The weather was not kind to the rally this year. It was not blowing too hard, but there was a very big swell in Wigtown Bay. Two boats attended, Brian McClellan and Steve in their West Wight Potter, and Ross Evans and Terry Hughes in Ross’s GP14.

Brian and Steve launched on Friday and set out on passage to Kirkcudbright in the early hours of Saturday. They quickly met a big swell and discretion took the better part of valour, and they headed back into Garlieston. Ross and Terry launched their GP on Saturday morning and found the swell in the bay too big for comfort so they had an exciting time sailing about Garlieston harbour. It was the first sail of the boat in Ross’s possession so considered as its sea trials.

Terry and Margaret Hughes arranged a barbecue at their bungalow on Saturday evening, and Brian and Steve forsook their West Wight Potter’s galley for a meal ashore.

The members at this rally all knew the area well, and it was suggested in discussion that next year’s rally could be held on Loch Ken. It is a non-tidal loch about 12 miles by 2, and the Galloway Sailing Centre can provide facilities including camping.

Creran Rally Week — June 6-12 by Brian McClellan

I’m not sure whether, before the event, those of us who intended going on the rally looked forward to it with pleasurable anticipation or dread. Memories of last August still lingered, no doubt, and the weather this spring gave no promise of tripping brightly across a sun dappled camping field down to the moorings. Those who went were, however, well rewarded and these stalwarts were:

Liz and Tony Hutchinson — Drascombe Dabber Joyce and Albert Hattersley — Cornish Cormorant Joan Abrams — Sandpiper 19 Keith Jones — Tideway and Tinker Brian Swindlehurst — Cornish Cobble Lynda and Bob Abbot — Valiant 18 Mary and Ken O’Halloran-Brown — Wayfarer Eric Scholes and John Mayes — Jaguar 21 Gill and Richard Morris Kath and Brian McClellan — West Wight Potter

Margaret and Terry Hughes arrived Thursday, without boat, on their way further north.

SATURDAY

Arrival day for some, but Keith already deep in adventure (for adventure substitute water) having capsized his Tideway and twice failed to right her, his boat exercising her right to perform 360º rolls. It must have been a glorious sight, Keith on his upturned hull desperately trying to remember the semaphore for ‘nil desperandum’. Waving of hands up and down failed to reach take-off velocity, but he was spotted, police and then coastguard notified, and Keith rescued by Jock Slorence from Creran Moorings. The boat was fished out of the briny by a friendly resident, nearly none the worse. Keith later departed to reward boat rescuer with a bottle of whisky but unfortunately we failed to see him come back, so cannot comment as to whether they disposed of the bottle on the spot or not. We have our suspicions.

SUNDAY

Four boats left the moorings at 1045 (we are not early risers, you understand). High water 0800, no wind so we motored. Very little turbulence in the Eriska Narrows. Once clear, course 220 mag. past Glas Eilean and down the Lynn of Lorn to Eilean na Cloiche (known to us as Beach Island). Kath and I saw a dolphin as its fin and back broke surface. Wind increased, but as Water Mouse had fallen behind, we continued to motor sail. Avocet and Redknot had already beached, but I made two attempts to land and chose the wrong spot, each time getting tied up in the weed. Well, it was 1445 and time to start back anyway. Under sail only now, and a lovely run back. We took a course west of Eilean Dubh and were rewarded with the sight of seals on the rocks two cables west of the island. We could see Joan’s red sail as she took the narrow channel between the rocks and island. The chart shows shallow water, but with the tide well up she was quite safe; still, I didn’t fancy it. Maybe next time? On to the Branra Rock and once again into the Eriska Narrows on the flood, this time quite turbulent with the boat yawing and a peculiar feel to the tiller. Then a pleasant sail back up Loch Creran to the mooring which we picked up at 1830.

MONDAY

We had a wet night, rain not booze, with the morning dull and breezy. The Jaguar and Valiant crews decided to repeat our sail of yesterday whilst the rest of us settled for a day on Loch Creran. We arranged to meet for lunch at South Shian or, more correctly, in the bay north of South Shian. Left moorings at 1100, wind SW f3. Long tacking sail down the loch and 1415 before we arrived at the anchorage. Joan already anchored with Keith’s Tideway rafted to port and Albert and Joyce’s Cormorant to starboard. There was room for us astern, so we threw a line and hitched up. Four of us on one anchor; it held. Brian anchored his cobble independently about fifty yards away. By this time, although still breezy, a glorious sun beamed down and life was pleasant. About 1515 we broke away for further sailing before mooring up about 1730.

TUESDAY

Seven boats left the moorings. As usual Kath and I last, but we don’t mind cheating and motor sailed to catch the rest of the fleet up at South Shian. It’s amazing how close to the wind you can sail with the engine running whilst giving the impression of being very closehauled. Such a pity the Seagull is a very noisy engine. We all tacked our way up and out of the narrows. South of Dearg Sgeir light and across to the channel buoy. Very turbulent water here, but we were getting used to it by now. Then sails goosewinged and a glorious run to Port Appin where we anchored or rafted up for lunch, just clear of the harbour wall but out of the way of the ferry. We lunched, we conferred, the wind dropped completely. Were we downhearted ? Noooo! Decision made, we were off to Port Ramsey at the north end of Lismore. We had to be back in reasonable time as the flood off Port Appin can run at four knots, and we would be against it for a couple of miles before having it with us through the Eriska Narrows. We motored between the ferry jetty at the northern tip of Lismore and Inn Island, cleared Eilean Ramsey and took the main channel into Port Ramsey. Large work boat moored up here; she passed us in the Eriska Narrows yesterday. Joan was going to overnight here at the start of her independent cruise (are we going to hear more of this?). My propeller became weed fouled so Kath rowed whilst I cleared it; that lifting engine bracket is a godsend. Keith landed but nobody else did, and it was soon goodbye to Joan and we were off to beat the tide. By 1600 we were again off Port Appin pushing against the tide, making good headway though, and we soon picked up the flood into the narrows. Back in Loch Creran stopped the engine and gently drifted. Down sails, restart engine and back on mooring for 1800. Grand day.

At Creran Moorings Mary and Ken had arrived having launched and sailed from Arduaine, south of Oban.

WEDNESDAY

We thought of sailing to Dunstaffnage but then got ambitious and decided to go to Oban, tie up at the sailing club pontoon and go into Oban for fish and chips. It didn’t quite work out like that, no wind you see. Thick fog further out which delayed our start (was it that or did we oversleep again?). Six boats set out, the seventh, Ken and Mary, in their Wayfarer were going to ‘sprint’ round Lismore and meet up with us later. We left just after high water at 1000 and it took two and a half hours to sail out of Loch Creran. Yes, unbelievably, we sailed, or rowed. Lord, how I was tempted to drop sails, start engine and full steam ahead (it comes of being an ex-seagoing marine engineer, and is incurable). Out in the Lynn of Lorn we had an exciting drift on an oily looking sea, sails slack. How many of you remember the Tale of the Ancient Mariner? Mind you, at least we didn’t shoot an albatross.

By this time the fog had dispersed. Eventually Eric and John in the Jaguar motored over to each boat in turn to say that Plan B was in operation. Joyfully we started the engine and headed for Eilean na Cloicher, arriving at 1515. All the boats beached except Water Mouse and Avocet. Well, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to anchor and row Kath ashore in the rubber dinghy: I’ve wanted to do that for ages. We went exploring with Bob, Albert and I climbing a rocky peak, easier getting up than down. Brian Swindlehurst decided that we didn’t smell too much after all and came ashore to join us. He slipped, fell in, and by a remarkable feat of athletic agility for one so big, managed to keep his pipe dry.

We spent a pleasant hour here before heading back. As we left, the wind arrived, but within minutes died again. The forecast for the day had included wind f2/3. Kath and I in the West Wight Potter, Joyce and Albert in the Cormorant and Keith in his Tideway decided to sail round the group of islands Eilean na Cloiche, Eilean nan Gamhna, where we saw numerous seals on the rocks, Creag Island and Pladda Island. As we passed Pladda we had to give a trawler fishing a wide berth, then course 050 mag back up the Lynn of Lorn with the flood. We motored and actually caught the others up. Brian Swindlehurst seemed to have some wind, which promptly died as we arrived; he swears it was our fault he lost it. The Dinghy Motor-Cruising Meet headed back to base, arriving at 2045. A long but pleasantly lazy day. Dart’s log (the Jaguar 21) recorded 28 miles, and add to that a further 3 miles or so for sailing round the islands. The distance measured 20 miles on the chart.

Because of the lack of wind, Mary and Ken’s plan had to be modified, and they sailed north of Lismore, across Loch Linnhe, and had a look at Loch a’ Choire, about 4 miles NNW from the tip of Lismore.

THURSDAY

Forecast for the day — wind NE f3/4 gusting f7, and rain. Those who did sail stayed in the loch.

In the evening we had a rally dinner at a local hotel in North Connel — very convivial.

FRIDAY

Bit fresh this morning. Ken and Mary set off back to Arduaine escorted, into the Lynn of Lorn at least, by Keith in the Tideway and Terry Hughes with Brian Swindlehurst in Avocet. It was quite rough in the Lynn of Lorn so, leaving Ken and Mary to their fate, Keith, Brian and Terry returned to Loch Creran. Terry later complained that Brian was a hard skipper, not letting him have an after-lunch snooze. Kath and I spent the morning sailing in the loch and then pulled out at lunch time.

Prize for the adventure of the week, though, must go to Lynda and Bob Abbot in the Valiant 18. They set off early(ish) to sail to Oban. From here on the tale might not be quite exact, but Bob has promised to tell all. They had a great run down to Oban, landed at the sailing club and set off for the flesh pots. Sailing back was always going to be much harder, and off Beach Island, with the wind right on the nose and — trying to use the engine — pitching so much the prop was leaving the water (ugh, memories of last year’s Solway Firth meet). They decided to run for cover, but as they turned the mast snapped above the crosstrees. They managed to fix a jury rig and could only run for Oban more or less dead downwind. Lynda called the coastguard to let them know they were in a spot of bother but were in no danger and on their way in. The coastguard decided to scramble the lifeboat anyway to escort them. Coincidentally, Mary and Ken were themselves in Oban by this time and heard the maroons go off, and later saw Lynda and Bob coming in. They returned to Creran in a taxi.

Ken said later that the maroons went up three times that night. Busy time for the lads, but those of you who watched the recent series ‘Lifeboat’, about a year in the life of the Salcombe lifeboat crew, will remember the cox’n complaining bitterly about the lack of incidents. Our trouble is their hobby, and we are grateful for that.

Coniston Water July 3/4 by Peter Filshie

The fifth joint rally of the Dinghy Cruising Association and the Drascombe Association was held on Coniston Water, and the variety and numbers of craft participating broke all records. Some boats launched from the nearby camp site, whilst others used the facilities of the Coniston Sailing Club.

On the Saturday morning the wind was mostly SW f2-3 gusting up to f4, and as usual the fleet headed south down the lake, intending to have lunch in the lee of the west shore south of Peel Island, but on arrival the wind fell light, so everyone headed for the south‑west facing bay on the east shore, south of the island. In all thirty boats, of fifteen differing types, beached in the bay for lunch, so it was a good opportunity for inspecting, comparing, note-taking and just talking!

Lunch was a nice sunny leisurely affair, but afterwards the wind picked up again, making it difficult for some who had not put out a bow anchor to get off the beach. The run back up the lake with a gusting SW f4 was quite interesting, and several sharp squalls made most craft reduce sail.

Once again Isabel and David Shuttleworth were hosts for the barbecue at their lakeside cottage, and Gerald Harrison took up a collection amounting to £35.63 for the RNLI. Unfortunately, after an hour and a half, rain brought an end to what was undoubtably a very enjoyable evening. On Sunday morning the wind was SW f4 with some rain, and a lot of people decided to slip out early, but those who did sail enjoyed a lovely sunny afternoon.

In all, thirty six boats attended the rally, including eight Dabbers, three Luggers, one Longboat, one Longboat Cruiser, six Coasters, one Mirror, two West Wight Potters, two Wayfarers, one Cornish Cormorant, one Sailfish, one Tideway, one Amazon, one Padstow Lugger, one GP14, one Glen 14, one Scaithe, one Ptarmigan, one Kestrel, one Stuart 18 junk rig and one ‘Wayfarer/Mirror/Optimist’.