Looking back over a first season in a sailing canoe I realise how much I have enjoyed the experience, particularly the welcome and support from OCSG members. My only regret is that I didn't make it to more meets. I'm looking forward to the next season.
Good Sailing At Low Wray (RoyB)
This year's final fling gave us a variety of conditions to test our mettle. Friday afternoon was calm and still, and the northern end of Windermere provided us, as usual at this time, with a glorious range of autumn colours on the hills and in the woods.
Nine OCSG canoes took to the water on Saturday, amongst which was that of Pauline and JeremyT. They are new members who have been paddling for many years in their Grumman in which Solway Dory have just installed a complete sailing rig. This was their first outing. I ventured across the lake before most had got ready and found that the southerly wind was fairly strong, accompanied by quite a swell. My low freeboard monohull took on several pints. Pauline and Jeremy wisely reefed.
Meanwhile RodL joined his colleagues from the Historic Canoe and Kayak Association and, with NigelC and friend, paddled off to the Steamboat Museum. The rest of us also sailed southward into the fresh breeze and waves. Then the rain came, heavy and gusty. Malcolm and I decided to turn back towards coffee and food at Waterhead whilst AndyW and 6yr-old son Philip, SteveR, Daves S and P and Pauline and Jeremy ploughed on towards Brockholes. WalterG had by this time disappeared into the murk of Bowness.
The rain stopped, the cloud lifted, the sun made brief appearances. Gradually we all returned to Low Wray as the wind eased a little, and some made a further sortie to Waterhead. At this point I made my excuses and left, having a wedding to attend on Sunday. It had been a good day, but persuaded me that my decision to build and sail a trimaran canoe had been well-founded. My monohull is a faster craft, but wetter and less easy to sail in boisterous conditions. The greater sail area I carry on the tri more than makes up for any loss of speed.
The original plan had included racing for Sunday but as so few were interested this didn't happen. Malcolm emailed me in the evening: "There was no race today due to lack of interest! There were only 5 boats on the water, one of which was with Pauline and JeremyT who did not want to race. They just wanted to sail around the bay to get used to a sailing canoe. We had really good weather again after a windy and wet start. The wind dropped to a nice variable 2 and the sun came out. Very pleasant." He also remarked to me that we have gained a few new members recently (he is Membership Sec.). And a member of the Dinghy Cruising Assoc., who were also having a meet at Low Wray, told me that he had seen our web-site and was seriously thinking of joining. We have KeithM to thank for maintaining the site, which is proving to be a significant source of members.
And so ends this year's OCSG sailing. Thanks to RodL for getting the meet going and to JanP & Keith for persuading the warden at Low Wray to be on hand to let members in, exceptionally, on Saturday morning. As I sit at the computer typing this up and glancing out at the gloomy, chilly rain and mist, I long for the winter to pass asap so as to get out on the water again...
Low Wray Thanks (JeremyT)
Well, what can we say? Thank you to the OCSG for welcoming us to our first sail last week at Low Wray. We had such a great time. It was some years back that we saw you at the Canoe Exhibition in Birmingham. Since then I have looked at your website and that of Solway Dory and just thought...
It's one thing looking and even going as a passenger (at the previous meet at Rutland) and another thing going "freestyle" on Windermere. It was great. OK, I thought we were going to tip in once or twice. We tacked up and down in the bay looking for wind, leant out a bit and generally had a great time. The campsite was great. The company was great. Thanks so much.
Rub-A-Dub-Dub, Two Men In A Tub (RobinC)
It was with a fated sense of "Here we go again" as John and I awoke in a lay-by on the A82 with the pitter-patter of rain on the roof and swaying of the van in the wind, a feeling that hits the sailor who knows they're going to be out in an open boat in the sea for the next 4 days. However, it was with the "Isn't Scotland's weather incredible" feeling that John and I arrived in Arisaig to blue skies and light winds. As we sat on the shore at Port Mhuilion with a multitude of dry bags, suggestions of where we could head for the next 4 days, a box of wine, and Soay (a Solway Dory Osprey), we took in the splendour of Rhum and Skye in the distance.
For those of you unfamiliar with Arisaig the bay is sheltered by a large group of rocks and small islands littered with seals and whiter than white sand. We headed north out the bay through the north channel, and once clear turned north and were accompanied by a F2/3 blowing from the west.
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