Ullswater 28th March

After exceptionally mild and sunny weather on Friday, we met at Waterside House, launching over soft gravel, brought ashore by the winter’s gales. Present were:

Dave Chatterley in Iona — 13 foot own design Anthony Sluce in his Highlander 12’ Malcolm Cox in his Stickleback Dory Self and Tony Nield in W404 Restless The anonymous crew of a Highlander 18, who spoke to Anthony on Sunday afternoon.

We set off for Howtown heading into a moderate southerly, which predictably freshened as we passed Sharrow Bay. Restless was hard pressed at times in the gusts, with two reefs in the main and the working jib. Lunch was held in bright sunshine on the beach with Malcolm arriving after a long row. The public launching point at Howtown now has ‘No Parking/No Trailers’ signs, which will further restrict its use by DCA members.

Restless followed Iona towards Norfolk Island, while Anthony and Malcolm returned northwards. Iona eventually turned back but Restless pressed on through deteriorating weather and a southerly F6 with stronger gusts towards Glenridding. With three reefs and the smallest main, she made slow progress to windward, but finally arrived after nearly four hours from Howtown. We were welcomed by Tom and his son Rob at the sailing centre where we spent a very well sheltered and quiet night. Next day we made good use of the excellent public toilets behind the Glenridding Hotel, before motoring back to Waterside in a flat calm *.

Half a dozen racers passed us near Howtown, then we spotted Anthony and Dave towards Pooley Bridge, as the wind filled in from the north-east. We enjoyed a brisk sail to Eusmere Bay where we lunched. Anthony was justifiably pleased with this first ‘sea-trial’ of his newly constructed boat and her junk rig. We tried to think of suitable nicknames for him in the style of; ‘Capsize Calcutt’. ‘Sloshy Sluce’ won our votes.

Hauling out at Waterside was uneventful, save for Anthony’s brief encounter with the Highlander 18 in the farm-yard. We regretted that more people hadn’t turned up to enjoy what had been an enjoyable opening to our 1998 cruising season and the start of British Summer Time, as Lawrie Smith finally managed to win a stage of the Whitbread. The crew of Restless strongly recommend the Glenridding Sailing Centre (formerly Sailing School) as an alternative launching place especially if Tom and Rob are in charge.

The free use of motors on Ullswater and the absence of power-boats are its chief advantages over Windermere.