After a few days of bad weather preceding the weekend, the Saturday and Sunday turned out to be sunny, with reasonable winds. Five boats attended, with eight crew members and several day visitors on the Saturday. I had contacted Brian Haskins of British Waterways about permission to use the lake and he has said that next year there will almost certainly be a launching fee for DCA members. Cliff Laycock and crew were first to launch, with Cliff’s new Bradwell 18. Peter and Rachel were next in Tarka Three and Julian Fisher followed in his new Wanderer. Philip Davies and Dennis Rushton launched their Tarpon later as did Stewart Calcutt in his Cadet. Albert and Joyce Hattersley with grandchildren were there to see the launchings, but couldn’t stay for a sail. Antony Sluce came for the day as general crew and to help Cliff sort out his unaccustomed rig.

The wind was N3 on Saturday, just ideal in fact for the first sail of the season, when the memory of which rope does what is a bit hazy. Philip and Dennis spent the night at the north end of the lake, whilst Peter and Cliff and crews were down near the slip. Stewart slept in his car. The warmth from the Tilly lamp was very welcome during the after dinner chat and Sunday morning brought quite a frost on the gunwale, but the day soon warmed up with more sunshine and S3 winds. After lunch the wind died away, catching Phil and Dennis at the wrong end of the lake.

13/14 May 1989 — Port Dinorwic, Menai Straits

Six boats arrived at Port Dinorwic on Saturday morning, five more than last year and the weather was dry and sunny all weekend. Most people had arrived by 11.00 am only to find the tidal dock slip dried out until 2.00 pm so a leisurely lunch was indicated. People and boats included Antony and Phyl in Lepe, Gerald and Philip in Gerald’s Lugger, Peter and Stewart on Tarka Three, and David Morton and crew in Wayfarer Restless. Joan had brought along her veteran Hronrad to see if she was still seaworthy, but had to recover her in just an hour, as so much water was coming in. Another member, 777, from Conway, launched his Wanderer nearby for a day sail.

Coaster, Lugger and Wayfarer set off south for Aber Menai at 1500, whilst Antony and Phyl, with Joan as extra crew, finished getting ready. The SW 3-4 wind and flooding tide resulted in a hard beat which was both wet and interesting and both Gerald and David touched bottom occasionally on the large bank opposite Caernarfon. The three boats finally anchored inshore of the larger yachts down for the night and then had a good yarn on Tarka Three after the evening meal. Antony and crew sailed up to the Swellies and then down to Caernarfon, before returning to the tidal dock pontoon for the night.

Sunday morning was again dry and sunny with the wind now SW 4-5, so Philip decided to have a swim, with lifejacket and safety line. He didn’t stay in long. We went ashore and had a walk in the sand dunes and spied the mast of the latest wreck out on the bar beyond the Mussel Bank. Antony in Lepe arrived at Aber Menai at about 11.00 and then all four boats returned to Port Dinorwic under much reduced canvas to have lunch at the pontoon. The wind was astern, so it was a nice relaxing sail. When we reached the tidal dock, the wind inside was measured at a steady 5, gusting to 6. Recovery was possible at about 14.30 and everyone enjoyed a successful rally.

3/4 June 1989 — Piel Island, Walney Channel

Once again we were favoured by good weather for the rally, with light winds, plenty of sunshine and only 10 minutes rain. Roa Island Boating Club had given us permission to use their slip and Peter and Antony launched Tarka Three at the slip on Friday evening and were soon at anchor off Piel island.

On Saturday morning the wind was light SE. Joan and her crew Jim, in Joan’s new boat, left their mooring at Glasson Dock on Friday and spent Friday night on a mooring at Knott End, opposite Fleetwood. They had a good sail across Morecambe Bay on the flood and arrived late morning off Piel. Gerald, Philip and Stewart launched Gerald’s Lugger at the Roa slip and then anchored for lunch off Piel Island. Joan dried out in the afternoon on the beach at Piel island whilst Peter and Gerald caught the ebb down into Morecambe Bay. The wind was very light, but the springs ebb soon carried both boats out south of Lightning Knoll buoy, where a magnificent panorama of Lake District hills and Morecambe Bay coast was enjoyed.

A f3 northerly then gave a brisk sail back against the last of the ebb, to anchor for the night off Piel. After an evening get together in the pub, an onshore wind and strong flood tide made the return dinghy trip back to the boats rather interesting. Gerald and Stewart were swept past their Lugger, but managed to reach Tarka Three safely. Philip had been left on the beach and had to wait 1½ hours before the tide slackened enough to enable Gerald and Phil to reach their boat and allow Phil to be rescued from the island. The incident clearly demonstrated the need for extra vigilance when using a small inflatable in a tideway.

Joan and Jim had shifted to deeper water in the evening to enable them to get away early on Sunday. Sunday morning dawned light and sunny. Peter and Antony walked around the island, inspecting the ruins of the 14th century castle. Later, both boats motored round into Bass Pool, rowing gently with the tide, watching cormorants, gulls and eider ducks on the bird sanctuary on Walney. Back at the slip we met another member, Trevor Widnall. He had been for a day sail in his Leader. Joan and Jim were troubled by light winds initially in Morecambe Bay, but a northerly wind arrived in time to enable them to reach their mooring at high water.