2024 Spring/Summer Rally

[Malcolm Sadler]

In order to keep up the momentum of the recent very successful Devon River rally, I’m suggesting we start now pooling ideas about next year (2024)

I hope the Forum will be the repository of at least the conclusions of our online deliberations - that way the information is archived for future reference.

But a lot of folk prefer WhatsApp for quick fire conversations, so please reply to this post via the Forum and TapaTalk or come to the WhatsApp chat as you prefer.



All the best

Malcolm
Rondo Sn 123

[Justin Greig]

all of the discussion so far is happening in a WhatsApp group but I thought it would be good to repost Ian and Cath's suggestion here:

[12:35, 16/10/2023] Ian Brett: Dear Cape Cutter’s, this is Ian and Cath based at Hollowell sailing club in the midlands.
We have enjoyed several cruises over the years and would like to propose a sheltered water cruise in Scotland, there are many, Porpoise, Seals, Submarines and many sea birds that we may see on this proposed route, there is not a lot of tide and the sailing are is beautiful. West of Glasgow this launch site is accessible to us all.
To provide a high comfort level we also plan to use marinas with one night on visitor’s moorings.
Scotland sailing plan 2024 Based out of Largs (Yacht Haven) we plan to tour the Firth of Clyde upper reaches.
Thurs 23rd May - Early arrivals Largs Yacht Haven
Fri 24th – Launch and day sail around Great Cumbrae
Sat 25th - Largs Yacht Haven, general arrival, Launch and test sail
Sun 26th- Rhu Marina – 18 Miles
Mon 27th - Holy Loch Marina (Sandbank) – 8/30 Miles targeting Lochgoilhead
Tue 28th – Tighnabruaich – Visitor Moorings – 20 Miles
Wed 29th - East Loch Tarbert Loch Fyne – Marina – 13 Miles
Thurs 30th - Port Bannatyne Marina (Rothesay) – 22 Miles
Fri 31st – Largs Yacht Haven Marina – 10/18 Miles targeting Cumbrae islands circumnavigate or Loch Striven
I had planned to be more adventurous by sailing over to Arran Lamlash, taking in Campletown however this is much more exposed sailing area.
We look forward to your feedback.

[12:41, 16/10/2023] Ian Brett: Distances are not high allowing for exploring and stopping at your leisure, we can plan lunch stops or meets on each day to suit your needs. The north of Rothesay is stunning and time to explore loch Riddon can be achieved.
I have not sailed to Rhu or lochgoilhead up loch long but it has been recommended….
Looking forward to your feedback or please put forward an alternative cruise

[Justin Greig]

Just in case there are any new recruits who are unaware of the discussion about an early outing to the Norfolk Broads currently going on on WhatsApp, here is the plan:

I’ve chatted to the commodore of Horning Sailing club about starting and ending there. He was keen to let us use the club as a base - but it has to be discussed and approved by the club committee. I think so long as we don’t clog up the club staithe over the week end, we will be welcome. I have not yet used the HSC slipway - when I inspected it a couple of weeks ago water levels were so high, it was hard to see where the ramp started and stops - I’ll report back after putting my boat in the water in the next couple of weeks. There’s plenty of room to leave cars and trailers in the club carpark.

17th April - launch HSC slipway in the afternoon; moor at club staithe for the night / supper at The Swan
18th April (Thursday) - up river to Hoveton Broad - visit nature trail; then down river to Ranworth using public moorings (there is an overnight charge - or if you have a mud anchor you can moor in the Broad) / supper at the Granary (public loos open all night)
19th April (Friday) head up the river Ant (drop mast for Ludham Bridge) visit How Hill - maybe a race around Barton Broad? Back to Ludham Bridge - free public moorings (public loos open all night) / supper at The Dog
20th April (Saturday) head down the Ant (starting with mast lowering for Ludham Bridge) then up the River Thurne dropping masts at Potter Heigham then on to Hickling Broad - moor (and eat) at the Pleasure Boat Inn
21st April (Sunday) down the River Thurne dropping mast at Potter Heigham then on to Acle - moor and eat at The Bridge Inn

Thus far the only awkward aspects of the proposed itinerary are the bridges - tides are negligible, tidal range is 30cm at Ludlum and 23cm at Potter Heigham and Acle - but if we were to continue down the Bure on the Monday toward Breydan Water we would encounter more challenging navigation around Great Yarmouth - tidal range is 1.8m and there is no point in sailing against the tide. It’s likely we will be a small group so I think there is plenty of scope for discussing the plan and making changes based on others local knowledge - we can decide whether to return to Horning on Monday or Tuesday. I suggest our final evening meal should be at the Fur & Feather.

If anyone wants to join the WhatsApp group do let me know.

[Dennis]

Sixteen boats have already signed up for the Scottish rally being organised by Ian and Cath Brett:

Anticipated attendees:-

1 Rondo - Malcolm Sadler
2 Moneypenny - Gary Oldfield
3 Bella – Ian & Cath Brett
4 Anoushka – Jez & Kim Brett
5 Stardust – Paul Hardie
6 Peggy -Justin Greig
7 Cape Whisper - Donald Graham
8 Tystie - Alistair & Katie Bell
9 Kira - Lee Fuller
10 Halcyon - Simon Head
11 Miss Molly - Ian Clark
12 Elecktra – Adam Bridger
13 boat being bought - Bob Steel
14 Iris - Richard Woods
15 Rhu - Archibald Hardie -
16 Mary Ann - Dennis Ogle

If you would like to participate or would like further details please respond here or contact Ian Brett (Click on "Ian Brett" in the members list, you will get an option to send an email)

[Dennis]

Cape Cutters 2024 Largs Scotland May Muster

Please send us your application to join us and sail in company in Scotland in May 2024
We will be sailing in some beautiful areas of Scotland that will prove to be challenging at times for all of us.
For those of you not having been that far north before, we have chosen this area as it provides a sheltered area for cruising, this is combined with very little tidal streams, affecting our cruise. There are not many areas of the country providing this level of shelter, the month of May can be unpredictable however if you look at the charts you will see that there are many options of ports and sheltered areas along the way. The west coast of Scotland provides for a beautiful area of cruising and we may circumnavigate Isles of Bute and possibly Arran as an extension cruise. The kyles of Bute are beautiful and a local sailor said I must sail in the area of Tighnabruaich, so let’s go. The Cape Cutter is a very capable boat for this trip however we will need to reef whilst under sail and upon occasions shut all hatches including putting the boards in and closing the hatch. To provide a high level of comfort we are using Marinas however we will need to get ashore at one location using tenders.
Nature is amazing too as we have seen porpoise and dolphin and many sea birds along the way. Binoculars and photography will be used a lot by many this year we are likely to see submarines and at sea that will be a first for us.

This year Ian and Cath Brett based at Hollowell sailing club in the midlands have prepared this plan, with the support of the members of the Cape Cutter Association.
We have enjoyed several cruises over the years and we hope you have as much fun on this trip as we have in the past.

Preparation is key and there is a huge amount of sailing experience within our group and everyone I have met would be pleased to help you with any task or question.
Sailing communities like this Cape Cutter group have been key to my learning over the lifetime of sailing that I am enjoying and I will continue to learn every day.
Please ask any questions of the group or individually, as this is key to safety and having fun.

Navigation and route planning - There are some great cruising guides and charts available. Many use electronic charts in combination with the paper charts.
I also pick up magazines along the way and ‘Welcome Anchorages’ is a great resource, order your copy… 01355 279077 info@welcome-anchorages.co.uk
Chart Imray ‘Firth of Clyde C63’ is great, Clyde Cruising Club – Firth of Clyde Pilot books are great, Largs Marina Guide is free when you arrive too, packed with information.

Marinas - You will be responsible at each marina to sign in and settle your fees that are about £25 max per night.
Generally an hour after we all reach the designated port (lets target 6pm) we will have a meeting to discuss the next stage of our planned cruise. Please come along on the pontoon or at a suitable meeting point in the marina or Pub with your assessment of the next day’s weather and any notes that you can share with others. “Bella’s Fog Horn will blow” a few minutes before the meeting starts

Little improvements, this year I have improved my communications by purchasing a Fixed VHF Radio with Ariel and it has been tested in our lounge at home!
Cath has a great system to bring some back-up meals on the boat, we need no fridge as they are generally packets and tins (thanks Aldi) with some bags of spice and any fresh vegetables that we can add, we grab a bag and every meal is a surprise… Message for recipes

Food - on route is key and we look forward to testing your speciality biscuits, cakes or temping specialities that you would like to bring.

Fun - is key and we like entertainment – we have a night at a community pub with people playing their instruments and singing however, if you could help add this to some other evenings that would be most welcome. Maybe your ‘fire juggling’ or crazy Kite will entertain us all !!!!

Equipment – I am planning to run my engine asap, change the oils and check my cooking equipment. ( I generally take a full separate fuel tank and a Gallon can full to top up at any opportunity. Then clean and assemble the boat and accessories looking for loose fittings and worn parts. Check the trailer,.. last year had to replace a seized jockey wheel!! and lighting check….

It is noted that all skippers are responsible for their own craft and crew at all times and this event provides for a co-ordinated sailing in company, there is a form to be completed and sent to the organiser.
The class association take no responsibility for your actions and in the event of an emergency please contact the coastguard on channel 16 and try to call 999.
The outlined sailing schedule is a plan however skippers need to decide if they are prepared to undertake the trip after assessing the weather, navigation, crew, provisions and equipment.

Scotland sailing plan 2024 Based out of Largs (Yacht Haven) we plan to tour the Firth of Clyde upper reaches.
Thurs 23rd May - Early arrivals Largs Yacht Haven (overnight parking outside the marina available fyi no booking needed)
Fri 24th – Launch and day sail around Great Cumbrae
Sat 25th - Largs Yacht Haven, general arrival, Launch and test sail
Sun 26th- Rhu Marina – 18 Miles
Mon 27th - Holy Loch Marina (Sandbank) – 8/30 Miles targeting Lochgoilhead
Tue 28th – Tighnabruaich/Kames – Visitor Moorings – 20 Miles
Wed 29th - East Loch Tarbert Loch Fyne – Marina – 13 Miles
Thurs 30th - Port Bannatyne Marina (Rothesay) – 22 Miles
Fri 31st – Largs Yacht Haven Marina – 10/18 Miles targeting Cumbrae Islands circumnavigate or Loch Striven
Saturday – Pull out and return home / restock and make extension cruise plans

Distances – don’t be put off by what looks like short distances, we will be sailing all day and with exploring en route and tacking the sea miles will be high!

There are some days proposed to extend this trip to go to Lochranza 1st June, Campbeltown 2nd June, Lamlash/Brodick Bay 3rd June, back to Largs on 4th June
An alternative less exposed trip too possibly into Glasgow and upper reaches of loch Long….

Tides – The charts for this area show very low tidal streams (1 knot max), however yes we need to consider tide heights. http://www.tide-forecast.com is a great depiction of the neaps and springs…. I will issue my findings closer to the time….

Catering / Socially - many may like to eat together and socialise however others prefer their own boat comforts, or a combination…
As with the best made plans we all need to have contingency food in the event that we get storm bound so we need to have a back-up
This is the plan and we can evolve this as we get closer to the event and proceed from the ‘6pm briefing’

Sat 25th May - Largs - Travel by car/walk to Wetherspoon’s in Largs 01475 686441 getting there 7pm allowing time to book food and eat at 7:30pm, Returning to the Largs Sailing club bar located within the marina.

Sun 26th May - RHU – The Commodore (Vintage Inn) 7:30pm, ‘Celebration Meal’ a choice of food @ £21.95 per head for x2 courses, £26.95 x3 courses, they have an area for us all to eat together.
Address 112/117 W Clyde Street, Helensburgh, G84 8ES Robert - Manager – 01436 676924
We are planning to walk into town departing marina at 6pm (it is a 30min ish walk), if time allows we have been invited to drink at the Helensburgh Sailing Club Bar that opens 16:30pm Ian Chatten & James Miller office@helensburghsailingclub.co.uk G84 8QT

Mon 27th May - Holy Loch – Order from a Takeaway for delivery at the Marina at 7:30pm, ‘meeting/eating at the Holy Loch Sailing club’ please buy your drinks here, We are still awaiting to see if the Holy Loch Inn will open!!! This is walking distance PA23 8PJ, however we can walk to Oakfield Kebab house PA23 8PA for food.
There are a number of other take away places to order delivery from Dunoon town, Chinese – Hongkong carry out 01369 705 142, River Jade 01327 704227. Three in one take away Pizza kebab burger 01369 707744, Fish and Chips Anselmo’s 01369 703849 or Lorenzo fish chips 01369 703183

Tuesday 28th May – Tighnabruich/Kames – We plan to hold the briefing at 18:00ish at the Kames Hotel (as a mooring payment!), reservations are needed to eat at the Kames hotel, please send £10 deposit per person to Cath asap (see separate email for bank details) so we can book places ‘Kames Cape Cutter Muster’ (Kames Hotel Tel 01700 811489) for catered food the other option is 1.5 miles up the road the Tighnabruich Hotel 01700 811615
There is a public toilet at the top of the hill opposite Kames Village store (store opens 0900am – closes 6pm)

Wednesday 29th May – Tarbert – Anchor Hotel PA29 6UB Harbour Street - Ross Beaton +7801551732 of fish and chips on the sea front ‘Loch Fyne fish bar’ Gary and Malcolm’s favourite….

Thursday 30th May – Port Bannatyne – Anchor Tavern and Pub 33 Marine drive PA20 0LL, Community room booked they provide plates and cutlery, payment is by buying drinks at the bar, please arrange takeaways for 7:30pm delivery, Local busking night to follow… bring your instruments drums etc…
Takeaway food delivery West end Café (fish and chips) 01700 503596, Chinese Jade Garden 01700 502347 or Sea Dragon 01700 502094, Indian Pavillion (indian, Kebab, Pizza, Burgers) 07913 802521,

Friday 31st May
Before we depart for Largs, there is a 1.5 hour bus tour around the Island of Bute that we can take, a double decker bus picks us up from the Marina at about 10:10am and we can buy the tickets £14 online or on the bus.
http://www.citysightseeingbute.com
Please book online and pay for the 10am tour and let me know so that I can collate the number of people. (FYI Bookings are closed until the spring.)

Notice of race:- It is planned that after the bus tour at 14:00 Bella will sail from a designated buoy on a port tack, opening up the start line where we anticipate boats to cross on starboard, between our boat and the buoy.
The course will be clarified on VHF, after being outlined at the Thursday 6:pm briefings, the course will probably be to pass Great Cumbrae to starboard, the line between ‘Tomont End Tower’ and the southerly Largs church Spire being the Finish… a message to the group at the time will be accepted as completing the challenge. This is a fun event and Boat to Boat contact must be avoided at all times. Other event challenges will be issued during the cruise and results will be taken into account when decisions of awarding the trophy are being made. ‘The committee’ reserve the right to change rules as they please however being fair to all participants.

Largs – End of cruise take away buying drinks at the bar, at sailing club (located within the Yacht Haven), they may arrange something for us, I’m following up… Julia Secretary@largssc.co.uk KA30 8EZ 01475 6700 00 (they don’t do catering but we can take food in/takeaway) Fish and Chicken Bar 71 main street KA30 8AQ 01475 675 008, The Viking Haggis supper 32 Gallowgate st KA30 8LX 01475 674949, Barbeque King 130 Main Street, KA30 8JN 01475 689 993 just a few ideas…
(An alternative option is Scots Restaurant 01475 686684 please make your own arrangements)

Please let us know any questions etc. we all started cruising at some point and I will always learn every trip. However we all like to share our learning and help others to join. Our members are across the country and may well be local to you to meet up before the event.
Request to join the whatsapp group and see the chatter, on the crusie we share access numbers marina wifi codes etc so it is really useful to be part of the chatter.

Best wishes
Ian

[Justin Greig]

Three boats braved rather chilly and blustery conditions and were rewarded by stunning scenery and some hilarity (mainly at my expense).

If better weather could be ordered for 2025, I'd suggest doing this again.

I found the Association gallery only uploads photos one by one, now that Flash is an obsolete technology. So I've made an albun on Google Photos:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sKRWw1m2vJvF1DdA7

[Dennis]

Thanks Justin for the link to your pics.

Also thanks for flagging up the issue with uploads to the Gallery. I had forgotten that Flash Player was needed for uploading multiple files. Something else I need to look at.

I am all in favour of links to external picture galleries as it does not affect our own storage at the web server. With your permission I would like to add your link to the Wordpress website.