Area Secretaries; to whom any queries may be addressed:

South Coast: Liz Baker — 01323 842124 East Coast: Peter Small — 01473 405620 North-west: Brian McClellan — 01630 654781 South-west: Roger Barnes — 0117 927 7396 (day)

EAST COAST

April 21-22 RIVER ORWELL

Venue: Sat Evening @ Suffolk Yacht Harbour. HW Harwich Sat: 11.20 & 23.29 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

May 5-6 WALTON BACKWATERS

Venue: Sat launch 10.00 am @ Titchmarsh Marina, evening venue to be decided on day. HW Walton-on-Naze Sat: 11.01 & 23.16 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

May 12 NORFOLK BROADS DAY CRUISE

Venue: Sat am Martham Boat Yard. LW Potter Heigham Sat: 10.12 & 22.37 BST (= LW Gt Yarmouth + 4hrs). Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

Traditional 20ft Norfolk Broads half-deckers will be available for hire. These interesting boats have a gaff rig mounted in a tabernacle for raising or lowering. Hire charge is about £10 per person. Or bring your own boat and launch at Martham for approx £10. A pub lunch and evening meal are planned. This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

May 19-20 RIVER CROUCH

Venue: Sat am launch at West Wick Marina. Sat pm Burnham Marina. HW Burnham Sat: 10.35 & 22.48 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

June 9 RIVER DEBEN DAY TRIP

HW Felixstowe Pier Sat: 08.06 & 20.29 BST Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

Notes: This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

June 16-17 THAMES-SWALE-MEDWAY

Venue: Sat am launch Conyer Creek. Sat afternoon beach barbeque Marsh End Sand (Southend) Sat pm raft up © Two tree Island. Venue in extremis: Sat pm Queenborough Inner Harbour HW Sheerness Sat: 08.52 & 21.06 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

June 30-July 1 RIVER DEBEN

Saturday evening venue either Waldringfield (& Maybush Pub) or The Rocks (& Ramsholt Arms). HW Felixstowe Pier Sat 30: 07.59 & 20.13 BST. Contact: Paul Constantine 01394 380498

Notes: Possible launching: Felixstowe Ferry slip, Bawdsey slip, Waldringfield slip, or Robertson’s Boatyard. The Deben is beautiful! Try to get on this one if you can.

July 14-15 Option A: ORE & ALDE RALLY

Venue: Iken Cliffs Sat pm. HW Slaughden Quay Sat: 07.28 & 19.30 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

July 14-15 Option B: CRUISE IN COMPANY (RIVER ORWELL/WALTON BACKWATERS)

Venue: Sat am Royal Harwich Yacht Club (R. Orwell) Sat pm Titchmarsh Marina (Walton Backwaters). HW Harwich Sat: 06.16 & 18.21 BST. Ann Kell 01473 730087

July 21 ALTON WATER RIGHTING OPPORTUNITY

Venue: Sat am Alton Water Reservoir, Holbrook, Ipswich, Suffolk (Manager Roy Whittle 01473 328408). Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620. Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

Notes: Launching: car and hand trolley access to waterside, good parking. Day membership/launching fee: 1 boat 2 crew = £13 & 1 boat 1 crew = £8.50 & crew = £3.00 Grounds open dawn to dusk, sailing centre open 1000hrs to 1800hrs. Rig and launch boats mid morning, assemble for briefing, practice righting geared-up cruising dinghies, recover and de-rig, hot showers, early evening brain storming in pub. Members invited to come and crew. Try out other members’ boats. No outboards.

July 28-29 RIVER STOUR

Venue: Sat pm Holbrook Bay/Creek HW Harwich Sat: 06.29 & 18.45 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

August 18 RIVER DEBEN DAY TRIP

HW Felixstowe Pier Sat: 11.34 BST Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

Notes: This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

August 25-27 RIVER COLNE & BLACKWATER — BANK HOLIDAY

Venue: Sat pm at Brightlingsea & Sun pm @ Goldhanger Creek. HW Bradwell Waterside Sun: 06.28 & 18.47 BST Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

Notes: Possible launching: Bradwell Marina, Tollesbury Marina,

Brightlingsea town slip, West Mersea Lifeboat hard. This rally hopes to coincide with the 3 day beer & jazz festival at The Green Man Pub @ Bradwell. It may be possible to enjoy some of the lunchtime and evening ambience during the weekend.

September 8 NORFOLK BROADS DAY CRUISE

Venue: Sat am @ Martham Boat Yard. LW Potter Heigham Sat: 10.12 & 22.46 BST (= LW Gt Yarmouth + 4hrs) Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

Notes: Traditional 20ft Norfolk Broads Half Deckers will be available for hire. These interesting boats have a gaff rig mounted in a tabernacle for raising or lowering. Hire charge is about £10 per person. Or bring your own boat and launch at Martham for approx £10. A pub lunch and evening meal are planned. This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

September 15-16 RIVER ORWELL

Venue: Sat Evening @ Suffolk Yacht Harbour HW Harwich Sat: 10.27 & 23.07 BST. Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

October 14 RIVER DEBEN DAY TRIP

HW Felixstowe Pier Sat: 10.00 & 22.43 BST. Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

October 20 RIVER DEBEN DAY TRIP

HW Felixstowe Pier Sat: 02.24 & 14.43 BST. Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

Notes: This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

October 27 RIVER DEBEN DAY TRIP

HW Felixstowe Pier Sat 27: 08.37 & 21.29 BST. Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

Notes: This is a joint rally with members of the Old Gaffers Association, British Telecom Sailing Club and DCA.

November 3-12 INTERNATIONAL RALLY — 11th BLUE CUP PASSAGE RACE

Venue: Embark & disembark at Kalamaki Marina, Athens, Greece. Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620 Email: smiles@petersmall.co.uk

Notes: Last year the DCA entry came 2nd in the first race, 3rd in the second race and 7th overall against a fleet of international crews. The DCA East Coast Secretary is again entering a boat with a 6 man DCA crew in this 9 day event, which incorporates 4 days of fun racing and five days of un-chaperoned voyaging. Dinghy sailors are the best type of crew to get these charter boats really moving. Nov 2000 saw 40 Beneteau yachts between 42’ and 50’, with over 300 international crew, taking part in this handicap event. No spinnakers are allowed, but there is a tremendous spirit of competition, using just the main and roller genny provided. This is a quiet (tourist-free) time of year in Greece, when the autumn strong wind (Meltemi) has died, but it is still mostly good, warm, sunny, shorts-and-T shirt sailing. The 1999 costs per person (in a crew of 6) were as follows: 38’ Boat Hire / Insurance / Race fee / Cleaning / Athens Coach = £210.00; Fuel = £4.00; Easyjet Flights = £82.00; Spending money = £200.00; Personal travel insurance (inc yacht racing risks) = £26.00. Peter is willing to help co-ordinate any DCA sailors who wish to get a crew and boat together. Join us and show the world how well the DCA can sail!

SOUTH COAST

Organisers accept no responsibility for safety of members attending rallies. If conditions deteriorate badly, ferries and buses are a better option than a capsize — or worse. Don’t take unnecessary risks!

Members can usually be found in the nearest pub from 8pm. Except where otherwise stated, HW times are BST for Portsmouth for the Saturday evening and are approximate only. Further information from Liz Baker 01323 842124. Other tel. numbers — Len Wingfield 01483 563422. John Kuyser 01703 871919.

Rallies particularly suitable for families and day sailors.

These venues can be reached via sheltered waters from nearby launching sites.

April 28-29* CHICHESTER HARBOUR, Snowhill Creek. OS 770992

The dunes and sandy beach here are popular with families. HW15.45. Host Liz Baker

May 12-13 WOOTTON CREEK. OS 547922

Meet on RHS just below Wootton Bridge in pub beside bridge. HW 15.28. Host Liz Baker

June 16-17 NEWTOWN HARBOUR, IoW. OS 415902

Meet above Shalfleet Quay. Follow footpath to pub in village. HW 20.32. Host Len Wingfield

June 30-July 1** HURST SPIT near Keyhaven. OS 316904

Usually meet near the black hut. No pub, bring your own food and drink. HW 20.26. Host Len Wingfield

July 14-15** PITTS DEEP, between Lymington & Beaulieu. OS 370954

Tranquil creek on the edge of the New Forest. HW 18.28. Host Liz Baker

August 11-12* SHIPSTALL POINT & LONG ISLAND, Poole Harbour. OS 984884 & OS 986880

Sheltered venue suitable for families. Suitable for day sail and lunchtime picnic. I am informed that camping is permitted on Long Island, but not on the mainland shore, which is a nature reserve and bird sanctuary. HW Poole entrance 14.21. Host Liz Baker

September 1-2 YARMOUTH. OS 349897

Meet on beach at western end of harbour. HW 11.25. Host John Kuyser

September 22-23 BURSLEDON

Evening end of season gathering at the Jolly Sailor. On Sunday discover the beautiful upper Hamble on our sheltered cruise to Curbridge. Host Liz Baker

NORTH-WEST

April 7-8 DERWENT WATER

Launch Derwent Water Marina. Colin Firth 01768 774347

April 22 RUTLAND WATER

Launch Sailing Centre or Sailing Club (to be confirmed). Camping near to sailing club. Brian McClellan 01630 654731

May 5-7 KIRKCUDBRIGHT (Bank Holiday weekend)

Based on Kirkcudbright Sailing Club. Brian McClellan 01630 654731

May 19-20 CONISTON

Launch sailing club or boating centre. Assisting Coniston Sailing Club to chart bays. Bernard Harman 01772 422549

May 26-28 FARNE ISLANDS

With North-east Group. Information pack available from organiser. See NE Group entry Bill Jones or Ed Wingfield

June 16-17 Bar-B-Q and overnight stop in Horseshoe Bay by invitation Coniston Sailing Club. Bernard Harman 01772 422549

June 16-23 FALMOUTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY MEET

As usual camping at Tretham Mill and launching at St Just in Roseland campsite, tel 01872 580504. Brian McClellan 01630 654731

June 30-July 1 BALA

Joint meet with Toddbrook Sailing Club. Dave Morton 0161 2837824

July 7-8 CONISTON DAYBOAT RALLY (also Drascombe Association)

By invitation of Coniston Sailing Club. Bernard Harman 01772 422549

July 21-22 ULLSWATER

Possible launch & camp at sailing club Brian McClellan

July 21? LOCH LOMOND

To be confirmed. Jeff Rogers 01270 764523

Aug 11-12 WINDERMERE

Alternative launching site being sought. Graham Finney 01744 320742

Aug 25-27 MENAI

Launching Port Dinorwic. Brian McClellan 01630 654731

September 1-8 LOCH CRERAN

Launch Creran Moorings & campsite. Joan Abrams 0161 427 1191

September 8-9 CONISTON

Suggested end of season bash by invitation of Coniston Sailing Club. Bernard Harman 01772 422549

September 22-23 DERWENTWATER

Launch Derwent Water Marina. Colin Firth tel. as above

October 6-7 ULLSWATER

Brian McClellan 01630 654731

October 27-23 ‘SOFTIES’ MEET — WATERHEAD HOTEL, Coniston

Make own arrangements with hotel. Let Jeff know if not staying but attending Saturday dinner. Jeff Rogers 01270 764523

NORTH-EAST

May 26-28 HOLY ISLAND & THE FARNES

A repeat from last year which you read about in Bulletin 169. We have a rally website <www.tmtr.com/rally> on which you will find essential information such as causeway crossing times, local map, public transport links, chart and OS map numbers, pilots, also pictures, links to history, natural history and other stuff to get you in the mood. Fret not if you don’t have access to the Internet because if you send a 54p stamped addressed envelope to Bill Jones at 6 Glendyn Close, Newcastle, NE7 7DZ, he will send you everything by post.

If you are car-less let us know; we may be able to sort out a lift. Similarly if you need a crew or you are boat-less let us know, we will try to arrange something to suit you.