Paglesham 21st - 22nd August

Present:

Peter Bick and Stanley Dean in Slippers, motor dinghy from Bradwell Chris Brooks in his Nomad, sailing from Fambridge Ted Jones in Bubbles from Walton Backwaters Charles Proudfoot in his Roamer, Tai Tai II from Walton Backwaters Peter Small in his Wayfarer, Lutino from Burnham, I think Dot, my wife who met us at the Plough and Sail

Good to meet everyone at Goldhanger — I will try to camp next year on a rally or two. The sky on the way back to Heybridge Basin was fantastic. One advantage of a kayak — or a motor boat — is that you face the way you are going. Stanley Dean

Goldhanger Creek 4th - 5th September

Participants:

Peter Small in Lutino — 16’ Wayfarer John Adye in Willa — 18’ Drascombe Lugger Bill Sergeant & crew in Harriot — 14’ Roamer Martin & Trish Draper in W8517 — 16’ Wayfarer Stanley Dean in sea kayak Clive Shrubb & crew in 18’ Drascombe Lugger David & Persephony Lewin in Moonstone III — Drascombe Coaster Peter Bick in Slippers — motor dinghy

The Goldhanger Rally was held on a weekend of brilliant sunshine and gentle NE winds. Conditions were excellent for enjoying an exploration of the Blackwater and Colne Rivers.

Bill, John and Peter launched at Bradwell Marina on Friday afternoon. A passage planning session was held that evening in the Green Man Pub, over a pint and a delicious supper. Martin & Trish had launched their Wayfarer further upriver, and popped down by car.

Saturday morning saw four boats sailing joining company outside Bradwell Power Station breakwater. Willa, Lutino, Harriot and W8517 headed downriver towards the River Colne entrance. Peter Bick launched from Bradwell late morning, but was still first to beach on the Brightlingsea town hard with the last of the falling tide. Lunch was had on the balcony of the Colne Yacht Club, watching the return of the Thames Barge race.

The boats lifted off the beach as the tide turned. Five boats, crews now refreshed, set off down the River Colne against the first of the flood. Mersea Stone was rounded, the tide picked up the fleet, and we ghosted up the Blackwater towards Osea Island and Goldhanger Creek. Martin and Trish continued to their base, for an early return to domestic duties.

The top of the tide was required to beach for the night, so a raft was formed outside Goldhanger Creek in the late afternoon. Moonstone III, Stanley and Peter Bick were early on the scene. Many thanks to David and Persephony for their warm hospitality.

Clive is a leading member of the Goldhanger Sailing Club. He was kind enough to act as pilot, and made available all the facilities of the club house. Many thanks Clive! Boats were beached and tents erected. A quiet walk along the sea wall lead to Goldhanger village and the Chequers Pub. Food, drink and company were of the highest order.

Sunday morning, the boats floated off and withdrew from the creek to anchor outside for breakfast. A rendezvous was arranged for lunch at West Mersea. The visibility was very hazy with little wind. A strong sun soon burnt off the mist to leave a very hot, lazy day.

Thanks again to Goldhanger SC and Moonstone III for making a good time great! Peter Small

SOUTHWEST

See Roger’s article ‘Lundy Island’.

NORTHWEST

The Keith Jones Rally, Falmouth 2nd to 10th July

Attending:

Sophie Annetts & Joan Abrams with Curlew (ex Hwilpe) Helen & Colin Bell with Mirror Gadabout Jane & Colin Firth with Cruz Jenya Margaret & Frank Dearden Isabelle & George Saffray with Cruz Colin Cobill with Gull Babs & John Deacon this time without Jady Lane Kate & Brian McClellan with West Wight Potter Water Mouse Aidan de la Mare with Tideway Diane Bill Sergeant with Roamer Harriot — itinerant seafarer not ashore

Once again based at the splendid Tretham Mill Touring Park, and with boats launched or moored at Jim Benny’s boatyard, this year’s meet was full of fine weather and terrific sailing in good company. Many familiar faces were not present this year and they were missed.

The week’s sailing included:

Sunday: Aidan met us on the moorings and apologised as he could only join us for the one day. A splendid sail up Carrick Roads into the Fal and up to Malpas in quite gusty conditions. We stopped en-route at the Smugglers, Toluerne for tea and pasties. Several crews consuming their own food alongside the pontoon were evicted.

Monday: Sunny and warm. We had intended sailing across to the Helford River but with virtually no wind drifted about in Falmouth Bay before returning to St. Just. Colin went across to the Mylor and Joan & Sophie went off to test their temporarily repaired centre board case.

Tuesday: Another fine sail, this time round to St Mawes and into the Percuil River. We anchored about a mile short of Tretham Bridge off Polingay Creek, except for Colin and Jane in Jenya with loyal crew Margaret and Frank who almost reached the bridge and might have made it but for the crews reluctance to leap overboard and push.

Wednesday: A day off for some of us. Helen, Colin, Kate and I went to visit the lost gardens of Heligan (just as well we took two cars as the exhaust fell off my Land Rover at a convenient garage where we left it for repair and transferred to Colin’s car. Frank and Margaret went to meet a friend as did Isabelle and George. Joan and Sophie sailed across to the Restronguet. Colin and Jane sailed across to the Helford. When we returned to camp we were all delighted that Babs and John Deacon had arrived.

Thursday: Off fairly early to catch the tide up Ruan Creek This is a wonderful place. We anchored for lunch off Lamorran in two metres of water and could have made it the extra short distance up to the quay at Ruan Lanihorne. As soon as the tide turned we set off on the return trip. In the evening we gathered at Babs and John’s tent for drinks before driving to Ruan Lanihorne for the meet dinner.

Friday: Colin Cobill had returned home, Joan and Sophie headed for the Percuil and Bill Sergeant was also seen heading in that direction. Margaret and Frank sailed with me in Water Mouse. As the wind was blowing down St. Just Creek I broke my own rule and sailed off the mooring. We had a magnificent sail in wind top end of F4 into Falmouth Bay before turning round and making for the Pandora in the Restronguet where we were guided alongside the jetty by George who had already arrived. There is something magical about going ashore for a pint then returning to the boat and casting off. Frank and Margaret returned to the Pandora in the evening for a meal with a friend. We returned to St. Just where Kate was waiting with the Land Rover and Water Mouse was soon pulled out and on the trailer ready for the trip home. Isabelle and George, Helen and Colin all departed so it was a depleted group packing up in the evening.

Saturday: Departure time except for Joan and Sophie who were staying until Sunday.

Another splendid week with the usual little adventures and minor crises which add spice to our sailing, and who can forget the folk singing with Frank’s guitar playing (how many of you know that Joan has quite a repertoire).

Postscript: This meet has been called the Keith Jones Memorial Meet and so we had a collection from the members present and bought a number of rose trees. Ian is going to plant them as a hedge close to the area where we normally camp. Brian McClellan

Loch Creran 3rd to 10th July

Attending: Brian Swindlehurst Cornish Cobble Avocet Andrew Gillies Sprit sail Mirror Katy Doug & Sue Selway Wayfarer Red Shank Neil Marshall Crabber 17 Missee Lee Alan Ward

Sailing or motoring to a picnic destination every day, a very enjoyable time was had by all.

Sunday: Motor trip to Port Ramsay at the north end of Lismore. Monday: General sailing on Loch Creran. Tuesday: General sailing on Loch Creran with a trip under the new road bridge into the most easterly part of the loch. Wednesday: Sail to South Shian and had torrential rain on the return trip. Thursday: Sailing on Loch Creran. A hot sunny day and able to sit out in the evening until 1140. Friday: Sailing Loch Creran. Saturday: Sailed to South Shian.

The meet continued over the weekend. Sunday: Fishing trip to Port Ramsay. Monday: Trip to Loch Linnhe, Cuil Bay. Over 25 miles sailed with good sailing but part with rough sea wind over tide.

My cairn terrier ‘Becky’ enjoyed the boat. Brian Swindlehurst

Derwentwater 6th to 8th August

Attending: Brian McClellan Mirror - 95% thereof Yes but Colin & Helen Bell Mirror Gadabout Frank & Margaret Dearden, Janet Marrs GP 14 Kyle Colin & Jayne Firth Cruz Jenya John & Michelle Holman West Wight Potter Potamus Terry & Margaret Hughes Sans boat but hopeful Don & Sonia Rigg Own design Crackerjack George & Margaret Brecon Sans boat, just socialising for a day on Sunday

The gathering started early with Colin & Helen arriving on Thursday (Oh what joy, to be retired) for a firm fix on a local caravan site, and Terry & Margaret on the Friday (Oh what joy, etc) to camp at the venue. Sussex members John & Michelle were holidaying in the area and joined us for the weekend.

Derwentwater Marina is a good venue; a field doubling as dinghy park and occasional camp site (with showers), small craft moorings along two sides, a couple of slips and excellent bar meals! Being at the northern edge of the lake it’s usually easy to get home with the prevailing southerly winds — however northerlies were our lot for the weekend, giving gentle but good sailing on the Saturday with gusty weather for Sunday.

I’d been volunteered to co-ordinate the meet and felt that I should appear from time to time, though Jayne & I are based at Nichol End Marine, half a mile along the shore, and were sailing from there. This involved our socialising at DwM as folk arrived and were rigging & launching, chasing along to NEM to rig & launch ourselves — then sailing down the lake to arrive at the lunch venue before everyone else had left! O.K, we could have got up early and pre-rigged, but we didn’t.

Saturday was excellent, with the light northerly wind freshening occasionally. Brian joined Colin in Gadabout, having realised that his own Mirror’s mast was languishing somewhere in Shropshire, and Terry joined Jayne & myself in our Cruz to see how this strange animal behaved. Locals and late arrivals eventually met on St Herbert’s Island for lunch — a popular venue as the long gravel spit gives easy landing in most conditions. John & Michelle appeared at the island to admit that this was their very first DCA meet and they were wondering what they’d let themselves in for; they seemed relieved to find that we were on the same informal wavelength as themselves, so this may be the first of many meets for them.

Terry’s Cruz sailing was minimal as we were trying out an electric outboard. We have a small petrol outboard which serves us well, but is NOISY — no noisier than other modern outboards but noisier than we would wish for use on a lake or in a quiet creek. The tests came to a halt when, as we were trying to tow Kyle in a lull, Gadabout overtook us with Brian at the oars, paying for his passage, and Colin lazily coxing. Must try a charged battery next time.

The meet continued in the marina bar that evening. For the first time in years no-one was sleeping aboard in some remote bay so a dozen of us sat down to eat at a table which kept varying in shape and size according to who was trying to organise things. As Official Coordinator I kept well out of it, especially as it was the gentler sex who were doing the organising. We had a good evening!

Jayne & I didn’t see Brian on the Sunday. We arrived at the marina fairly early to find him gone. Apparently he’d determined to use his Mirror (sans mast you may recall) and had gone for an early morning row. We suspect he was trying out new gear, as he was later reported heading downwind at a fair rate of knots holding a “spinnaker” that had every appearance of a golfing umbrella! Dave took pity on him later as the wind strengthened and towed him back.

Jayne suggested lunch at the southernmost end of Derwentwater — Myrtle Bay is very attractive. So we left a message with Fred and Margaret, then departed to electrify our own boat. The outboard (36lbs thrust — I translate this as less than 1hp) was fine with its newly-charged battery and we used it much of the day to see how long it would last. It performed superbly with a Force 4 following, but not so convincingly into the wind. Myrtle Bay was soon upon us and we landed at a bit of shingle on the rocky shore. But no one else was in sight; they’d all learned about lee shores years ago apparently! Fred & crew appeared and dutifully landed, to tell us that they’d had a pleasant lunch with the others on a delightful island with no nasty landings. So after a break to gather strength we paid the penalty and got thoroughly wet launching into a strong onshore wind. Despite this Janet enjoyed her first ever helming in Kyle as the wind eased towards the northern end of the lake.

All in all it was a great weekend, Derwentwater is so delightful that whatever you do has got to be fun. Colin Firth

Kirkcudbright 28th to 30th August

Present: Colin and Jayne Firth Cruz Dinghy Bob Burns Cruz Dinghy Michael and Margaret Jones Rowing Dinghy John Pinch Local friend of Terry’s. Brian and Kath McClellan, Terry Hughes in Seal 22, moored in Kirkcudbright

The weather forecast was for SW/W 3/5, dry on Saturday with a frontal trough bringing light rain by Sunday. Michael and Margaret set off in their rowing dinghy to explore the upper reaches of the rivers Dee and Tarif. The Seal 22 with Brian, John and Terry on board and the two Cruz’s planned to sail round to the Isles of Fleet about 10 miles north of Kirkcudbright. They lie just offshore. Ardwall Isle is connected to the shore at low water by a causeway.

They set off at 10 am and tied up to a mooring buoy near Little Ross island for lunch. After lunch the two Cruz’s sailed off ahead while Terry, Brian and John took a while disentangling the Seal from the mooring rope. The sail up the coast was delightful. The wind was about force 3 from SW but died to nothing at one stage.

The two Cruz’s were beached behind Ardwall Isle and tents were erected on the island. The Seal went close inshore and dropped John off in the dinghy to go home to a comfortable bed. She was then moved into deeper water just behind Murray Isle because she draws about two feet with the keel up. By then sea was getting a bit choppy.

During the night the swell increased and Brian and Terry had a very uncomfortable night. In fact Terry was rather sick. The plan was to pick up John from the beach at 9 am, but the sea state would have made that difficult and Brian and Terry had had enough of the rolling about and decided to set off back at 5 am.

On the way back the sea was very rough and we motored with the wind on the nose with a bit of jib to steady her. The seas were particularly rough just off Little Ross Island and it was a great relief to get into Kirkcudbright Bay. We anchored just north of the Lifeboat Station for a cuppa and to wait for enough depth to get upriver. We then motored very slowly up the river with an occasional scrape on the bottom.

We were a bit concerned about the two Cruz’s but we were relieved to find out that Bob had beached his near Ardwall Isle and trailed her back, and Colin and Jayne had successfully braved the heaving waves. Their arms are being twisted to write up an article.

The postscript to this story was that while we were ‘blethering’ to the various boat crews at the pontoons, the lifeboat was called out to assist a yacht in trouble near the Ross.

Some of the visitors on the pontoons set of to return to Cumbria but turned round at the Ross and returned. We were pleased that we had got back safely. Brian called it exciting, Terry called it frightening!! Terry Hughes

Windermere 4th to 5th October

Present: Stuart Calcutt Karmatoo Junk rig cruiser David Chatterley Iona 13’ own design Kevin Leahy, & John Eyles Morning Star Lynx 14 Two friendly but, alas, unidentified souls (my apologies to you both!) Arion Topper Cruz

Stuart arrived first on Saturday, and I shortly afterwards. While I was rigging Iona, Stuart launched and drew his trailer onto the usual grass patch beside the track to the beach. However there had been much rain, so that Morning Star’s crew arrived to find Stuart and I struggling to extract the Landrover from a muddy morass armed only with my van, (as an anchor), and Stuart’s trailer winch: a problem exacerbated by the refusal of his “free wheel” hubs to stop freewheeling when switched to 4 wheel drive!

Once afloat, the weather was capricious, to say the least, with winds going from light and variable to fierce and squally and back again in no time and the rain and hail showers were incredible, the noise of drops falling on water could be heard across the lake minutes before the shower reached the observer! Needless-to-say no one sailed very far. Arion appeared out of the gloom, motoring, in one of the lulls, but, since everyone was swathed in waterproofs, recognition proved illusive; my apologies again.

I left at 5 pm Saturday, having other commitments on Sunday, but I gather from Stuart that the next day was better weatherwise, though with an onshore wind. David Chatterley

SOUTH COAST

I sometimes hear, long after the event, of members who have set out for a particular rally who, for whatever reason, have failed to arrive. Capsize, helping another who has capsized, lack of wind, illness, sitting on the anchor, contrary tides, have all conspired to keep someone from actually reaching the venue. It’s always interesting to know if someone has planned to attend a rally but failed to turn up, so please tell me. There’s no shame in turning back.

For next year I plan to hold one rally a month from April through to September. This will leave room for other South Coast sailors, if they wish, to hold a rally in their own favourite venue. Please tell me before, or at, our Winter meeting in Emsworth if you would like to host a rally, and where. This will enable the full programme to go into the Spring Bulletin. Liz Baker (01323 842 124)

Ashlett Creek — 24th to 25th July

The weather was perfect, hot sunshine, blue skies, and a gentle SE to variable 3-or-less forecast for the whole week-end. With a sheltered, mainland venue, even the most timid of sailors could have made it; so I was rather surprised when only one other person, Len Wingfield, turned up in a boat. We were later joined by Chris and Mrs Chris (yes, two Chris’s) Jenkins and David Sumner, who had come by road, David just back from holiday, and the other two about to depart. On Sunday morning while waiting for the tide to turn, I had a pleasant walk along the shore towards Calshot, discovering another small creek it would be fun to spend a night in sometime, and lots of interesting butterflies and saltmarsh flora. A mare and tiny foal were grazing on the foreshore, reminding me that this was the New Forest.

I returned just in time to push Tessa off the mud before the tide left her, and found Len’s Leader anchored further downstream — but where was Len? Then I saw his head in the water across the creek; he was swimming. I set off back to Chichester at mid-day with a SW3 and a lovely broad reach all the way home. Liz Baker

Snowhill Creek, Chichester Harbour — 7th to 8th August

I have to report that we had a West Wight Potter/DCA meet in Snowhill Creek. We, that is, Ursa Minor and I, launched at Calshot (famous for the Henry VIII fort, Lawrence of Arabia and fast RAF patrol boats and flying boats), went to the Isle of Wight (where it rained and spoiled the Cowes Week firework display), and then sailed to Chichester Harbour. At East Head in said harbour we met former DCA member Bob Morrison in B-Type Potter Pansy. No one showed for the DCA rally until the Sunday morning when one chap, David Sumner in a Mirror dinghy, who had been tenting on the beach, introduced himself. We had exchanged pleasantries the previous evening as he rowed, one-handed, using the tiller with the other, up the creek. He’d not noticed the DCA burgee flown for the occasion. David helped swing Ursa Minor into the wind on a lee shore so that a reef could be taken in. We departed, very wet, he because he was wading in the surf, us because it was raining cats and dogs again.

It continued to rain for much of the next three hours as we coasted past Portsmouth, glimpsing masts of HMS Victory. Within sight of Calshot the weather improved, and the wind dropped to the forecast 3-4. Five hours at the helm and we were back on the slip for recovery. Total distance sailed that morning, about 20 miles, including dog-legs. Bruce Longstaff

Pitts Deep, between Lymington & Beaulieu — 21st to 22nd August

The DCA boats congregated towards evening. The entrance is not obvious from seaward, and the small spit conceals the last of a wooden jetty. Fortunately the rock outcrop on the eastern side of the entrance is marked with a withy.

Chris Jenkins, Potter AX Gispy, had launched at Buckler’s Hard the day before and had come via Newtown. Jonathan Sykes brought his Cruz. I came, in Potter AX Ursa Minor from Buckler’s Hard. Peter Glover rowed his small, home-built dory from Hillhead. George Saffrey brought his Cruz from Warsash in company with Len Wingfield, Leader. New member Tom Hart walked to the meet with his family.

Since all were bound eastwards, a lie-in to await the flood up-Solent was the rule. Those who left earlier found themselves forced towards Yarmouth and having to make progress by extended tacking. By late morning impatience won over the more cautious, and the two Potters motored out an hour or so before the tide changed. Both reefed as the wind rose to almost F5.

The remnants of the wartime barrier just west of Durns Point, known as Sowley Boom, made a determined effort to weather it necessary, and it was more than an hour before the Potters were clear of it. Park Shore shingle banks and Lepe Bank off Needs Ore Point threatened anyone going inshore to avoid the greatest tide flow. By the time the Potters were nearing Beaulieu entrance, one was motoring and the other under several reefs. At the turn to the west into the river fairway, the wind moved astern and a somewhat exciting, goose-winged run was made for the first reaches. Both continued under sail to the slip at Buckler’s Hard.

For information:

1) Magnetic bearing from Sowley Boom post to Pitts Deep entrance is 290 degrees. Entrance is about 15m wide at mid-tide; rocks to starboard; shingle bank to port. Access also possible from the Lymington direction through Tanners Lake. 2) Launching and one day’s trailer/car parking at Buckler’s Hard: £13.00 incl VAT. Bruce Longstaff

Fowley Island, Chichester Harbour — 28th to29th August

I had hoped to attend this rally, but in the event, family commitments made this impossible. Bob Lomas tells me that, in the strong easterly wind which was blowing, making it a lee shore, he dared not go onto the island for fear of being unable to leave. I have not heard whether anyone else was there. Liz Baker

Wootton Creek — 4th to 5th September

Ideal conditions, blue skies, blue seas, warm sun and mainly easterly winds, F2-4. Also seen in the Solent, a Thames barge, a Baltic trading ketch performing impressively to windward, and a restored paddle steamer.

Those who got to Wootton were: Liz Baker 12’ 6” Cormorant from Cobnor, Chichester Peter Baxter 18’ 0” Drascombe Lugger, from Ramble Point Alan Glanville 19’ 0” Ness Yawl, from Northney via Bembridge Peter Clover 12’ 0” Wooden lugsail dinghy, from Hillhead Eddie Hayman 14’ 0” Miracle (gunter rigged for cruising) from Hillhead Chris Jenkins 14’ 0” GP14 from Lee-on-Solent John & Linden Kuyser 16’ 0” Westray from Hythe John Perry & Josephine 15’ 0” Own design fast cruising dinghy from Warsash Street Dave Sumner 10’ 6” Up-graded Mirror from Stokes Bay Len Wingfield 14’ 0” Wood/GRP Leader from Northney

and also Jeff Please, who cycled in from Ryde where he is building a dory (which was inspected by Peter Clover on the Sunday.)

What an interesting collection of craft, fit for “Boats ‘99”! The oiled wooden Drascombe, as ruggedly handsome a boat as you will ever see. The Ness Yawl, fit for a Viking princess. The GP14, fully equipped for cruising, yet raced every week. The well-proven Perry Special. The Westray, Rolls Royce of the fleet. The tiny Mirror which had everything, even a masthead light. The tone was perhaps lowered a little by my battlescarred Leader, still with a carelessly-helmed yacht’s anti-fouling on top of its gunwale! All but two of the boats were of wood, or mainly wood, and six (seven) of the ten sail without motor.

The morning high water was considerably lower than predicted, so there was some hurried pushing-out of nearly grounded boats. Several of us then took advantage of the calm conditions to practice sculling from the stern before dispersing to our various destinations. Fortunately John, Jo and Peter Clover were staying-on until Monday, so met Eddie Hayman who sailed over on Sunday morning. Len Wingfield

Bursledon, Jolly Sailor — 25th to 26th September

I had taken the Friday off to sail from Chichester, but as strong winds, SW 6-7, were forecast, I spent the day working at home, and launched at Bursledon early on Saturday afternoon instead. It’s normal for a lot of members to come by car to this end-of-season venue, but not this time. In fact, apart from Len Wingfield and myself, nobody came at all, although Peter Glover and Ian McCreery had been seen by Len earlier. I sat alone outside the pub for 1½ hrs feeling a total wally, while Tessa proudly displaying THREE DCA burgees, bobbed gently against the pontoon, nicely floodlit by its light. Len, returning from a lively sail down to Warsash, and having cooked afloat, joined me at 9 pm, and at 9.30 we departed to rig our bunks.

Bursledon is an ideal venue for windy conditions, as the sail up-river to Curbridge and/or Botley is on safe and sheltered waters, and is as picturesque as any West Country estuary. Oak woods and green fields line the banks, woodpeckers yaffle in the tree tops, and with luck you might even see a kingfisher. A walk through the woods at dusk can bring you face-to-face with badgers. We had Sunday lunch tied to a sunny bank in the Botley river while ponies gambled in the field behind us. Then Len departed for home, while I stayed another night. Liz Baker