The first North-West Area rally of 1994 took place on 26th and 27th March near Leek, Staffordshire when Saturday morning saw an eager group of DCA members gathering on the slipway at the southern end of the lake. It sported an interesting collection of ‘alternative’ boats, so much so that Keith Jones soon dubbed this the ‘B-Team Rally’. Indeed it soon became clear that sailing would by no means be the only method of propulsion for the day, as members in rowing boats and on foot appeared. For the record those attending and their vessels were:

Joan Abrams Wellington boots Colin Bell Sailing tender Stuart & Edna Calcutt The one and only Karmatoo Edwin Dewhirst Sailing tender Albert Hattersley Cormorant Keith Jones Tinker Traveller Cliff & Mary Laycock & dog Walking boots Ken, Mary & Fudge O’Halloran-Brown Wayfarer Black Pig Brian McClellan & friend Allen Mirror Yes, But Brian Swindlehurst Avon inflatable — rowing

Colin also brought along his Cormorant Flutterby which was kept in reserve for Sunday. The fleet set off in bright sunshine and light winds, waved off by Cliff and Mary who had dropped in on their way to a day walking in the Peaks. Progress was slow due to the fitful winds, except for Brian who rowed off at a cracking pace. Eventually all boats arrived having walked from Rudyard village. An hour or so was passed discussing plans for the season, before everyone set off back to base, Joan joining Keith in the Tinker for the return journey. At this point the rally turned into an alternative to the Oxbridge Boat Race which was also taking place that day. The wind died completely and all crews took to the oars. Many people had come just for the day, so only Colin, Stuart and Edna were left that evening to overnight aboard their boats.

Sunday dawned much greyer and windier. Phil and Jennifer Davies turned up for the day, Phil sailing with Colin and Jennifer joining Stuart and Edna. Three boats, Karmatoo, Flutterby and Black Pig, made their way up the lake once more. The sailing was much brisker than Saturday, reefing becoming necessary for us in the Wayfarer halfway up the lake. Lunch was taken moored to the remains of an old jetty on the west side of the lake where Mary’s delicious fruit cake was passed around by a series of rugby passes between the three boats. Fortunately the cake survived in one dry piece. After lunch we all beat back down the lake and recovered the boats by mid-afternoon.

Windermere by Brian Swindlehurst

Boats attending were: Keith Jones with John Mayes West Wight Potter Kaipara Tim and Sam Evans West Wight Potter Beatrix Brian Swindlehurst with Eric Scholes & Bernard Harman Cornish Coble Avocet David Morton & Tony Nields Wayfarer Restless David Chatterley Own double-ender Iona Edwin Dewhirst Small double hull Colin Bell Mirror Dinghy Linda & Bob Abbot & friends? Enterprise Unknown member who did not meet up

Keith and Brian tried to launch on Friday but were thwarted by army vehicles which blocked the slipway. All launched on Saturday with Kaipara, Avocet and Restless sailing to Belle Isle for lunch. These three boats had a peaceful night in the river at Ambleside.

Good weather, fresh winds and cracking good sailing — another well attended meet.