This year’s rally was to some extent the rump of the Loch Lomond rally. It also followed the Drascombes’ Creran Rally and coincided with the Cornish Shrimpers. The Slorances managed to offer us their usual warm welcome.

Drascombes and Shrimpers seem big, solid and impressive. They also have a certain uniformity by comparison with our ken-speckle assortment, and tend to sail as fleets whereas our individualist craft and idiosyncratic owners prefer to do their own thing.

Present were:

Albert and Joyce Hattersley — Cormorant Joan and Tony Abrams — Red Knot Brian Swindlehurst — Coble Avocet Jesse James — Shearwater Banana Split David Chatterley — Leisure 17 Boggart Denis and Anne Kell — Wanderer Samphire Keith Jones — WWP ‘C’ Kaipara

The weather on 3rd June was foul. Sunday 4th started very blustery, but improved. Monday had low cloud, bad visibility and little wind, Tuesday a bit less cloud and more wind. Wednesday and Thursday blew up to a northerly force 6 with improving sunshine, and thereafter it was mainly pleasant, though a brisk northerly never warmed up much.

The centre for rest, comfort and refreshment was Brian’s caravan. Tent dwellers cannot be adequately grateful for his genial welcome.

Our adventures started on Sunday at 1100 when, together with the Shrimper fleet, we set out. The Shrimpers were going to Lochaline, we were to do what the elements would allow. It was very blustery. We sailed swiftly to South Shian where we encountered a force 5 northerly. The Shrimpers beat out of the loch on their ears. The DCA fleet disintegrated and never met up again. Here is what happened.

Avocet motored out of the loch, headed up past Port Appin and round Sheep Island. There Brian and guest/crew Iain decided to sail round Lismore anticlockwise. They had a stormy and sporting journey, but overtook the much larger Shrimpers before the latter peeled off into the Sound of Mull. Avocet rounded the Lismore light in turbulent conditions, eventually reaching Creran Moorings at 2230. She later made several trips within the loch.

Boggart disappeared for over a week, returning nightly to South Shian or, when untenable, North Shian. She visited most of the visit-worthy places in the area, and David was pleased with his shake-down cruise.

Banana Split did some extraordinary voyaging. Beating out of the loch double-reefed, she turned downwind to Achnacroish (Lismore). Then, as it was too rough to tackle the South Lismore passage, Jess took her into Oban. The wind abating somewhat, he shot off on a broad reach to Loch Spelve (Mull). Finding this unpleasantly choppy for overnighting he crossed back to Horseshoe Bay on Kerrera. He had been sailing sedately, double-reefed and without lifting a hull, at 12-14 knots! Next day he returned via Loch Feochan to Creran. His second outing took him to see friends at Loch a’ Choire, returning the following day through the Shuna passage, crossing the shoals as he approached Port Appin. Continuing at high speed up Loch Creran, the wind was force 5-6, he narrowly missed being pulled overboard as he picked up the mooring. He was pleased at being able to dismantle and recover the boat single-handed.

Kaipara, also shaking down, spent four nights away. She went via Port Ramsey to Lochaline and Tobermory. On Wednesday with force 6 in the Sound of Mull, there was nothing to do but run for shelter at Craignure (Mull) and sleep the day away. Managing to go ashore on Thursday, Keith was, possibly justifiably, taken for a tramp in the shop and served with reluctance and suspicion. The township being devoid of other reasons to stay, Kaipara set off at great speed, 3½ knots, downwind under jib alone at 1300. It was very bouncy where the NW down the Sound of Mull met the equally strong NE down Loch Linnhe. It proved impossible to beat up the Lynn of Lorn, and she ended up in Ardmucknish Bay by Benderloch. Brian kindly taxied Keith and recovered Kaipara with his Landrover.

In view of the conditions the Hattersleys’ Cormorant wisely stayed within Loch Creran. Albert found himself dismantling the Drascombes’ marquee, and assisted Joan to service her trailer.

Conditions were also not conducive to launching Red Knot, so Joan spent much time working on the logistics of her next trip to Greece — with Red Knot, of course.

The week before the rally the Kells undertook a classic cruise in Samphire. They had a splendid three-day trip round Lismore, up to Tobermory and Loch Sunart, back to Dunstaffnage, and thence to Creran. They were sadly packing up as the rest arrived. They leave us a useful tip; a proper washleather dries things very well when you are putting up your boom-tent.

All in all it was a vigorous and enjoyable rally.