A GROUP of nine keelboats left Castle Cove Sailing Club for a five-day trip to Cherbourg last month.

They left in good time to celebrate the summer solstice and the Fete de la Musique while there.

The fete has been growing steadily worldwide, with free music concerts in public places and started in France in 1982.

One of the sailors, club commodore Neil Stroud, said: “The streets of the town were lined with various bands playing many genres of music.

“It was a very popular, well attended evening and the streets were packed with people enjoying the festivities into the early hours of the following morning.

“Next day the group had an organised wine-tasting event to help select goods for the return journey.

“Following that there was a splendid evening meal, celebrated with great food, great wine, and great company.”

The Channel crossing was a reasonable sail for many of the boats.

However, the return journey was hampered with limited visibility caused by thick fog.

All boats made the trip safely though and everyone had a memorable trip.

Last weekend, 10 cruisers took a trip to Mupe Bay, just East of Lulworth Cove, for an overnight stop. The weather was just about perfect and the beach barbecue thoroughly enjoyable.