Commodore's jaunt north

Bracing himself for a ‘herding cats’ experience, Clive Murray is pleasantly surprised by the success of his rally from Scarborough to Blyth and back

- Clive Murray

My three-year term as Commodore of Scarborough Yacht Club began amid the first lockdown of 2020. That summer we managed some sailing events, with Corinthian-style time trials (choose when you can complete the course and take your own time), followed by local bay races as restrictions eased.

One skipper complained that Corinthian events were not fair given the travel rules for anyone living out of town. I advised him he’d be disqualified regardless, on the grounds that he was taking things too seriously. I filed this introduction to the complexities of handling the stalwart club racers alongside advice I’d received that ‘organising the cruiser division is like herding cats’.

Wonderful camaraderie

In late July 2020 we announced the club’s intention to cruise to Whitby and Hartlepool and were delighted when eight skippers signed up. The short but sweet socially-distanced cruise had a wonderful camaraderie. I was determined to plan a more serious cruise for 2021.

When Whitby Yacht Club’s Vernon Dawson race 2021 from Scarborough to Whitby was announced for 12 June, I decided to join the first leg as part of a ‘Commodore’s Jaunt North’.