The rain could not put a damper on yesterday?s first annual Roun?de Rock Motor Boat Rally, in fact boaters were left in anticipation for next year?s event.

Though last week there were only about 50 boats registered for the event, there was an outpour of interest close to the deadline, resulting in 120 boats being registered and approximately 110 actually showing up for the event.

Boaters from all over the Island, including Police boats and Sea Cadets, gathered at Albuoy?s Point and took off on time at 11.30 a.m. with some reservations about the day?s possible bad weather conditions.

However, there were no weather challenges the boaters could not overcome.

?We got rained on a few times and no one complained. We haven?t had one complaint,? said Ralph Richardson, a member of the organising committee.

?Just a little rain, nothing big,? agreed Alroy Darrell from .

The line of boaters reached two miles in length as they travelled together for the 41 nautical mile journey around the Island.

They were accompanied by the voice of Lisa Greene from the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, broadcasting information about the Island?s History and Marine Environment from the radio.

?The lady from the aquarium explained a lot of things I didn?t know. That was cool,? said Mark Goodwin, the Captain of , who admitted he learned a lot from the experience.

?That was only the second time I?ve ever been around the Island,? said Robin Gilbert who sailed on and joked that now that he knows the way, he can take the journey again.

Though it only cost boaters $30 to register for the event, Mr. Richardson said many generous people gave much more to be donated to the Bermuda Sloop Foundation.

?It was good to see them raising money for the Sloop,? said Alex Gilbert off the .

Alroy Darrell and Shaun Johnson sailing on both admitted they really enjoyed themselves, in fact they wouldn?t mind doing it regularly.

?They got to do it more often. We should do it every weekend,? they said.

All-in-all everyone who talked to had enjoyed themselves yesterday afternoon.

?It was really enjoyable. Nice community event,? said Robin Gilbert. ?There was a good cross-section of the boat owning community.?

This cross-section, even included 14-year-old Sean Crockwell from the , who said: ?It was fun. I liked the sights, I?ve never done that before.?

?Several people called in to thank us. And that type of feedback was very important,? said Mr. Richardson, adding that the day was a huge success. ?It went beyond my expectations,? he said.