South Coast Group. The Whitsun rally held at Bursledon was again favoured by sunny weather. Although the number of members present, about twelve, including several new members was very encouraging, the number of boats was only three. At least two regular boats have been sold, and while the skippers are boat hunting the S.C. fleet is a bit thin. The main discussion seemed to be on suitable boats for cruising and boats with lids so it looks hopeful for an increase in the number of boats in the near future.

Our ex-secretary Slade Penoyre has taken delivery of a Westerly 25 and with his wife Ann, set sail for a year’s cruising at Easter (lucky chap). Latest report is that they reached the Azores on June 25th, 26 days out from Penzance.

South East Group. A recent S.E. Group meeting in London heard a very interesting account of a cruise in two Wayfarers on the River Shannon given by Mr. David Pelly.

The two boats were trailed from Suffolk to Fishguard, taken across on the expensive (£9 per boat) ferry to Rosslare and trailed to Killaloe on the Shannon. At Killaloe they found launching easy at the first of the only two slipways they saw in 148 miles of river. The river lies roughly SW-NE, the prevailing winds are south-westerly so they had been well advised to start in the S.W. and work upstream, as beating in the narrower parts, or through low bridges would have been tedious. The current is apparently negligible.

Killaloe lies on the southerly end of the first big lough on the Shannon, Lough Derg. This is about 20 miles long and up to five wide, almost deserted (they saw five motor boats in three days) with lots of islands and places of interest and scenic beauty. Camping presented some problems; they had mixed crews, three ladies and three men, and took three tents. Getting ashore was often made difficult by the very rocky nature of the banks and shallows, but this was overcome by wading or by using boat rollers. Equally often the banks were separated from the water by yards of thick reeds, into which they would sail with all set and drawing. (Getting out again, against wind and reeds was quite a battle!) On balance it was felt that sleeping ashore was worth the effort, because the countryside and villages were well worth visiting and one might miss much of the ‘foreign interest’ side of the cruise if one kept to the boats too much.

Leaving Lough Derg they traversed the Bog of Allen in a relatively uninteresting stretch of the river. Locks and low bridges were encountered and passed with the aid of paddles, oars and easily lowered masts. Again the advantage of a tail wind was demonstrated. The charge at locks varied from 6d. to 3/4½d., depending on the whim of the keeper, who decided whether they were rowing or sailing boats.

Athlone, the only large town they passed through, is located at the southerly end of Lough Ree. Here they sustained the only significant damage of the trip — not from natural hazards such as rocks, but from each other — Ariel ran into Wastrel and holed her. A glass fibre repair kit was used to mend this hole.

Leaving Lough Ree in the inevitable Irish rain, they pressed on up river through smaller loughs — Bofin, Boderg, Key and failed by only two miles to reach their objective, a town called Boyle. A low bridge was the cause of this, so with time running short they returned to Carrick-on-Shannon where they had spotted the second launching ramp and camped there, while returning by road to fetch cars and trailers from Killaloe. The free and easy attitude of the country was shown again at this time. They had no difficulty on the river and loughs about permission to camp — there was rarely anyone to ask anyway, and in Carrick they were invited to camp in the public gardens next to the launching ramp! The total cost including food, petrol, fares etc. was £30 per person for the fortnight).

The total distance of 148 miles on this trip, while not being very rushed was not achieved by pottering only. Gale force winds around the coasts at the time, gave reasonable sailing breezes inland. A less windy period might well have occurred and made this distance much harder to achieve.