Sail Inn came about during a conversation between Dave Perillo, Paul Groom and myself over snapper T Bones and snarlers at Issy Bay [ I had the snarlers]. This is too good a place not to use more often.

And so it came about..... we had 12 stacked up as possible arrivals on the Saturday. It was all very informal, come if you want and when you want. Go when you want or give it a miss if the weather was not the best.

And Saturday was another one of mixed blessings from the Auckland climate. Joan and I departed Milford Creek at 6:30 and meandered over to Motutapu sort of in the bay leading to Gardiners Gap. There we sorted out the boat after quite a bit of work on this and that during the week. A cuppa and a handful of Anzac biscuits and it was up sails and a gentle reach to Billy Goat Point. From there is was light going with about 2 knots against the tide. Nice and peaceful and Joan catching up on some sleep after the rigours of a two day conference in Hamilton.

The plan was to stop off at Emu Bay for a swim but the bay was full of fizzies and anyway a really nice breeze had filled in so it was on on on.

Contemplating a couple of boards from Emu Point into Islington Bay I was pleased to find on my first tack we were lifted into the bay on one board going like the clappers [and the traditional welcome knockdown as we passed the old CM base]. No drama as we lowered all sail and motored up to our 'anchorage' north of the top Coastguard can.

Typically Jaunty was already there along with Bruce Robinson's Waverider Manu, David vanishing soon after to check out the Yankee Landing BBQ site in case the breeze stayed up. An hour later he returned loaded up with firewood declaring that our favourite beach site was on.

From then on the boats started to roll in..... Loloma Jason's Prews gaffer, Waione John Bertenshaws gaffer, Richard Whitney in Kokako, Lindsay in his Houdini, Paul Groom in Varuna.

Still plenty of time to do this and that. Jason rowed over to borrow a few tools and departed with a hacksaw, a decent plastic headed hammer and a hex head screwdriver. Soon after there was much banging from the direction of Laloma following which Jason arrived back with a dinghy full of bits and pieces which had previously been a surround for the head. An addition created to impress prospective new owners who may have had some greater need for privacy than we ourselves might expect.

All this time the boys had their dinghies wound up and were hurtling around the bay amongst the launches, yachts, trimarans etc. which typically stack up there on a Saturday afternoon. They looked very impressive and there were many comments on how well these guys can sail and how well John Welsford puts his design packages together.

Getting on into the early evening the BBQ is flashed up. Not really a BBQ but a fire surround. The steel and fittings for the incineration of meat were stolen many years ago. It's more of a symbolic fire or centrepiece for the BBQ ritual while all cooking activity is taking place on a variety of gas fired devices.

Against the cone of Rangitoto we can see the rain coming in. It's out on the other side against Motutapu's cliffs too and we wonder if the forecast for rain is in fact correct. Have faith lads we have a different eco climate out here. The light and not uncomfortable misty rain continues for 10 minutes or so and then the sky clears, the winds drops and we have a typical Issy Bay evening on our hands.

Joan and I have the steel plate off an old BBQ with a single 'Chinese' wok burner and our spare gas bottle. Joan turns up some traditional cooking stones which are just the right for the plate above the flame and after a suitable time for the plate to ready itself Jason christens the new setup with a tray of sausages. Pink ones with what looks like lawn clippings inside.

I have a couple of pieces of steak.... well I think that is what you call the stuff, I see so very little of it lately it might well have been somebodies jandal.

Paul is cooking another of his gigantic T bones and Dave is doing his gourmet pan fried snapper meal that is so much of his weekend activities these days.

It's time for the big boys to arrive and John and Kirsty bring the family in from Waione. So too friends of a Lidgard 40 [I will be reminded of their names I am sure]. John and Kirsty have sausages enough to feed the regiment. sausages of many designs including pink ones with lawn clippings in them.

Food is cooked, shared, consumed and discussed. Glasses tinkle, jokes and stories are exchanged and the sun sets on a huge pile of embers as the group of I suppose 25 people talk about things. Not too much wooden stuff. We all have them and the subjects are more general boating inclined. We discuss the World's Fastest Indian and decide the title belongs now to a dairy owner down the line who tried to pay off a Lotto winner with $600 instead of the $30.000 he had actually won.

To night rolls on..... not a piss up but a gentle rolling informal social occasion enjoyed by like minded people.

Joan, Bruce and I are the last to leave having watched the fire burn down to a safe level. Bruce's Waverider is high dry and level for the prospect of a good night sleep for him. Quite a drag for us with the dinghy and BJ is on the bottom too. But I anchor here a lot and know she will settle on the soft bottom but will not dry out below the chines and will still be a nice stable platform when we board.

We go off to sleep after a last look at a bay full of anchor lights and the clouds orange with the lights of the city..... a good night! We will do it again......

Next morning is typically flat calm and David is tearing around the bay with his video camera over the side at water level getting footage of the gathering.

Both Loloma and ourselves spend some time getting our sails sorted. We know from the forecast and the sky we are going to get a bit of wind on the way home. We depart in company about 10:30. The dinghies are gathering we suppose to beat up the fleet again and on Waione they still seem to be asleep.

The sail home...... well that's another story.

Thanks to all those who came down and made it a great night out.... for those who were coming but for one reason or another put it off until next time, we look forward to seeing you.

Jasper