Bob Fisher Memorial Cocktail Competition at Cowes Week

Bob Fisher hosting a party aboard Barracuda of Tarrant serving (sponsored?) rum punch from the liferaft well © Guy Gurney

In memory of the late Bob Fisher, the 2021 Cowes Week organising committee has announced that on Wednesday evening August 4th, subject to Health Department regulations at the time, a two-part competition will be held at Cowes Yacht Haven in memory of The Fish.

The first... best drink recipe. The only rule is that it has to be served from a liferaft locker, bait well, live well or lazarette aboard the boat. Bob was fond of any good liquor, so gin, vodka, rum, whisky or anything else can be used. Must be served via a long ladle into plastic cups. Common decency dictates that the entire batch must be consumed. Style points awarded for floating entities in the mix (fruit, rubber ducks, huge chunks of ice, etc.)

The second... and this one also has a stipulation or two... how many persons you can get onto a single sailing yacht with a drink in hand (and a two drink minimum whilst onboard). The winner will be based on a formula that will add the LOA and beam, then divide by the number of adults on board. "We will draw the line at 18 years of age. Those Irish bastards will show up with a dozen snot-nosed kids and stuff them into the forward cabin to pad out their numbers" said a local pub owner.

A ‘two boats' in one picture moment, captured by Guy Gurney. Bob was at Weymouth racing his Soling, but using his Half-Tonner as a base camp. - photo © Guy Gurney / www.guygurney.com

The boat must be floating. "We don't want blotto'd sailors falling off yachts on the hard at the yard" noted the Island Sailing Club's Bob Milner. "Into the water... well that's a time honoured tradition". Given the small and crowded heads aboard vessels, there will be no penalty points, nor any police action taken, for pissing off the stern of any yacht. "We may even add bonus points for the most 'impressive' performance" said one high ranking female RORC staffer who shall go unnamed.

Concoctions may be prepared beforehand, but the judges will look favorably upon drinks actually mixed IN the well. As Bob would have done. And did.

The winners will both be presented lifetime memberships in the Imperial Poonah Yacht Club at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace presided over by a former Dragon Sailor and IPYC member who goes by the name of Philip.

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