Posted by Adam Quinan on July 14, 2003 at 00:26:16 from 66.185.85.76 user Adam.
Yesterday, nineteen Ontario TARS and friends gathered at the CFB Trenton Yacht Club to enjoy the Annual Corroboree, hosted this year by Ross and Lisa Cossar and their family. The Yacht Club is on an island in the Bay of Quinte (albeit joined by a short causeway to the mainland). The strong gales yesterday were causing white water to break over the causeway adding to the island effect! Regular attendees were joined by two new families (all properly red-capped) who had not been to a Corroboree before. A few other regulars were missed as they couldn't make it this time.
The "Greatest Distance Travelled to Attend" award was not formally given this time as no one was from beyond Southern Ontario. So come on all of you far-flung travellers, see you next year!
Due to the strong winds, sailing any distance was not possible but Ross took a number of people out in his boat in the sheltered waters by the club, with the mainsail well reefed. Other activities included a Ransome picture identification quiz (with 1 point for identifying the book and 2 more if you got the caption (mostly) right). Some wind socks were painted in appropriate pirate designs and put to good use flying in the winds. A good number of the attendees were rowed by a strong native to a small wooded island just off the Yacht Club. No secret harbour or campground were found and the few octopuses (real water lilies) in the water between the island and the club were skillfully avoided and no one was marooned for too long. The archers battled with the wind and the target eventually got used as an improvised sled down a grassy Knickerbockerbreaker to avoid too much darning.
The traditional Ontario Gold Rush took place and the winner was Duncan Cossar with 17 nuggets, all properly assayed. Then the feast began with a barbecue followed by the ceremonial feasting on a cake shaped like Wild Cat Island (in all three dimensions).
Although the elements were against us this year, we still had a good time thanks to the creativity of the Cossars in providing enough indoor activities and we all enjoyed each others company and discussed such topics as the use of Arthur Ransome's books for home schooling.