South Coast Group During August two meetings were held. The first at August weekend on the Medina river. Three boats arrived at the Folly Inn on the Sunday evening, Ron Dean, Ernest Bailey and Peter Glover all crossing the Solent from different starting points. A pleasant evening was spent at the camp site, also being used by several members of local dinghy clubs gathering for Cowes Week.

The second meeting held at Portchester Castle enabled several members who came by car to attend. Only two boats arrived, Slade Penoyre’s Mayfly with Brian Naylor as crew and Peter Glover’s similar boat with Ernest Bailey as crew. Other members present were Ron Dean, George Dyer and son, Mr. & Mrs. Woods and family, and new members Mr. & Mrs. Bates who we were very pleased to meet. The Commodore of the Portchester S.C. Mr. Ridge kindly allowed our members the facilities of their club including the much appreciated tea bar. The two crews who camped the night were also invited to a barbecue arranged by the Sailing Club and the huge fire did a fine job in drying out a couple of wet crews. The following morning the two boats sailed in company as far as the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour before returning to their respective bases.

North London Group The last weekend in September the North London Group held a rally at Tollesbury. As no exact part of Tollesbury had been specified three assorted dinghies could have been seen cruising around the channels amongst the other boats until they suddenly drew together in a small fleet beating up Old Hall Creek. Greetings were shouted across the calm water before dropping back down the creek to anchor in the South Channel and meet Ron Long in his new Caprice. The individuality of dinghy cruisers was most apparent over the evening meal, whilst one got down to the ritual of chops, two fresh veg. etc. etc. and a mound of washing-up, another feasted on the magnificence of the sunset and partook of a cuppa supplied by a like minded individual who differed from him only in his worship of the teapot and dates. The fourth boat’s crew had no inhibitions about tin openers as shown by the pile of tins jettisoned next morning.

After a pleasant evening yarning on the Caprice another perfect sailing day was spent in friendly rivalry beating up the Blackwater. Charles Stock’s centreboard, 16’6” Fairy Falcon romped away followed by Geof Finnis’s 16’ gunter rigged bilge keel Felicia. Once the wind increased above F2 the 19’ bilge keel Caprice showed a good turn of speed towing a heavy tender and way back in the distance 13’6” Aurora plodded along unable to make sufficient speed in the F2-3 to make light of the drag of her tender. After lunch the boats returned to their respective anchorages.