CONISTON — 1-2 JULY

11 boats attended, including 1 inflatable dinghy, and the weather was fine all weekend, with light winds and plenty of sunshine.

Most boats launched at Coniston Sailing Club slip, with crews becoming temporary club members for the weekend. Both days consisted of a sail down the lake to the bay on the east shore, south of Peel Island, lunch ashore, then a leisurely sail back. Some members slept aboard, in a little bay behind the club moorings, whilst others slept ashore.

The flotilla of DCA boats beached in the bay for lunch included 1 Drascombe Lugger (Gerald Harrison), 2 Drascombe Dabbers (Albert Hattersley and Ron Palmer), 1 Cadet (Stewart Calcutt), 1 Bradwell 18 (Cliff Laycock), 1 West Wight Potter (Stewart Moxham), 1 Roamer (Barry Parker), 1 Leader (Trevor Widnall), 1 inflatable (Antony Sluce) and 1 Drascombe Coaster (Peter Filshie), all plus assorted crews. Joan Abrams and Elizabeth Baker crewed for Gerald and Cliff on the Saturday. Other members also on the lake were David and Isobel Shuttleworth (Drascombe Dabber) and Bob Buttle.

A very satisfactory weekend rally was made even more enjoyable by the barbeque on Saturday evening, organised and hosted by David and Isobel Shuttleworth at their lakeside cottage near the sailing club. About 17 members enjoyed a very pleasant get-together, with lots of food and drink, all in the evening sunshine. Many thanks, David and Isobel. The Coniston rally seems the most popular on the North-West calendar, and this year even attracted one boat and crew (Barry and Maureen Parker) from Essex, who were on their way up to Scotland.

ULLSWATER — 16-17 SEPTEMBER

In spite of forecasted force 8-9 winds in the Irish Sea on the Friday night, the weather over the weekend turned out to be fine and sunny, with winds 3-4 SSW on Saturday and 2-3 S on the Sunday. 2 boats launched from Waterside Farm in rain and strong winds on Friday and 4 more launched in better conditions on Saturday.

The strongish winds on the Saturday prevented any boats from reaching the southern end of the lake and reefs were necessary in the afternoon, after lunch in the bay at Howtown. Saturday night was spent in the bay opposite the sailing club and the men enjoyed one of Edwin Dewhirst’s culinary delights — steak and kidney — on Peter’s boat, whilst Antony’s all-girl crew had a vegetarian repast on Lepe. Julian Fisher arrived in the evening in his Wanderer and then we all walked up to the local hotel for a yarn and a drink.

The weather on Sunday was even better, and again we had lunch in Howtown Bay before returning to Waterside Farm to slip out. Boats and people present included Antony Sluce (Pirate) and crew of Rachel, Sarah and Sarah; Gerald Harrison (Lugger), Steward Calcutt (Cadet), David Chatterley (Dabber) and crew of Helen, Graham and two dogs from West Hartlepool; Julian Fisher (Wanderer) and Peter Filshie (Coaster) with crew of Edwin Dewhirst and Joan Abrams on the Sunday. Eric Scholes and two friends were also on the lake and had a slight collision with the Coaster on Saturday, but no damage was done. Once again, some good sailing and a very successful and enjoyable rally.