IT WAS an idea that had me all at sea.
Drive in cinema I’ve done and pretty boring it was too. But a sail-in movie?
Sounds like someone’s had too many not so wee drams.
But in fact, the makers of Talisker, the smokey single malt distilled on the Isle of Skye, thought it a brilliant wheeze to drop anchor on Cowes waterfront, and join the celebrations for the world’s oldest regatta.
The big finale at Cowes Week is usually the spectacular Friday night firework display. But this year, all those who dropped anchor to watch the pyrotechnics got a bonus, a full-length movie as a curtain-raiser.
All week, spectators on Cowes Parade had been offered a tot of whisky and asked to vote for which of three ocean-going movies they would like to view at the world’s first ever sail-in cinema.
No prizes for guessing which three made the short-list. Jaws, the Perfect Storm and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.
Hundreds of boats dropped anchor in the Solent off West Cowes to watch the voters’ choice, Russell Crowe doing battle at sea during the Napoleonic Wars in an epic naval saga based on the books of adapted from three Patrick O’Brian novels!
Not my idea of a top mariners’ movie or even a particular fun night out at the cinema.
But sitting in a boat watching the pictures via a 41ft x 21ft screen on the shoreline and hearing the sound via Cowes Radio pretty much made up for the choice of film.
Those who sailed out to watch were rewarded with a slug of the spirit of the seas, Talisker.
It was a chilly night, the sound without the privilege of the individual head-sets some managed to get hold of, a bit inclined to get whipped away by gusty winds.
Great idea, but perhaps next year they might consider a fun-filled Oceans Eleven or even Whisky Galore!