Dear Joan,

Bob Lomas’s letter in the previous Bulletin suggests that the DCA members should stay away rather than accept the rules governing the lovely Cobnor and Newtown venues. Those who cannot accept the rules should certainly stay away, otherwise they will foul up things for members in the future, as well as putting the organisers in the manure. However please may I point out that the Cobnor rules have been evolved by caring and non‑profit‑making landowners to avoid conflict with the various other parties having rights at this environmentally sensitive Sussex site. And also to avoid bringing down power lines and thereby incinerating ourselves etc. Bear in mind also that the charges at a commercial site could be four or five times higher in some cases! I hope that we continue with some form of family camping weekend, since as an old man I like to see kids enjoying themselves and being introduced to dinghy cruising, but it may depend on an alternative site being found. Perhaps Bob could organise an alternative site for us?

As for Newtown Harbour, the harbourmaster in the 1997 SNAFU has ‘resigned’, but we have to address the new harbourmaster’s legitimate concerns*, and consider the feelings of local people. My worry is that a group decision at our 1998 rally may have created further problems!

All suggestions for future venue rallies and any offers to negotiate for Cobnor or Newtown or an alternative camping weekend or to organise cruises in company should be put to the South Coast Winter Meeting (see Winter Meetings notice). Please write in if you cannot attend.

*Regarding the loo problem the various suggestions in the Bulletin have all been valuable. My usual practice is simply to squat in a secluded spot and then bury it without trace. See also Chichester Harbour Conservancy booklet Navigate with Nature, under ‘Faeces, the Facts’. LW