Up the creek — again

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33963, 2 October 1975, Page 1

Up the creek — again

The Royal Alford Forest Yacht and Rowing Club, one of the most landlocked sailing clubs in the country, and one of the smallest, is probably also among the most unlucky. for it has again had to cancel its annual regatta — for the eighth time in succession. An advertisement in the midCanterbury edition of "The Press” told some of the story. "Owing to

consistent high tides and inclement weather,” it said, “activities will be postponed until further notice.” The commodore of the club (Mr F. J. Conolly) said the club membership fluctuated, “sometimes five, sometimes six.” It had been formed about eight years ago by persons interested in doing a little sailing on Taylors Stream, a tributary of

the Ashburton River about 30 miles from the sea, and so narrow that in places "you could spit over it.” The cancellations were caused by consistent high tides and inclement weather forcing the boaties to remain ashore, Mr Conolly said. He admitted the club did not own a boat of any description, and if the tides had been more favour-

able, the club might have been in a quandary. Does the club have a future? The commodore was certain that it had, even though he was soon leaving the district for smoother waters. Before he left, he said, the club would honour certain boating traditions that, in the past, had brought a degree of notoriety to the activities of the determined sailors.