Coniston — 7-8 September by Ted Hunt

This year the DCA rally coincided with the Tepco (Tideway) Association rally, so some members attended wearing both hats. It did mean that when trying to find DCA members, the first two likely boats approached were both Tepco members, and we began to despair of finding anyone from the DCA.

Saturday dawned cold and windless, with Coniston Water like a mirror. However by 10am after use of our weather hot-line (we prayed) we found a light breeze which while erratic lasted until dusk. By the end of the day, we found eight DCA boats including ourselves. Apologies to anyone we missed.

First encounter was Wagtail, Chris Laycock’s Dabber, with Chris and crew Mary Aveyard and Mick Hasney; Chris directed us to the public launch site, where we found Dave Chatterley launching Iona and Tim Evans and Dave Morton preparing Mollie — perhaps Tim should write about Mollie, which is a remarkable boat based upon a Yeoman 20’ hull, with a centreplate instead of a keel, gunter rig and Wayfarer sails. My crew insisted on watching Mollie taking to the water, with the result that it was about 11.40 before the Hunt family, Andrew 15, Stephen 13 and myself set off southwards in Spirit Wings, our Kestrel.

The wind was just strong enough to set the spinnaker, but the variability meant we spent some time sailing by the lee or gybing. We found Iona tucked in by Fir Island at about 12.30 and anchored a few yards away to eat our sandwiches in companionable silence; hopefully Dave didn’t think we were being unsociable. After a while Mollie joined us and moored alongside us (I should really have kept quiet about our 15 lb plough anchor…) Anyway Dave came and rafted alongside and we all chattered, or ate, going our separate ways about 1pm.

By this time the wind was swinging between a close reach and a run and it wasn’t worth messing with the kite. We landed on Peel Island, but could see some of the others at the other side of the lake — the road is close to the lake at that point, with a lay-by equipped with a refreshment van.

It was during our beat back that we encountered two Tideways with DCA burgees — Dinah, Aidan and Ruth de la Mare and Gemini, Les and Molly Higgins. Although like us they were staying at the Coniston Hall campsite, they were at the southerly end of the site and we hadn’t seen them earlier. Also at this time we noticed a very elegant classic boat that we couldn’t resist approaching, only to discover another DCA member. Gordon Bird the owner has promised to write the story of Symphony, his Essex one-design, that he has rebuilt extensively. I nearly typed expensively. Although Gordon hasn’t thrown his money about, such boats tend to be money pits! Symphony is a 20’ clinker half-decked centreplate boat built of elm planks in 1928. With enormous sails on a 30’ wooden mast, Gordon says she is very fast, but he tends to reef early! A lovely boat.

Lastly but by no means least we met Bernard Harman and John Reid in Bernard’s Suffolk Cob.

On Sunday, although the lake was like a mirror again at first, by the time we were on the water we found a light southerly breeze that quickly backed to the forecast NE and picked up to f2-3. As it was swinging between NE and NW I didn’t even think of trying the kite, but we had a lovely sail, meeting Dinah, Gemini and Wagtail. Symphony’s owner had not arrived by the time we had to pack up to go home. A very pleasant weekend.

Windermere — 21-22 September by Dave Morton

Present were: Malcolm Cox Lynx 14 Bill Steed & grandson Puffin Voyager Stuart Calcutt & Phil Davies Karmatoo Gerald Harrison Lugger Tweetle The Cannons? Dave’s Chatterley & Morton Wayfarer Restless

I collected David Chatterley, plus a large number of well-filled muffins courtesy of Jean, from his Warton base at 9.30am. The weather was fine, despite awful forecasts throughout the preceding week. We launched at the south end of Windermere in gusty conditions which grew gustier as we beat northwards towards the chain ferry. We’d already reefed down, but on heaving-to on the working jib to put in the third reef, a strong gust from the NE almost had us over. We then proved the value of self-bailers for extracting the surplus water, instead of just slowly leaking.

We went west of Belle Isle, where the round house still has a scaffolding tent over it, and took ages to pass it in the fluky winds. At last we cleared it and spotted the familiar junk rig of Karmatoo then the familiar outlines of Stuart Calcutt and Phil Davies. Later we met Malcolm Cox in his home-made Lynx 14 and Bill and his grandson in their Puffin Voyager. Dave and I headed for the river bank to camp. Stuart had predicted that it would be exposed to the NE wind, but it was fine. Malcolm and Bill soon joined us, but Stuart decided to keep Gerald company in the bay at Low Wray. We hoped to meet at the Waterhead Hotel, an easy walk from the River Brathay’s left bank via the Roman Fort and park, but quite a drive from Low Wray. We were rather put out to find that a passable real-ale bar had become a totally naff Irish theme bar selling Beamish keg at £1.85 per pint; and no food after 3pm. Bill had to go 300 yards up the road to Ambleside in search of a meal. We had a good chat, then a quiet night on the river bank.

Next morning, after waking to the sound of coots, we caught up with Gerald whose rest had been disturbed by midnight revellers on a boat anchored close to his. We then had a good morning’s sail and lunched on the western islet of the two Lilies of the Valley. We parted hoping to meet at Derwent Water or Elton (AGM).

The wind dropped and it took us about three hours to reach Fell Foot. Shortly before our arrival we were passed by a tan-sailed lugger, using a Seagull outboard and flying the DCA burgee, but they made no contact as they headed for their mooring at Low Stott Farm. We recovered up the steep slip by using the car and were soon back to a tasty meal at Warton — thanks to Jean. This revitalised me for the rest of the return journey. Altogether it was a most enjoyable weekend.

Derwentwater — 5-6 October… in which Brian reappears! by Dave Morton

A well-attended end-of-season rally. Present were:

Eric Scholes & John Mayes Ampull Optimist/W Gerald Harrison & Dave Chatterley Tweetle Lugger Brian McClellan & Bill Steed Water Mouse WW Potter Keith Jones Kaipara WW Potter Colin Bell Cormorant Don & Sonia Rigg Sailfish The Cannons Cariad Wayfarer Dave Morton & Tony Nield Restless Wayfarer

After a lousy week Saturday was an almost perfect sailing day with some sunshine and a good breeze. Tony and I called for Dave and we had a nice drive through Ambleside, scene of our last DCA camp a fortnight earlier and found Gerald at Derwentwater Marina ready and waiting for Dave. Soon Eric and John arrived. We forked out our £8 to Chris Bawns who reassured me about the clearance, saying that the level of the lake had risen over 3 feet the previous weekend! Talk about lucky to have avoided that one!

We heard that Brian had already launched intending to head straight for Myrtle Bay. Eric and I agreed to lunch on an island. I favoured Rampoline but we found Gerald was already beached. Being an eccentric Yorkshireman, or Tyke for short I believe, he’d selected a windblown, shaded and hence very cold spot on the windward side. Naively thinking that he must know what he was doing Eric and I joined him for a sociable if cold lunch. Sonia then appeared on her sailboard while Don sensibly found a spot on the leeward side.

After lunch, we rowed off easily enough. We then had a magnificent fast sail reaching back and forth with Tony imagining Restless as a speedy frigate as we zoomed about greeting Keith then Brian and Bill while trying to avoid the many treacherous rocks near the islands. After chasing the Cannons past Derwent Isle before managing to catch up and greet them, we decided to head for Myrtle Bay in hope of a soft spot, where Restless might safely spend the night and act as a club house for the evening. We found the perfect spot in the westernmost corner, coming to rest over a flooded ‘lawn’ with stern anchor out and a choice of sturdy trees to tie up to. The rest soon joined us and we had a most enjoyable evening lubricated by the whisky which Keith and Colin generously donated, or the beer which Brian produced from Water Mouse’s drinks locker. Thanks to the early sunset we’d made an prompt start, so were able to get a good night’s sleep.

Overnight the rain fell and the next day’s weather was dry but poor sailing. The wind was more south-westerly and it was hard to find a suitable landing place on the islands so several of us headed for the marina aiming to be home for a late dinner. Whereas Windermere saw the demise of Bill’s trailer bearing, this time it was the Cannons’ turn to make an extra round trip in search of a new bearing. I think I’ll start carrying a spare! This time we returned via Penrith and the M6, dropping Dave C at Warton. It was great to see so many of the DCA stalwarts before the 1996 season ended.

Coniston 1-3 November by Keith Jones

Present were:

Joan & Tony Abrams Mayfly Hwilpe Roger Barnes & Helen Stanton Klepper canoe plus toy yacht Jolly Roger Brian & Kath McClellan Blandford canoe Bernard Harman, Eric Scholes, Percy Jackson & John May Sussex Cob Jay Sophie Annetts Richard Bradley, guest of Roger Heron Keith Jones Star Traveller Twinkle

For the last rally of the year it was a good turnout. A pity it blew unremittingly F4-7 with periodic deluges; a blessing that the wind was not too chilling and that overnight we were comfortably housed in the Waterhead Hotel.

On the Saturday it took some resolution to set out in the teeth of the gale. Brian promptly got involved in rescue work, ferrying a chap whose yacht had broken loose, and he was soon lost to sight. Bailer Barnes and Helen determinedly paddled the five miles to Peel Island, appropriately coming ashore from time to time to drain the Klepper’s bilges. Keith and Sophie motored there mastless so there was a minimum quorum for a somewhat soggy lunch in these normally idyllic surroundings. The Cob was the only craft venturing to hoist sail on the way out, but under jib and mizzen the best it could do before lunch was to reach the Coniston beach café. On the return the Klepper gingerly raised a pocket handkerchief jib, but the rest prudently relied on motor and paddle.

Whilst all this was going on the surfers had a field-day, screaming backwards and forwards across the lake, but making little progress otherwise.

Sunday was even more daunting than Saturday, but some of the group rowed the hotel’s heavy rowing boat round to the Coniston tearoom. After an entertaining account of RB’s adventures on the Broads they set out to return to base, whereupon RB released Jolly Roger from the shore. The little perisher set out smartly up the lake into wind and chop. Having a couple of hundred yards start and sailing almost as fast as the galley-slaves could row, he was halfway to Brantwood House on the opposite bank before he was captured.

During the trip we saw the Soling whose conversion to a cabin yacht was recently reported in PBO. It seemed to move very well and its spacious cabin to be appropriate for a lake yacht.

From a sailing point of view the weekend was clearly not all that could be desired, but it provided a congenial social event and a reasonable airing. The main thing to ponder however, is the amazing performance of Jolly Roger in atrocious conditions. There is a lesson here somewhere!