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Freebooter - 9th June - Friends & the Monte Real Yacht Club



We were delighted to get an email from fellow MOA (Moody Owners
Association) members Claire and William Philpot a couple of days ago.
They had spotted us on AIS, and were in La Coruna at the time. They
sailed in last night, just in time to join in a drinks reception at the
Club. This probably supports the widely held view that MOA members will
travel a good distance for a free drink!

Anyway, the occasion was to welcome a Classic Yacht Regatta to the
Club, and generously, the Rally Portugal fleet was invited along. To set
the scene, Monte Real is a very prestigious Club, set within the
historic outer walls of a castle. Its setting is superb, and the
staffing and ambiance reflect its status. The principle attendees were
predominantly cadets from a naval sail training ship, plus more seasoned
crews from other boats.

Anyway, the Club had laid on drinks (gin and wine), and some food. The
formal opening was given by a senior officer of the Club, followed by a
minimalist prize award by an obviously VIP naval officer (loads of
ribbons across his chest). Then the food arrived, starting with giant
prawns, superb calamari and even baby sand eels in garlic and olive oil.
The cadets were slightly left behind as the gannets (the Spanish and
then the RP team) moved in to hoover up the food. The youngsters drifted
off, leaving the staff bringing out yet more food, paella, and keeping
up the drinks.

Now I have to tell you about the gin. Gin and tonics in the Club would
normally cost €19 a time, so we were told! The delivery is sublime, ice
is poured into the glass (more like a 1/2 pint tumbler really), gin into
a shaker with more ice, and then poured into the glass. Tonic is added
by pouring it in across the back of a spoon to dissipate the bubbles,
and then citrus zest is added by twisting orange and lemon peel with ice
tongs. It is a masterful display, made all the more interesting by the
level of thirst that develops during the 5 minutes the performance
takes. The outside bar was stacked with crates of Plymouth Gin and
bottles of tonic.

After a couple of buckets (calling them glasses really does not convey
adequately the volume) of wine, there was a minor domestic dispute over
the missing paella. To compensate, a gin was called for. Having been
very well received, a second was necessary, but the tonic ran out during
the pouring. As true professionals, the staff just topped the glasses up
with gin…

William and I having missed out on the paella (the domestic was minor,
it should be forgotten sometime in the next decade), and in need of some
sustenance, it was time to head back to the boats. Bangers and mash duly
appeared, and were very much appreciated.


(Photos to follow)

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