ever held. 

  Our Thanks also to Gill Saunders (Rally Co-ordinator) for assisting Geoff and to all the above mentioned who participated, as without you all it would not have happened. 

  (To read the full article please see Newsletter Summer 2010)