Saturday a fine day but Terry was tied up with arrangements for Kirkcudbright Festival until later in the day, I had not taken my boat and no other members had arrived so Kate and I went to recce Loch Ken. I must say that pleasant though it is I would not drive past the Lake District to go sailing there. The sailing centre is a good place to launch though. I had arranged to meet Terry at just before high water for a sail in his Dabber, and, after first watching the parade of floats, we spent a pleasant couple of hours in Kirkcudbright Bay. On our return to the campsite I found out from the warden that Colin Passe from Stirling had arrived. I found his tent, clocked his tent, clocked his Swampscott Dory and as he was not at home, left a message for him. Kate and I then retired to the pub for a meal with Terry and Margaret Hughes. At 10pm knock on caravan door and Colin introduced himself. After a beer he expressed willingness to have me along as ballast on a Sunday cruise. Then I told him that we would have to be up shortly after 5am to catch the morning tide whilst it still covered the sailing club slip (recently lengthened and widened), he didn’t even blink.

Sunday in the dawn gloaming we opened up the clubhouse and we rigged Madog. I say ‘we’ loosely because I ineffectually twitched ropes whilst Colin sorted out the amazingly complex Celtic knot work that passes for sheets and halyards on Madog . It makes Dave Morton’s reefing system look simple by comparison We rowed out into the ebb and were soon sailing south down Kirkcudbright Bay. As we approached Little Ross Island we noted that visibility was deteriorating rapidly. The skipper immediately produced a compass, fitted it to the top of the dagger board housing and asked the crew to produce the chart. “What chart?” asked the crew. “The chart I gave you in the car,” says the skipper. Naturally crew blames skipper and he takes bearings muttering about not being able to get the staff etc. “Anyway where are we going?” Turn right once past Little Ross island, if we can still see it, was the general idea. Keeping the coast in sight we would then sail down to the Islands of Fleet. Visibility gradually improved and we had a grand sail in fine sunny weather with a slight, sea, course generally north-west. We passed Barlocco Island and spied a wonderful looking beach to starboard so turned in between Barlocco and Ardwall Islands heading directly for the beach. There were rocks either side so we went in cautiously. We need not have worried, line up on the old beach house and sail right in over sand. Lunch stop and a short walk and it was time to head back. By this time the wind had freshened coming at us from the south-east and kicking up a slight chop. It was a beat most of the way and I was impressed with both the power and steadiness of the dory which feels a bit tippy when you first go aboard. Whitecaps now on the water and swells deepening, some spray coming aboard. But the wind shifted more southerly which allowed us to reach, making life much more comfortable. On the flood we sailed back into Kirkcudbright Bay via the Sound, between Meikle Ross and Little Ross Island. With the wind now on our tail we flew back into the Dee arriving back at the sailing club about 5pm after a splendid 10 hour trip of 26 miles (including 1 hour for lunch). Back to the caravan for dinner then Colin had to head for home and work on the morrow. I for one really enjoyed the day and hope that Colin can join us for further meets.

Kate and I stayed for an extra day and on Monday walked up Merrick (2766 ft) from the Bruce memorial in Glen Trool. Wind gale force on the tops and I was glad not to be sailing. Altogether a splendid weekend perfect for cruising, where were you?

Colin sent me a technical description of his boat which is in this Bulletin [161/44].

Rutland Reservoir September 12th

Present were Colin & Jayne Firth, in their Cruz: Mike Woodhouse with daughter Phillipa and friend Sarah, in their WW Potter Pippin. Also there were interested non-members Richard and Jean Buckland with daughters Jane & Fran in their wooden 1966 Devon Day Boat.

I had intended taking my Mirror to this meet but I was invited by Colin to join him on the Cruz. When Mike arrived we agreed to all meet later.

Rutland is large and the surroundings manicured. With cyclists on the tracks, fishermen on the banks and in boats, young men in dry suits in RIBS waiting to rescue the unfortunate and an amazing number of biggish sailing cruisers on the hard, the Rutland Belle cruiser and lots of rules and regulations including no landing all over the place, no sleeping on boats and no engines, Rutland is perhaps not the best place for an ‘unherdable’ DCA meet. Nevertheless we had a grand sail in the south arm of the lake, beating with one reef in the sail into a steadily increasing north’westerly wind. We stopped for lunch anchored close to the shore before continuing with the sail. Just south of Hambleton village the wind really picked up kicking a real fetch on the lake. It was so interesting that we missed the small buoys indicating the limit of sailing and so we entered the territory of ‘The Fishermen’, and were roundly shouted at. We turned back but by this time things were getting exciting and when we were knocked over, escaping a capsize by a whisker, the skipper decided it was time to let everything go. We staggered to a provident beach and handed to deep reef the sails. Moments later a RIB roared up to check we were safe and ordered us to run down to the east end of the lake, presumably so the safety boats could keep an eye on us. When we are so used to looking after ourselves such consideration grates a bit. With only a handkerchief of a sail we surfed back down the lake and returned to the boating centre.

The Cruz behaves impeccably in all respects and even with a scrap of sail goes amazingly well to windward. I have reservations about the amount of water shipped in rough weather without the canvas cuddy and I wonder about the ability to reef single-handed in a blow. It was however a grand and exciting sail.

In the pub we met ex-member David Golton who expressed a wish to rejoin. Another DCA member was there with his sailing club but I regret that I forgot his name, for which I apologise.

Windermere 25th - 27th September

Present: Peter & Jackie Truelove Devon Yawl Calypso Colin Bell Mirror Colin & Jayne Firth Cruz Jenya Dave Morton & Tony Nield Wayfarer Restless David Chatterley Yawl Iona Les Higgin & family Tideway Gemini Stuart Calcutt, Gerald Harrison & Mark Junk rigged cruiser Karmatoo Steve & Matthew Dawson Merlin Rocket Phillagn Brian McClellan WW Potter Water Mouse

Friday Arrived at Low Wray camp site at 4pm to find Colin Bell and Colin & Jayne Firth already assembled. A walk up to the warden’s cottage revealed that there is now a charge for launching even if you are not staying at the site. The Cruz and Potter then set off for a sail whilst Colin Bell returned to his caravan, located on another site. Later Stuart Calcutt arrived with nephew Mark and launched, not without some difficulty as the lake level had dropped. Colin & Jayne visited Water Mouse in the evening for a chat and drink.

Saturday For a change I was the first to set off at 0930. Actually I rowed as there was not a breath of wind. One after another the group launched and we generally milled about the north end of the lake grimly determined not to use engines. I had left mine in the Land Rover. We eventually rowed up the Brathay River for lunch where we were joined by Steve and Matthew Dawson who were interested in joining the DCA. After lunch a slight breeze sprang/staggered up. I set off down the lake followed and then overtaken by Restless and had to pay with a long row returning to Low Wray. Les Higgins was out with his son Richard and grandsons Craig and James. Later back at Low Wray the Cruz was on shore with her cover on, Dave and Tony pulled out as they could only stay for the day and there was no sign of other boats. I guessed that Stuart would be up the Brathay and decided to go over and see. A row was definitely out, so I retrieved old stinky from the Land Rover and motored across in the dusk. After dinner a pleasant evening’s chat on Karmatoo. Must have bored young Mark, age 13, rigid.

Sunday Again no wind so we rowed out into the lake and milled about waiting for the fleet to launch. Then at last a breeze, nay a wind and we were off with grand sailing until lunch time when we met up on the eastern shore before sailing off again and variously pulling out. Brian McClellan

Derwentwater October 9th - 11th

Present were: Brian McClellan & Alan Venables WW Potter Water Mouse Colin & Jane Firth Cruz Miss Isle Conrad Robinson Woods Linnet Merlin John Cannon & family Wayfarer Cariad Antony Sluce 12’ Highlander Fraoch Dave Chatterley Own design Iona Dave Morton Wayfarer Restless

Kathy and I arrived at Derwentwater Marina on Saturday in fine weather. It costs £8 for the weekend and £3 per person to camp. Brian, Dave, Anthony, Colin and Jane had been around since Friday. John and family had arrived on Thursday, staying in one of the marina’s chalets. Conrad stopped in a B&B, while the rest were split between those camping at the marina; Antony, self and daughter; and those camping at Myrtle Bay.

We all met for a picnic and chat on Rampholme Island at 1.30pm. Keith Jones was fondly remembered and sadly missed. Colin and Jane who live in Keswick, amazed us with their huge cool-box, Trangia cooker (Jane’s the real expert at assembling these) and bacon rolls, as well as their remarkably light and well-designed boat. It has ample and accessible storage space for cruising, but sleeping on the sole would be cramped compared with a Wayfarer. They’re planning to adapt it for sleeping above and ahead of the thwart.

We explored Myrtle Bay looking vainly for a spot that wasn’t either hard rock or deep mud, before returning to the marina. The views and the later wind were brilliant. Our meals and the beer in the marina restaurant were excellent, in keeping with our expectations set by those who had eaten there on Friday night. We met Conrad, the Cannons and Antony there, so had a very congenial time. Conrad has made a most sleek and efficient rowing boat, with a makeshift blue sail which works reasonably well unless going to windward.

Dave Chatterley beat a belated retreat from Myrtle Bay as his anchor dragged and he drifted towards the rocks. He opted to row back. Brian and Alan stuck it out, but Water Mouse suffered a small perforation.

Sunday was a nasty mixture of heavy showers and squalls. These were braved by Dave and the Cruz crew, but the rest of us decided not to risk it and pulled out in the late morning. I later heard from Dave. He’d had a very hairy time around Brandellow Bay in search of a lee.

(P.S. Note to self: Remember to bring wellies next time!) D Morton