Join us for the festivities and celebrations.
More details will follow but you can expect all the usual;
- All boats on the water from 9am assembled off Tassells Cove (Dog beach).
- Prizes from best dressed boats and crew!
- Sail Past from 10am back into Martha Cove to salute the official party
- Bagpiper along the board walk!
- Official ceremony on the boardwalk with Blessing of the Fleet, National Anthem and Declaration of the Opening of the 2023/24 season
- Lunch at Martha’s Table (booking required – details to follow)
SAIL PAST
If you’re wondering what a sail past is, it’s believed that the tradition began at the royal yacht squadron at cowes in England nearly 200 years ago. The actual “review of the fleet” is steeped in more than 600 years of royal navy tradition and was introduced in yacht clubs as a continuation of the naval habit of having admirals or royalty review the fleet on special occasions.
Protocol demanded that a flagship be anchored with the admiral on the quarterdeck to receive and return the salute. Vessels sailed past, dipping their “colours” in salute, and with their captain also saluting with the ship’s company standing at attention.
Nowadays, rather than dipping “colours” it’s customary for vessels to give “three cheers” to the committee on board, simply “3 cheers for mcys!” and for that to be answered by the flag officers on board, “3 cheers for ….!”
So if you’ve never taken part in a sail past – this is a great opportunity! It’s open to water craft – power, sail or paddle.
If you have buntings and flags please display them to make each vessel as colourful as possible – there’s prizes for best dressed power and sail boats and crew!
If you’re land based, join us on the board walk from 10am as the Piper, pipes the fleet in for the opening ceremony from midday at Martha’s Table (with more door prizes)!
Looking forward to a great day!
