Rutland Water, Drascombe Association Rally, 10-11 May 2014
Coaster Valentine enjoying a reach up the northern arm of Rutland Water in a rare moment where winds eased sufficiently to deploy the camera.
A return to Rutland Watersports at Rutland Water for a second Drascombe Association rally in recent years. Last time, two years ago, the weather was perishingly cold. This time, true to the forecast, conditions were very breezy with frequent passing squalls, although the Met Office's predicted winds averaging 22 knots and gusting to 38 knots ( that's F6 gusting 8 on my Beaufort Wind Scale) always seemed a little overstated except perhaps during the squalls. The prospect of this put off some skippers and those who attended wondered whether any sailing would be done. In the event, seven boats attended with three other groups of association members attending without boats but to enjoy the spectacle, camaraderie and sailing which was challenging but somehow didn't really seem quite as bad as we had been led to believe.
Boats attending:
Coasters: Daisy II, Martha, Valentine and Pamela.
Dabbers: Teifi Bach and Bob'n Annie
Scaffie: Scylla
Launching for most was on Saturday morning; others turned up later.
Coaster Pamela negotiating the slipway on Saturday evening.
Dabber Teifi Bach rigging on Saturday morning.
Facilities at Whitwell Creek (Rutland Watersports) continue to be very good with an excellent, wide slipway, and plenty of room for laying up. The sports centre are also very accommodating and helpful. They have finally added a second pontoon and were happy for three coasters owners to sleep aboard on Saturday evening.
Dabber Bob'n Annie readying herself for sailing action
Coasters Daisy II and Martha with Dabber Bob'n Annie
Valentine departs for a sail
Winds were westerly F5 with stronger gusts. Whitwell Creek itself was nicely sheltered from this hefty breeze but, out on the water, the fun started and it was rather difficult to use a camera. Hence, action shots were limited to the one shot of video above of Valentine during a comparative lull in the weather. In general, jib and mizzen were the order of the day with trips limited to relatively short outings, usually abruptly ended by being chased back into Whitwell Creek by an oncoming squall! However, Daisy II's maximum speed of 7.0 knots was clocked up on a run soon after the above video was taken - 7.0 knots with part-furled jib and mizzen might give an idea of the strength of the wind during some of those gusts!
I was grateful to Rob for crewing all weekend - unusual for me not to be sailing single handed.
Daisy II
The following pictures were taken by one of the participants who came without boat but made good use, nonetheless, of the excellent land-based amenities at Rutland Water.
Bob'n Annie and Daisy II readying themselves for cast off
Daisy II unsuccessfully racing the kayaks in flukey winds
Bob'n Annie casts off
Daisy II on the water
Back to my own pictures...
Coaster Pamela returning to base
Dabber Bob'n Annie returning from a sail.
Orange, yellow and green tracks on Saturday; pink on Sunday. Total distance sailed 10.8nm
Next week's plan is to return to the Orwell for four months of east coast based sailing until the Broads rally in September.
An enjoyable weekend both on the water and in the pub. Learned a lot about a Dabber than if it had been a gentle F2 - so absolutely no complaints to the weather gods! Must get the new name on the bow otherwise it will continue to be called something different each time. Dave Dabber Bob'n Annie
Thanks Dave; much enjoyed sailing with you this weekend. Apologies, initially, for misspelling the name of your lovely Dabber. As you say, a name on the hull really would help!
This is a log of sailing activities aboard Daisy II, a 22ft Drascombe Coaster No.280. Formerly named Aquarius, she was built in July 1997 by Honnor Marine(UK) Ltd of Totnes, Devon. The original Daisy, a Devon Lugger, was purchased in 2005 following an unexpectedly early opportunity to realise a mid-life crisis! Daisy II, with cabin, afforded more scope for overnight stops, and was purchased at the end of 2006.
For several seasons she was moored at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, Suffolk. More recently, the trailer sailing option, utilising a versatile ‘roller coaster’ road trailer, has extended the sailing range. Over the years, we have sailed from various locations off the south coast from Cornwall to Hampshire, a number of inland reservoirs and the Norfolk Broads. However, her key stamping ground is the east coast, usually based around the Harwich area and reaching destinations ranging from North Kent up to Southwold, whilst also launching on the North Norfolk coast at Wells next the Sea. Most recently, a trip from Harwich to Whitby has served only further to whet the appetite: perhaps, one day, Daisy II might complete her journey, in small stages of course, around the UK!
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An enjoyable weekend both on the water and in the pub. Learned a lot about a Dabber than if it had been a gentle F2 - so absolutely no complaints to the weather gods! Must get the new name on the bow otherwise it will continue to be called something different each time.
ReplyDeleteDave
Dabber Bob'n Annie
Thanks Dave; much enjoyed sailing with you this weekend. Apologies, initially, for misspelling the name of your lovely Dabber. As you say, a name on the hull really would help!
ReplyDelete