Matthew, Tim (both with assorted crew members) and I took part: the rest of you missed a VERY enjoyable two days of varied sailing, in a most attractive setting. We sampled the estuary and river up towards Cardigan, the narrows with fairly brisk tides in both directions, and 'further out' which divides into an area inside the bar and the open sea beyond the bar, with Cardigan Island asking to be circumnavigated and lovely coastline in both directions. Changing sea conditions as the tides run with, against or across the wind were great fun.
On Saturday (wind F3, later F3-4) Matthew and Tim were in a small fleet which sailed East to a tractor recovery (a bit hairy, or rather sandy, I believe) from a beach further along the coast, and experienced the ultimate sailing thrill offered by Cardigan Bay - being escorted by dolphins! I have been pale green (from envy not seasickness) since they came back to tell the rest of us about it. The rest of us sailed a bit closer to home, although I was accused of planning a surreptitious day trip to Ireland when I forgot to switch my (borrowed) radio on, and was enjoying a long reach away from land until the support RIB was sent to round me up.
On Sunday a sort of race was planned, but had to be abandoned when stronger-than-forecast winds (F4 but frequently and persistently gusting to F5-6) produced very interesting choppy seas and an epidemic of reefing in the fleet. So, after the larger boats had been beyond the bar to prove they could, most sailing was in and about the estuary and inside the bar. My day was made when I demonstrated Matt's assertion that a Trouper 12 will plane in the right conditions - which for Cavatina on Sunday were one reef in F5+ and a broad reach in fairly choppy conditions: absolutely upright (she is soooo stable), huge sheets of spray from the bows, and spurts of water hurled at me out of the daggerboard case (which is well forward, and I suspect its forward edge under the boat was part of the bow wave). We went past a Storm 17 as if it was stationary. I have never considered myself an adrenaline-rush sailor, but.....
The Rally happens under Drascombe auspices, but in fact the majority of boats are usually Swallowboats, presumably because of the location. Sadly this year Matt was away, otherwise he shows up. This year there were 3 Drascombes, 6 Swallowboats, and 4 assorted types. Gareth Rowlands has organised it for the last 6-7 years, with an informal efficiency which I am sure belies the amount of work involved. I have been three times, and would be sorry to miss it. Hosts are the Teifi Boating Club, which is informal and very friendly, and has a clubhouse overlooking the estuary with a bar which serves, among everything else, excellent Welsh beer (Tony take note) with unpronounceable names. The lady club members did us an excellent meal on Sat evening and a high tea before departures on Saturday.
Gareth has not committed himself to necessarily doing another rally next year, and commented that his drumming up exercise on the Forum (which I think was a first) produced a zero response! Matthew and Tim will let him (and us) know whether in fact they responded to it, or were going anyway. I think some friendly twisting of Gareth's arm and other signs of enthusiasm are called for so that it does indeed happen again next year. Tony owes it to 'Four Sisters' (a Cardigan Bay Lugger after all) to go and commune with the dolphins and try the beer. I'm sure Tim and Matthew will chip in with their impressions. A big SB turn-out next year would make it even better.
Michael
