Goose Island Regatta represents sailing as it should be, or so you’ll hear from all those who took part in this season’s event. As promised, the sun split the stones, the breeze was favourable, and 10 SOD’s with various following craft had a brilliant weekend. Saturday’s Outward Migration took the fleet from Goose Island to Castletown Bay leaving Ilaunmore to starboard; our destination is sometimes known as the Black Lough, discovered first through a cut in the rushes by 50, sailed by McCormick’s. Alan Algeo’s 138 crew were clear winners of the picnic prize, complete with plates, knives and forks. After much beer, wine and conviviality the fleet were persuaded back onto the water for the Wild Goose Chase, a thoroughly immature event involving the collection of different coloured balls; it suited many of the sailors, especially the 117, who always seem especially well prepared for this event. 50 might well have won the Island Race which followed had they not ‘phoned the PRO mid-race to check the course – disqualified for outside assistance; most boats wisely left Green Island to starboard ( optional rounding ) and 138 crossed the finishing nicely ahead. After some over-heated crew bathed off Skehana ( the point, not the boat ), the Fly Away Home provided a romping beat for Dromineer, obeying of navigation marks, rocks, rushes and reefs. The cunning Alan, despite a hefty time handicap, left the Bugganes to starboard  and completed a perfect day on the water  Goose Island Regatta dinner continues to be a highlight, and this year did not disappoint. Rachel served up an excellent budget fare, while competitors got serious for the first time in the day: creating their artistic impression of the Regatta on posters with crayons. Niamh of ISA fame judged the talent and declared Mark and Nicky winners, deservedly so as their presentation to the assembled said it all. Most posters were left on view for the benefit of those using the Club over the weekend, although for some reason Tommy Sanders’ interpretation of 45, which is actually named ‘Storm Cock’, was removed before dawn. Not only were the traditional nursery rhymes from Mother Goose read aloud by volunteered crews, but Sandra treated the party to her very own rendition of Jack & Jill. It was not an early night In a lighter westerly the fleet made for Youghal Bay on Sunday morning, drifting for a time around the Mountaineer; as the heat of the day took its toll on the crews, Guy and Chris brought forward lunchtime beers, and provided a ‘drop’ around the course, without touching the boats of course. Fuelled up, the 50 narrowly made it over the line ahead of 164. By kind permission of Nigel and Sue, we availed of their outer jetty and enjoyed another exceptional picnic in the sunshine. And then something new, a backwards race, 2 sausages windward-leeward, with downwind legs sailing backwards; we think this will become a feature of the Regatta as it really reduced some to tears; Dave McFarlane and Sally proved themselves as expert in this class. And so to the Homeward Migration, a gradual event which started near the Mountaineer and nearly fizzled out altogether. Damian Maloney helmed 122 to the finish at Goose, crewed by promising new SOD sailors, one of the few boats not to accidentally get caught up in passing RIB’s ( aka take a tow ). We closed the weekend with an informal prize-giving, supervised by Paddy and Breda. Special thanks were offered to all who assisted on and off the water and thereby made the event possible. While 50 took home the coveted trophy, the other prizes bore little relation to what happened on the water. But that’s Goose Island Regatta for you. Perhaps you’ll be there next season?Organised  by the crews of 167 and  144; ( no geese were intentionally harmed in making of this event )