Strong winds sink boozy scavenger hunt

Friday 11 October 2019

Strong winds forecast for tomorrow have scuppered local sailors' chances of winning an engraved toilet seat.

Members of St. Helier Yacht Club were prepping to set sail for 'Rallye Hubert' tomorrow morning - a challenge that would have seen them sample calvados, answer cryptic questions and sail across the Channel - but the decision has now been taken to cancel the race.

The quirky race is a staple of the Club's calendar every year as it marks the end of the season in a fun and truly memorable way.

Celebrating the club’s long-standing association with Granville, the annual pursuit race requires the crews to demonstrate their rowing prowess, to determine the answers to cryptic quiz questions, to have a good knowledge of the French port and, unusually for a yacht race, to be able to hold their drink.

It usually starts from La Collette, with a member of the crew being made to down a tot of Calvados before rowing out to his boat. The whole crew then sets off to Granville, using the journey time to try and found out the answer to a set of cryptic questions.

Pictured: Rallye Hubert starts from La Collette.

Once in Granville, the crew ventures through pubs, drinking and answering yet more questions. 

The first crew to reach the finish at Granville Yacht Club gets to take home the “impressive” Rallye Hubert Trophy, an engraved toilet seat - one of many quirky prizes to be given out over the years, ranging from a metre of sausages to two pig ears and a tail.

On the Sunday, hangovers permitting, the yachts race back to Jersey for the second part of the weekend’s events, a booze-free traditional race. 

Six-time winner Julian Barber was hoping to get his record seventh win this weekend.

Pictured: Julian Barber has won 'Rallye Hubert' six times.

However, he will now have to wait until next year to prove his prowess, as the race has had to be cancelled.

Due to the south-westerly winds of up to Force 7 forecast for tomorrow, the Sailing Committee at St Helier Yacht Club were "forced to reluctantly cancel" this year's Rallye Hubert.

Due to it being the last major event on the club calendar and with the end of season prize-giving taking place next weekend, the club said it was not possible to reschedule.