The big welcome home

We celebrated the homecoming of Jan & Mike Drury this last weekend. On Thursday night we headed to the boat to make preparations for the coming weekend. They were due to arrive between 10 and 11am on the Friday which also happened to be Jans birthday. The weather had finally fined up after having weeks of rain and grey skies, so it was lovely to see blue skies and sunshine for a change which added to the enjoyment of the weekend.
Frank, Katrina and I sailed out to meet them and Grant and Ann on Coco sailed up from Hillary's. It was so exciting to see their sails in the distance and to realise that they had almost finished their trip from the US in the newly aquired "Fully Involved" a beautiful 42ft Island Packet.
Our excitement knew no bounds when we all converged together and Frank, Kat and I sang happy birthday to her over channel 73 on the radio. They did a few circles around so that we could take photo's of her from all angles and she looked beautiful with all her sails billowing. Jan was laughing and crying from the emotion of almost finishing this epic trip.
It was Frank and my turn to organise a cruising event to Mindarie for all the Hillary's people and we had blended that in with the arrival of Mike and Jan to make it a really great weekend of celebrations.
And what a weekend it turned out to be. Approximately seven yachts sailed up and I think all would agree it turned out to be a really wonderful weekend. Perhaps a little too much celebration for some of us, but how often do you have the opportunity to witness two people arriving home after sailing for twelve months across the ocean.
Frank had rung Chris Kealy from the club and persuaded him to put on a welcome for Mike and Jan when they sailed to Hillary's on the Sunday. It was our privelege to join them on Fully Involved for the sail to Hillary's. The weather looked rather grey and windy as we left Mindarie, but as we sailed it cleared up and turned out to be a lovely day.
What a turn out at Hillary's to welcome them home. The VIP jetty was crowded as we came in and poor Mike was having a meltdown in case he couldn't bring her up alongside the jetty correctly. He had no need to worry as he did it perfectly, and thankyou bow thruster, you certainly make it easy.
Chris did a welcome speech and also another official from the club and then platters of party pies and sausage rolls were bought out for all the people who were there to welcome them. So thankyou HYC, you did us proud with your welcome.
After all the fesitivities died down Kat, Frank and I drove back to Mindarie to pack up and head for home. The tiredness hit while we were enjoying some Thai food with Kat and was glad to get home and just fall into bed.
A very successful weekend and I think by all the feedback everyone had a great time.

weekend plans for cruising in company

Plans for the weekend are starting to be put in place. After getting some housework done at home after being away for nearly a week we will head to the boat to clean that up ready for the weekend festivities.
Very much looking forward to Mike and Jan arriving back from the travels with their beautiful Fifi. It will be a real welcome home for them and we will have the honour of sailing on their boat to Hillary's on the Sunday.
The club are sailing up to Mindarie for the weekend and we are the organisers of that event.
I am praying that the weather will fine up and shine on us for the weekend. Can't believe the amount of rain we have had and cold weather. We certainly have had no spring to talk of just an extended winter.
So looking forward to this weekend and catching up with all who venture to Mindarie.