Cruise Firth of Forth 8-18 August 2002

We will include the open water of mid and lower Forth so experienced skippers only. Crews best to live-aboard and be self-sufficient for a couple of days as we’ll include some remote venues with no facilities. Barbecues are on the agenda! Meet Thursday pm Port Edgar Marina (good security, easy launch). Mobile phones essential for communication as boats will join and leave the cruise at different times. Ed Wingfield 0191 258 1995 or ed_wingfield@yahoo.co.uk

Firth of Forth Dinghy Cruising Pilot

Anyone thinking of a cruise in the Forth can now obtain the updated and comprehensive 2002 edition free of charge. It now contains 23 pages including colour chartlets but does not duplicate those on Imray C27. That chart is essential for cruising this water and is to be used with the Pilot.

Cruisers are requested to feedback info, either additions or corrections. Apply ed_wingfield@yahoo.co.uk for your electronic copy. Note: paper copy available via DCA library.

East

Jul Sat 6th: Walton Backwaters Rally. Possible meeting place Kirby Creek (TM225224) depending on circumstances @ 8pm Contact: Ted Jones 01297 652581

Jul Sat 13th: Alton Water Righting Rally. Meet at Alton Water Reservoir (TM153354) @ 10am Contact: Peter Small 01473 405620

Jul Sat 20th: River Stour Rally. Meet at Holbrook Creek (TM173348) @ 8pm Contact: Day Jennings 01400 230944

Aug Sat 3rd: River Ore & Alde Rally. Meet at Iken Cliffs (TM404560) @ 8pm Contact: Day Jennings 01400 230944

Aug Sat 17th: River Crouch & Roach Rally. Meet at West Wick Marina (TQ843970) @ 7pm Contact: Chris Brooks 01923 267241

Aug Sat 31st: River Blackwater Rally. Meet at Goldhanger Creek (TL906082) @ 7pm Contact: John Adye 0208 467 2052

South

With a bit of prodding by Len Wingfield, I have had a splendid response to my plea for rally hosts. As a result we have a very full programme this year, with a wide variety of venues. Always check the weather forecast before you sail, and don’t set-off across open water unless you are sure you can handle the prevailing conditions. The DCA does not provide a safety boat and accepts no responsibility for the safety of members attending rallies.

Date & Approx Sat Venue Host HW Portsmouth BST

22/23 June Cowes — Folly Inn Liz Baker 01323 842 124 22.29 OS 511 926 Mobile 07957 945 523

6/7 July Newtown OS 415 902 Len Wingfield 21.33 01483 563422

20/21 July** Pitts Deep — a quiet creek Liz Baker 21.15 in the saltings OS 370 954

3/4/5 Aug* Christchurch Harbour Liz Baker HW Christchurch (approx) (Hengistbury Head side) 17.00 OS 175 911

17/18 August Bembridge OS 642 887 David Jones 19.35 01403 266 800

31 Aug / 1 September Hurst Point OS 316 904 Alan Glanville 16.13 Meet near black wooden hut on beach. Bar-b-Q

14/15 Sept** The Kench, Langstone Liz Baker 17.52 Harbour OS 694 999

28/29 Sept* Bursledon — End of season Liz Baker 15.40 meet at The Jolly Sailor and up-river cruise to Curbridge/Botley on Sunday. OS 492 093. Camping in boats possible on Lands End Hard, just below pub, or continue upriver beyond bridges for a quieter night.

Accessible by sheltered water

Suitable venue for families

North-West

Date Location Co-ordinator

June 15-22 Annual holiday meet Falmouth Brian McClellan As usual camping at Trethem Mill and 01630 654781 launching at St Just in Roseland Camp site Tel 01872 580504

June 29/30 Ullswater (Waterside Farm) Dave Morton Joint meet with Toddbrook Sailing Club 0161 283 7824

July 13/14 River Dee & Estuary John Hughes Launch Thurstaston (Wirral) 0151 6320178

July 13/14 Coniston Sailing weekend with Coniston Bernard Harman (alt. available) Sailing Club and Drascombe Association 01772 422549

July 27/28 Windermere Brian McClellan Launch Low Wray Camp Site(National Trust)

Aug. 10/11 Kielder Water (provisional) Brian McClellan Launch site to be arranged

Aug 8-18 Cruise the Firth of Forth Ed Wingfield - see (experienced sailors only) NE Group entry

Aug 24-26 Menai (2 crews going to Creran) Joan Abrams (Bank Holiday) Launch details published later 0161 427 1191

Sep 14/15 Derwent Water Colin & Jane Firth Launch Derwent Water Marina 01768 774347

Sep 28/29 Ullswater (Based at Ullswater Yacht Club Colin & Jane Firth - please see below)

Oct 12/13 Windermere (launch at YMCA) Dave Morton Launch site to be confirmed

Nov. 1/3 ‘Softies’ meet Waterhead Hotel, Coniston. Brian McClellan Make own arrangements with hotel

Ullswater Meet September 28-29 2002 Ullswater Yacht Club Co-ordinators: Colin & Jayne Firth 017687 74347 firth@onet.co.uk

At the North West Area Planning Meeting the venue for this meet was left open till we approached the Ullswater Yacht Club to see if we could use their excellent facilities.

We’ve been in touch with UYC’s Sailing Secretary, Dave Lyons, who is very amenable to our foregathering at the club: they’re keen to get away from just the racing image and various bodies use their facilities, not least eminent being the Steamship Club — a joint meet might be interesting!

We are arranging to use all the club facilities, including a meal Saturday evening. Camping is normal, sleeping on boats fine — alongside their jetty, at a spare mooring or locally at anchor. The launching is excellent, as you may know. I was a member for a few years and enjoyed the scene, though not a keen racer. With the normal winds there is nowhere better on the lake. Cost not fixed but will be modest. There is, of course, lots of B&B in Pooley Bridge for those who want it. Sharrow Bay Hotel is only 400 metres away!

UYC Grid Ref: 457 225

We think it’s certainly worth a try. As with all meets please contact the co-ordinator to check for changes before rolling up.

Hoyle Bank Event, Dee Estuary, Sunday 7th July 2002

Coordinated jointly by Hoylake, West Kirby and Deeside Sailing Clubs, this is a magical event which involves sailing out to and beaching on the West Boyle Bank at the mouth of the Dee estuary, there to remain for the day to eat, drink and socialise or simply laze in the sun until the tide rises again in the evening to float you home. All boats are welcome. Last year upward of seventy craft attended, ranging from speedy racing catamarans to old traditional types, from ocean-going yachts to twelve-foot dinghies and even a sail board or two. This is a family event: bring your picnic tables and barbecues. Also, this year is the centenary of the Opera one-design class: clinker built sixteen foot luggers, now unique to Hoylake, and special races will be organised. Each boat is responsible for herself, but this is possibly the ultimate cruise in company. For information contact John Hughes, 0151 632 0178, <seabank5@macunlimited.net> Boat storage (or possibly mooring) could be arranged for anyone interested in attending both this and the Dee meet the following weekend.

South-West

We hope to bring this region out of abeyance with just two rallies this year — these will be:

• FALMOUTH Saturday 15 — Sunday 16 June launching and meeting at 1000hrs at St Just in Roseland at SW 845357. Destination to be decided on the day. This will coincide with the start of the DCA Northwest holiday week.

• PLYMOUTH Saturday 24 — Monday 26 August meeting at 1000hrs on the outside pontoon of the Mayflower Marina at SX 458537, just inside the Narrows on the Tamar. Suggested launching underneath the Saltash bridges on either Cornish or English sides. Destination to be decided on the day.

Please contact Aidan de la Mare 01208 851853 (mobile 07974 770254) or John Cole 01822 855139.

We may be able to provide for those who do not sleep aboard by looking after their boats overnight, transporting them to their cars and back to their boats next day. As our destinations may be remote why not bring your own six-pack, box of wine or firkin of rum.

Don’t miss this opportunity of sailing in friendly company on some of the best dinghy cruising waters in England and Cornwall.