Sail Caledonia 2014

[Graham W]

There are now nine confirmed entries, of which three are Drascombes and only two are Swallow Boats (Bill Rollo's 'Askari' and mine). Once again there is a trophy kindly sponsored by Swallow Boats for the fastest BayRaider in the event. The Drascombes are competing for a case of wine, which may explain their extra interest!

The most exotic entry is a lateen-rigged bette marseillaise from France, of the sort painted by van Gogh (see below).

[Graham W]

We are trying to encourage more people to become involved in these sort of raids and have today sent out a press release to all the sailing magazines that we could think of, plus past and future participants in the raid, sailing clubs, raid boat makers, schools, colleges, etc etc.

The text reads:

"SAIL CALEDONIA TO SPONSOR A 2014 RAID BOAT

Sail Caledonia, the annual sail & oar raid through the Great Glen of Scotland, is inviting applications for a sponsored boat entry for next year’s race, which will take place from 24th to 31st May 2014.

The crew will provide their own boat, safety gear and camping equipment.  Once there, their only costs will be for meals.  Sail Caledonia will waive the raid entry fees and will pay for launching, camping and canal licence fees.

The successful applicants could be from a school or college, part of a community-based scheme or looking to raise money for a charitable cause.

Applications should be sent to info@sailcaledonia.org by no later than 31st January 2014.  The race committee will decide the winning application shortly thereafter.

The application should include the following details:
•   Type of boat
•   Likely number and age of crew
•   Experience of skipper
•    Why the crew feel that they should get the sponsored place

For more details on the raid, including what to expect and pictures from past raids, please see http://www.sailcaledonia.org/"

The original announcement is attached.  If you can think of any deserving causes, please bring this to their attention. The sponsorship for a crew of four is worth £1,265.

[Graham W]

There are now 14 boats entered (including a large French contingent), which is significantly more than this time last year.  There is an absolute limit to the number of boats that we can look after and get through the locks, so if you're thinking of entering, even as a camper, don't leave it too late. We're expecting several new bookings when January's 'Water Craft' is published.

[Rob Johnstone]

Vagabond is now registered as being part of Sail Caledonia 2014. Just a cameo supporting role, I think, not racing.........

[Graham W]

Great to have you along Rob. If there's wind on the day, you should at least consider racing in the long distance Loch Ness Challenge. The two Dutch Valks that have entered Sail Caledonia next year are seriously fast sailing boats (faster than the BayRaiders) and it would be nice to give them something to worry about! See http://sailboatdata.com/viewrecord.asp?class_id=5687

[Andy Dingle]

I've just registered!
Will be just me and 'Psalter' my beloved BR20..   though beware.. she is turbo charged with a furling staysail.. and who knows what other devious modifications I can come up with between now and then ..
So, am looking for anyone who fancies crewing with an ageing fat baldy bloke for the week? Although you must be female, single, very wealthy with interests in the brewing industry and of course an inordinate obsession with sailing....

At the moment I understand I am booked on one of the Taransay cruisers.. a motor boat? urggh  spit!

See you there...


Andy

[Graham W]

Really good to have your turbo-charged BayRaider taking part for the first time Andy. 

There are now 17 boats registered, of which six are Swallow Boats.  Matthew Peacock's 'Gladys' is back for another year and Rory Clarke's as yet unnamed (and unbuilt) BRe is also entered.

We are already up to the same numbers as last year, with six months to go, which is really pleasing. And the motorised sleeping accommodation, which we were worried was going to be a drain on resources, is getting perilously close to fully booked and will therefore cover its costs

I think it's going to be a great event, even better than last year. If you're thinking of coming, please don't leave it too late to secure a place. I want loads of Swallow Boats taking part.

[Tony]

So, am looking for anyone who fancies crewing with an ageing fat baldy bloke for the week? Although you must be female, single, very wealthy with interests in the brewing industry and of course an inordinate obsession with sailing....
Andy

Hi, Andy.
Be careful what you wish for. At your age it could be dangerous!

P.S.
Does your stays'l help down wind in light airs? (Photo shows "Psalter" at the the Semaine du Golfe 2013, overtaken by a Cardigan Bay Lugger in just those conditions ....and , yes, it WAS the only time it happened!)

[Graham W]

So, am looking for anyone who fancies crewing with an ageing fat baldy bloke for the week? Although you must be female, single, very wealthy with interests in the brewing industry and of course an inordinate obsession with sailing....
Andy

Hi, Andy.
Be careful what you wish for. At your age it could be dangerous!

Jody Foster, Stella Tennent, Fatima Whitbread?

[Rob Johnstone]

Hi Graham

Re - racing - at this distance (of time) I think it's unlikely as

(a)  it would mean I would have to learn the rules
(b) those Valks look a bit mean 
and (c) if the the wind is SW, it won't be Vagabonds best point of sailing.... has anyone a large down wind sail for a BC 23 that we could borrow?

On the other hand, who knows what might happen on the day!

Rob J

[Andy Dingle]

Graham. I was thinking along the lines of a threesome with Daphne and Lulu Guinness, as long as that bloke Karl Lagerfeld keeps his nose out ..
Alice Beer and Shirley Bassey would be very welcome too ...As for Katy Perry and Susy Perry ..  well, that's one for each tack!
Amy Winehouse would be good to knock out a tune for us in the evenings.. providing she stays off the single malt's.. and Martini Navratilvoa may be useful for banging a few balls about. (Careful!).. Enough already..


Tony. Yes the stays'l works very well in light airs - in fact I had more of a roach stitched in just for that.. If only I had that in Morbihan I wouldn't have suffered the indignity of watching you slowly overhaul us and leave us bobbing in your wake..! Very well sailed though. I put it down to a back eddy close into that island....
And what do you mean 'at my age'! I know I've had a hard paper round but I'm actually only 58!

Rob. I will be taking my asymmetric spinnaker - if I am sailing on my lonesome then I won't be needing it and you are very welcome to make use of it, should be fairly easy to rig on your 23 and could be quite interesting?


Regards


Andy

[Graham W]

(a)  it would mean I would have to learn the rules

That's mostly "Try not to collide with each other too often"

[Rob Johnstone]

Thanks for the inside track on the rules, Graham, I'll try to remember it!
And thanks, Andy, for the offer of the assymetric.

It just so happens that I had a long conversation with our leader today on the same subject. It seems that rigging one would be not too difficult, especially as there already is a mounting for a spinnaker block near the top of the mast. Matt reckons he could supply me with the whole kit and caboodle for an almost reasonable amount of money, so I may even have my own by the time of the raid.  I'll let you know!

In the meantime, I'm contemplating stiffening the rig by retrofitting the spreaders and shrouds that were on the display BC23 at Southampton.

[Jonathan Stuart]

This year I had one gentle gunwale to gunwale touch (my fault) and was once rammed up the mizzen (not a euphemism and not my fault); the other skipper in the first incident was, for my taste, a bit too bothered and vocal about the rules so I recommend not reading the rule book or if you do then keep quiet about them! Indeed the SC Notice of Race says:

"Sail Caledonia is intended to be a relaxed event and it is anticipated that many skippers will not
have detailed knowledge of the RRS. Accordingly, we encourage skippers to sail in a sporting
manner bearing this in mind."

Don't forget that spinnakers are not allowed on Sail Caledonia:

"Specialised racing sails, including spinnakers and other similar sails are not generally permitted."

Pedantically, I'm not sure that I agree that a spinnaker is a specialised racing sail but I guess the aim is to keep the playing field as level as possible despite the wide variation of boats entered.

[Graham W]

the other skipper in the first incident was, for my taste, a bit too bothered and vocal about the rules

I remember him shouting "WATER" at someone in a very loud voice - it may have even been at you Jonathan.  One of my waggish crewmates pointed at the loch and remarked that "yes, there's a lot of it about".  He also told me that where he comes from, you only shout "water" as a warning to your own helmsman when you are at imminent risk of going aground.