Area Secretaries; to whom any queries may be addressed:

South Coast: Liz Baker — tel: 01323 842124 East Coast: Peter Small — 01473 405620 Northwest: Brian McClellan — 01630 654781

EAST COAST

August 25-27 RIVER COLNE & BLACKWATER — BANK HOLIDAY

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

October 13 RIVER DEBEN DAY TRIP

Down river, lunch at Felixstowe Ferry LW Felixstowe Ferry Sat: 15.16 BST. Contact: Geoff Osborn 01473 736488

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 DCA members can sail!

SOUTH COAST

September 1-2 YARMOUTH. OS 349897

Meet on beach at western end of harbour. HW Yarmouthll.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

NORTHWEST

August 25-27 MENAI

Launching Port Dinorwic. Brian McClellan 01630 654781

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 Colin Firth. Launch Derwent Water Marina. Tel. as above

October 6-7 ULLSWATER Brian McClellan. 01630 654781

October 27-28 ‘SOFTIES’ MEET — Coniston

The usual hotel is fully booked by others — contact Brian McClellan 01630 654781 for alternative venue.