The whole Hunt family made it to the Coniston Rally this year. We enjoyed it so much I wrote an account of it from our point of view and then neglected to send it to Joan… then deciding I really ought to describe our experience of Windermere.

Horses for courses they say. We didn’t row back up Coniston; at least, only about 100 yards worth. Light airs are ample to keep a Kestrel moving. But what can I say? It was excellent, warm, pleasant sailing. A dead run down the lake under spinnaker — only the second time I’ve used it — which gave us something to do in the light winds; keeping it drawing. This got us to Peel Island in almost no time, so we had half an hour or so to explore it before joining the fleet for lunch — great fun. Then after lunch a run down to the foot of the lake. There were swimmers, with attendant ‘native war canoes’, practising for an end-to-end race on Sunday and in avoiding them I’m ashamed to say I bumped a moored boat when the fluky wind failed. No damage I’m glad to say. A call for the loo at the picnic site opposite Peel Island, then a slow beat, with a short spell at the oars, back to Old Hall Campsite and the highlight of the barbecue. David and Isobel have our gratitude and admiration.

We found enough wind to get to the head of lake and back on Sunday after church — two DCA members at the 8am Communion this year. Can’t wait for July 1995!

Stephen, my younger son 11 years old, and I were dead keen on getting to Windermere and everything came together. So collecting him from school at 3.35pm, an epic in itself with the boat on trailer and all the traffic on the narrow roads, we set off. We made really good time until we got into the road works on the M61/M6 with the result that we arrived at Low Wray at just after 8pm in pitch dark. Never having been there before, we chose the wrong turn, hurriedly pitched our tent, too close to someone else and had a walk to find our way around. Next morning we moved to the family site, much closer to the lake where we got Spirit Wings rigged and launched.

During the morning the wind was light and variable. We did try to ‘fly the kite’ but couldn’t keep it drawing as the wind backed about 90 degrees. We joined up with a couple of Enterprises for the run down the lake — soon needing to don waterproofs in the drizzle. Apart from the drizzle it was pleasant enough and we found a bit of beach just below Bowness to land for a picnic. It seemed a bit tame just to beat back up the lake after lunch… Stephen and I headed down the lake towards Blakeholme. We didn’t get that far. It’s a big lake isn’t it? Anyway about 1440 we turned and began to beat back. After about an hour I was beginning to regret the large racing mainsail and genoa… not to mention the spinnaker lines, especially the halliard which kept tangling in the genoa. Stephen’s a grand lad and a fair A.B. but no-one could call him a heavyweight. Then it became apparent that the rudder downhaul was no longer attached to the rudder, which kept swinging up.

Eventually we found a private jetty and grabbed it, to try and deal with the rudder and change to a smaller mainsail. Another member commented recently about how a strong headwind lengthens passage times in a small boat. Working hard it was 1730 before we were among the islands. I won’t try to describe avoiding the big passenger boats — did anyone else notice how much worse the wash was from the smaller modern diesel boats? — and timing our crossing of the cable ferry path. It was interesting to notice the veering of the wind in gusts, which freed us on starboard tack but was a header on port tack. Anyway, having no real alternative we kept going and the wind died at about 1830! The last mile or so Stephen insisted on rowing except for short periods of light airs that let us sail. We landed just after 1900 after about eight hours of sailing — five and a half without landing. The bailers came in useful… not only for bailing! And that, much abbreviated, was our Windermere. Funny thing though; we both want to go back! Oh I endorse the report on the pub Saturday night. And we both recommend the Steamboat museum.