Details of the 2015 event are now announced on our web site (
http://capecutter19association.org/news/2015-international-cape-cutter-week-announced/) and Facebook page. There's also a video of the highlights from the 2014 Mylor event:
Here is a summary of what the survey results told us and why we (the class association "virtual committee") decided on River Orwell/Suffolk Yacht Harbour:
There were 16 survey respondents. As would be expected, the respondents were quite enthusiastic and there seemed to be general support for a range of options. Most of the questions were quite closed (i.e. with suggested responses), so one might argue that respondents were led in certain directions (though I tried to keep the range of options wide). However, there were also opportunities for open (text-based) responses for respondents with ideas or opinions not offered in the survey.
It seems that respondents are prepared to travel up to 300 miles to an event; support exists for longer distances, but is much less emphatic above this (arbitrary) limit.
There was a clear preference for anchoring, sleeping aboard and including family. Feelings on the need for additional accommodation and marina facilities every night were neutral, with comments suggesting a mixture of marina and anchoring. The text comments also requested social events, club dinner and sailing in company. Comments about marinas frequently mentioned the need for good facilities (which I would interpret as decent showers, along with all the normal marina stuff). Also mentioned (understandably) were good road access and good launching facilities.
The most popular times of year were Whitsun or June, with a strong minority (29%) requiring school holidays (i.e. Whitsun). It is worth noting that the Semaine du Golfe takes place every odd year and some owners may wish to attend this event. This event takes place on 11-17th May 2015, so would probably not clash with a Whitsun event (although if I was planning to attend the SdG next year, I would not be keen on a Whitsun event very soon after). The next most popular option was September or July. The least popular option was Easter, presumably because of the volatility of the weather and the likely lower temperatures.
The most popular location was West of Scotland, closely followed by Suffolk/Essex and then North Wales. From the comments, there seemed to be a feeling that having had an event in the far South/West this year, the next event should be East and/or North, with a large number of respondents living in the Midlands/North of England. Comments also suggested alternative locations: Fowey, Salcombe, Lake District, Caledonian Canal, Sound of Mull, Scilly Isles, Friesland, Baltic (all of which sound like suitable and interesting locations.
On the basis that we decided to hold Cape Cutter Week 2015 at Whitsun (Saturday 23rd May to Sunday 31st May) on the East coat This was (very nearly) jointly most popular option, and a sailing event on a small boat at Whitsun in Scotland is a bit of a gamble with the weather in my opinion.
Having sailed that area myself this Easter, Suffolk Yacht Harbor (near Ipswich on the River Orwell) has been chosen as a base. This has a good ramp, easy road access (dual carriageway to within a couple of miles; good road links from the North East, Midlands and South West) and good marina facilities. It's also well served by the port of Harwich, which we hope will encourage our friends in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium to join us.
Considering the locations supplied in the survey, Suffolk seems a good fit. It is approximately 200 miles from the Birmingham and East Yorkshire areas, less than 250 miles from the Manchester or Dorset areas, approximately 300 miles from the Newcastle area. Furthermore, I am aware that a number of owners (who did not respond to the survey) are based in this area and would be more likely to participate (also advise, help organize?) if it was on their home waters.
There is plenty of sheltered sailing if the weather is not great, but lots of overnight hops if the weather is good- this would enable a marina – anchorage – marina pattern. This season I was based at SYH for a fortnight at Easter and consider it to be the most suitable location on the river Orwell and also perfect for voyages (via anchorages) to Hamford Water (aka Secret Water) and the Blackwater, to the River Deben (Woodbridge marina is very nice) and the River Ore (Snape Maltings anyone?). This provides picturesque (and sheltered) river sailing, as well as open sea sailing if weather conditions are right.
Please email
webmaster@capecutter19association.org to register your interest. Also, please feel free to post comments and suggestions below...