Coniston — September 18th - 19th

A dreadful forecast and all credit to those attending, especially from a long distance.

Present: John Adams Wayfarer Noarlungar Brian McClelland, Allan Venables WW Potter Water Mouse Mike Woodhouse WW Potter Pippa Colin & Jayne Firth Topper Cruz Jenya Bill Jones & Rachel Ryan Topper Cruz Arion Frank & Margaret Dearden GP14 & Skipper 17 Kyle & Tiger Belle Eric Scholes & Bernard Harman Sussex Cob Jay

Saturday saw the usual 10am-ish start for those who wished to cruise in company. The wind started light and then built up to a gusting Force 6. Colin and Jayne launched from the lakeside campsite at Old Hall. There are two access points to the beach, the southerly of which is the better of the two. John’s boat sported a high quality new deck which was greatly admired.

Brian started late, avoiding most of the bad weather. If you don’t know Brian, he is sometimes known as ‘Three Smokes’: pipe, Seagull outboard and frying the breakfast bacon. The Force 6 gusts meant that the fleet was sporting many a reefed sail. Four boats had lunch on the fine shingle beach spit on the east side of the lake.

After lunch, still with bad weather, most of the group retired to the cafe at the boating centre for afternoon tea. Mike (‘Inspector Gadget’) entertained us with a multitude of nautical gadgets, all battery operated. The evening meal was at the Crown in Coniston with a table for six going on 12. Eventually 12 turned up. The food was good and the staff friendly and obliging.

On Sunday the wind was much lighter, dry in the morning but rain returned in the afternoon. Margaret and Frank who are based at Coniston sailed the Skipper 17 on the Sunday. They had been persuaded to sail the Skipper despite Frank’s reservations about sailing a pocket cruiser on a DCA meet. Bernard and Eric experimented with a cutter rig and larger standing lug mizzen. This worked well but there was a problem with the stays’l catching the front of the standing lug mainsail yard. Modifications will no doubt be a reason for B and E to spend many hours over the winter in Bernard’s garage making adaptations. Lunch at Fir Island (south side), good shelter but beach a bit rough. The afternoon ended with the wind dropping off and we motored home in rain. Although the weather can make dents in DCA meets, part of the enjoyment is the chance to get together for a natter, and perhaps some good natured leg pulling at times. All these factors were present over the weekend, none of which detracted from the enjoyment.