Joan Abrams Bob and Lynda Abbott crew of Dart Colin and Helen Bell Mirror Gadabout Frank and Margaret Dearden GP14 Kyle Aiden De La Mare 14’ Classic Jady Lane Tim Evans Yeoman Graham & Rachel Finney, Declan and Rebecca Lune Longboat Brisk Colin and Jane Firth Cruz Jenya Bernard & Joan Harman Sussex Cob Jay Terry and Margaret Hughes Percy Jackson Cornish Cobble Mike and Margaret Jones Shipmate Senior Dabchick Bruce Longstaff WW Potter AX Ursa Minor John Mayes Jaguar 21 Dart Brian and Kate McClellan WW Potter Water Mouse Dick and Gill Morris Richard and Cynthia Price Crew of Jay Eric Scholes Crew of Cornish Cobble Mike Woodhouse Occasional crew of Ursa Minor

Friday Arrival day for some. Dabchick launched and on mooring. As usual the DCA group had been placed all together in the bottom field next to the nicely developing small hedge of rose bushes we had purchased in memory of Keith Jones. Torrential rain during the night.

Saturday Members arriving from crack o’ dawn onwards having driven south during the night. High water 1400 but most of us were down at Pasco’s Boatyard well before that riggin’ and chattin’ (as you do). Most launching uneventful but when Water Mouse floated off her trailer she soon developed a pronounced list to port. I went aboard with a feeling of doom and sure enough found the cabin rapidly filling with water. For the first time the big Whale pump came into action. To cut a long and fraught story short there was a hole in the bottom. It took frantic effort by Bernard, Richard and me to reduce the weight of water inside the hull to a level where we could haul her back on to the trailer. Jim Benney from the boatyard had her patch repaired by Monday afternoon but he told me that the plywood is so old it is becoming brittle and she really needs a new bottom. There was just time for several boats to go for a short sail.

Sunday Weather lousy. Strong northerly wind, very cold. Nobody sailed. Most hit the tourist trail including a visit to the Eden Project, well worthwhile.

Monday Weather much better. The whole fleet out today with trips to Truro, Malpas, Mylor creek and St Mawes. I sailed with Colin in Gadabout and on landing at Mylor Marina a lady met us with ‘have you just come in with that pretty little boat, what sort is it?’. We then sailed over to St Mawes in rather choppy conditions so we got a bit of a wetting. There’s a small beach near the harbour which is perfect for small boats and we landed there for lunch (Gadabout, Kyle, and Jenya). Margaret and Terry Hughes had just arrived at St Mawes by road and joined us on the beach. Actually we were all at St Mawes because Jane had to go to the dentist. After lunch a short trip up the Percuil River where we were joined by Brisk and then a very pleasant trip back to St Just where we arrived at 5pm. Water Mouse chocked up in front of the workshop with a freshly painted and very substantial patch where the hole had been.

Tuesday Water Mouse launched, crewed today by Terry, Joan and me. Pleasant trip north up Carrick Roads round Turnaware Point into the river for a stop at The Smugglers on Tolverne Point where we joined the crews of Jenya, Kyle & Gadabout. After refreshment sailed up to Malpas and turned into the Tressillian River. We soon turned back except for Jenya who continued on and met Dart. Back at St Just we were in trouble for being late as we were having an American Supper (bring and share). 29 of us sat down, or stood up, for the meal. Several had to sit down later finding it difficult to stand (it’s those sea legs).

Dabchick (Mike Jones and Mike Woodhouse) sailed variously, the Restronguet, Mylor, to Falmouth and St Mawes. Bruce spent the day on make and mend, Aiden went up Ruan Creek.

Wednesday Hot sunny morning with light SW wind becoming W F3 and cloudy later. No DCA life before 10am, except for Aiden who departed for the water at 0730. Eventually crews mustered and things were done. As usual boats choosing their own destinations alone or in small groups. Dabchick, Dart and the Cobble sailed across to the Helford. Water Mouse went out to sea with Brisk but I wanted to be back in Carrick Roads by about 1645 as I had arranged to meet Tim Evans off Mylor. There was time to moor up in St Just Creek and go for a cream tea with Bruce and Joan, who had also just moored up. I then returned to Water Mouse and sailed out to meet Tim. Half way across to Mylor I could see Tim so hove to and waited for him. We had a chat then sailed in company up to Turnaware Point, Tim having to drop his jib and constantly spill wind or go round in circles to stay with Water Mouse. His Yeoman certainly sails well and looks very elegant.

Thursday Another fine day with once again the fleet scattering here and there. Joan and Colin B joined me in Water Mouse for a pointless but enjoyable thrash out to sea beating and against the flood. The only way we could make any progress was for either Colin or me to sit up at the sharp end holding the nose down in the water. The epic of the day was performed by Jenya and crew. They sailed right up the Percuil to the bridge at Trethem Mill where they moored up to the ivy on the bridge. Readers may recall their attempt a year or so ago when a mutinous crew refusing to leap over the side and push was the sole reason they failed. The end of meet dinner was held at The Lookout restaurant in St Mawes where we had a full attendance except for Aiden who unfortunately could not be with us. We were joined by Tim and Anne and it was good to see them again. Unfortunately they have to work: Tim is a teacher so can only sail evenings and weekends in term time.

Friday The last day for most of us and again a scattered fleet. Jenya and Kyle sailed over to the Helford. Mike Jones had kindly agreed to my having a sail on his Shipmate Senior as after 23 years with Water Mouse I am thinking of changing boats and the Shipmate, being larger and faster, may be my choice. We had intended going only as far as Black Rock but we were going so well we stormed across to the Helford entrance.

It was a meet where objectives generally were very modest. The tides were perfect for creek crawling provided a reasonably early start was made but we were all late getting going, leisurely breakfasts and a laid back approach being the order of the day. It was after all a holiday meet. We didn’t see a lot of Jay and crew as they were not staying with us at the camp site but had a flat down the road near St Mawes. Eric and Percy, having only arrived Monday night stayed for a few more days. This is a delightful place to be and no doubt some of us, if not all, will be back with good intentions to go further quicker next year. Brian McClellan