Hon Sec Nick Ellis and brother Dave lift a glass on World Gin Day (June 9th) in Falmouth.

In Falmouth at the start of their own epic sail along the South coast of England, their visit coincided with the assembling of sailors for the non-stop around-the-world Golden Globe race.

The race route takes the competitors into the heart of the fabled Roaring Forties, as demonstrated by the race map below.

Overheard conversing knowledgeably about The Roaring Forties, the Ellis brothers quickly drew an attentive crowd. However, it soon melted away as the penny dropped that this was not a masterclass on navigating the Southern Ocean.

What’s YOUR story of celebrating World Gin Day?

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s experiences in The Roaring Forties during the first-ever Golden Globe race were immortalised in an iconic painting by marine artist Gordon Frickers? Want to learn more? Click here..

Recent eagle eyed visitors to the website may have noticed the addition of a small ‘TM’ to the Campaign’s name.

Prompted by Campaigner Jonathan Jeyes, a vote was taken at the 2017 Christmas Dinner to mark the 40th anniversary by applying for a Campaign for Real Gin trade mark.

After forty years of campaigning, it seemed sensible to defend against any Johnny-come-latelies trying to assert that they, not the Campaign, are responsible for the current vogue in gin.

Accordingly, Jonathan set to work, and on 4th May 2018, UK Trade Mark No. 00003284004 was entered into the register, effective 20th January 2018.

This has been added to the Home page as a CRG milestone, and we look forward to seeing the trade mark on our upcoming brew of ‘Roaring Forties’ gin.

The opening fixture of the CRGCC season took place, fittingly, at the Campaign’s alma mater, against the University Pitt Club in Cambridge.

The original venue having become unavailable, a late switch to the splendid ground at Jesus College was organised by UPC member Yash Shah. Bob Gibson, one of CRG’s several Jesus graduates, could barely contain his excitement, returning to a pitch on which he had last played 38 years previously! Bob was prepared even to forgive Yash for rapping him in the nuts later in the afternoon.

Sadly the weather forecasters proved accurate as the first drops of rain fell on Cambridge at around 1pm, and then settled in pretty solidly for the next few hours. Sitting in Jesus’ well appointed pavilion, the players watched the rain, broke open the gin, picked at the goodies meant for tea, and waited. Occasional parties were sent out to inspect the middle, indulge in catching practice, or make use of Jesus’ artificial-surface nets. Calls to the groundsman confirmed that, without a meaningful break in the rain, play could not begin. Eventually we bowed to the inevitable and the game was called off…

But suddenly, unexpectedly, a short break in the weather allowed the prospect of a 10/10 game, starting around 5pm. Sadly, there was not time for the ECB’s planned 100-ball format: otherwise, as perhaps the first teams to try it out, the winners could reasonably call themselves world champions.

10 overs doesn’t really play to the CRG’s strengths, such as talking out the opposition, but we gave it a go. Two Jesuans opened, Bob and Richard Assheton, but the target of 78 was set principally through through the efforts of two Ollies, Powell and Vartan.

Highlight of CRG’s fielding was George Wilders bowling one of the openers with his first ball. After a tight first couple of overs, skipper Ed Krarup felt emboldened to turn to the bamboozling box of tricks of yet another Ollie, Wise. Perhaps a little early to open up the game, some might think!

Though the game went to the last over, the UPCCC had enough top-order strength to win quite comfortably. By then the rain had been falling heavily for the past 4 overs, and it was time to start thinking about dinner. This was to be the exciting first official appearance of the CRG’s new 40th anniversary ties, delivered hot off the loom by Magnus that very day.

Dinner was a splendid affair, at The Pitt Club’s neo-classical clubhouse on Jesus Lane. Preprandial gins were followed by thoughtfully matched gins with every course. A convivial evening was occasionally punctuated by napkin waving, and ended with various performances, including a spirited ‘Rattlin Bog’, virile drinking songs led by each team’s respective tall, blond Swede, the customary rendition of The Green Eye of the Little Yellow God’ by Oliver Wise, and finally a chorus of ‘Nevers’ led by Bob.

As ever, the CRG would like to thank the members of UPCCC for their extraordinary hospitality, and for taking time off when they would obviously prefer to be studying for upcoming examinations.

The magnificent 40th anniversary Campaign for Real Gin ties made a preview appearance at the CRG informal at The George, 213 Strand, on 25th April.

Modelling the standard necktie was Hon Sec Nick Ellis, whilst Magnus Eriksson showed off the bow tie.

Full production was duly authorised, and delivery was made in time for CRG members to look their resplendent best at dinner with the Cambridge University Pitt Club the following month.

The CRG is indebted to Magnus for having proposed, researched and implemented this initiative.

The Melbourne Draught

Jonathan Sear writes:

Your correspondent wishes to record the visit of Oliver Wise to Juniper Hall at Ghin Ghin, Victoria (about 60 miles from Melbourne) on January 11th 2018

Juniper Hall is the country home of Jonathan Sear, the appointed bottletop of the Victorian chapter of the CRG

Ghin Ghin is the ancient aboriginal name for the district. Ghin Ghin has been variously translated as “why stop at one?” and “place of laughing waters”.

Oliver was given a traditional Ghin Ghin welcome, with neat Sipsmith VJOP (straight from the freezer) washed down with chasers of Tanqueray 10 with Fentiman’s tonic.

He appeared blessed by these libations. All was well.

R&D sub-Committee to the Roaring Forties

The following month, Robert and Lynne Gibson were dispatched to Van Diemen’s Land in search of The Roaring Forties.

Early researches revealed a very healthy gin scene, with a quite remarkable section of Tasmanian gins in the bottle shop next to their apartment in Hobart. Reading the labels, Bob noticed that one of these gins claimed to have been distilled in the adjacent street. On pointing out to the shop assistant that there was no distillery visible, he was told:

No mate, he makes it in his garden shed!

Truly a cottage industry.

A memorable evening was spent with Graham and Jane Hyland, at their beautiful lakeside residence outside Hobart. Toasts were made in ‘Hellfire’ Tasmanian gin, to the backdrop of all kinds of Australian fauna, even a platypus. Graham starred for CRGCC in its victory against Broadhalfpenny Down in 2017, and word is that he is ‘netting’ in anticipation of a return against Althorp in 2018.

Attempts were then made to experience The Roaring Forties in Stanley (latitude 40°46′ south) and Cape Sorell, Strahan (latitude 42°11′ south). Whilst it was a bit blowy in Stanley, the weather was unusually benign in Strahan, so the full majesty of The Roaring Forties remained elusive.