Swallow Yachts Association
Swallow Yachts Forum => Sailing and Events => Topic started by: Graham W on 01 Jun 2014, 17:31
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Saturday 23rd to Saturday 30th May 2015. 'Nuff said!
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Registration for 2015 is now open - see http://www.sailcaledonia.org/page36.html
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But I'm still recovering from 2013!
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The HQ barge Ros Crana (12 berths) is already fully booked. Plenty of room on the two Taransay cabin cruisers however.
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Seven boats registered already.
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That's "Moireach", BRe 030 registered for Sail Caledonia 2015 - Yikes, gulp. ...along with three 'mates'. Any words of wisdom much appreciated.
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That's "Moireach", BRe 030 registered for Sail Caledonia 2015 - Yikes, gulp. ...along with three 'mates'. Any words of wisdom much appreciated.
Keep calm and carry on - unless the boat that you're about to hit is the stand-on vessel.
We've now got 15 boats (six Swallow Boats) registered and all the floating accommodation is fully booked, although if you still want a cabin, it's always worth being waitlisted in case someone drops out.
Once you've finished Sail Caledonia 2015 and can't think what else to do, or maybe it wasn't tough enough for you, there's always R2AK, which starts the following week http://racetoalaska.com
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The organisers of Sail Caledonia have been contacted by someone who lives near Oban and is interested in Swallow Boats, "hoping to buy one at some point". He has asked whether anyone on the Raid with a Swallow Boat is looking for a crew or would let him take a look at their boat. Failing that can anyone near Oban help?
Also, there are now two places available on one of the Taransay cruisers if anyone wants to upgrade to that rather than camp.
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Hi Jonathan,
Vagabond will be at Sail Caledonia and then will be based at Balvicar, which is on Seil Island some 10 miles south of Oban, for at least two weeks after the end of Sail Caledonia. It will then be a long tow to Falmouth!
Will you pass this on to SC or shall I?
Rob J
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Thanks Rob, that sounds ideal. I have the contact details for the person who made this inquiry so I'll pass this on to them. May I give them your email address so they may contact you directly?
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Jonathon,
Go ahead!,
Rob J
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There are 18 boats currently entered for Sail Caledonia, of which one third are Swallow Boats of various flavours. All the cabins aboard the barge and cabin cruisers are fully booked but there is still room for some happy campers and their boats. There are also some crew members without boats looking for a varied raid experience, so if you need extra crew, let me know and I'll pass it on.
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it this year but aim to be back with a full crew of mighty race-fit rowers next year. I'm also trying to improve my sailing from last year's dismal performance.
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Just trying to get myself together for Sail Caledonia. I see from the Safety Requirements I need a third oar, which I don't have. I do have a couple of paddles to supplement the oars and I am thinking of taking my motor with a fuel tank. Especially to those with BRe, what has been the norm in this regard and what are folks planning on doing this year? I am also noting the BRe with only two oars and (relatively) lots of weight looks like a big task for the rowing bit…
Many thanks from a SC virgin :D
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Hi John,
Norna will get back to you but you should be OK with the paddles especially if you take the engine. The last is particularly recommended for a BRe as with only one rowing position, if you hit a big headwind and decide that you've had enough on one of the longer rowing races, you can motor to the finish line. It also means that you can get to some of the more distant start lines without busting a gut. I have two rowing positions on my BR20 and still take a motor just in case.
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Thank you Graham, that puts my mind at rest considerably.
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John,
Don't even think of not taking a motor unless you are doing the Highlander Challenge, and even then I'd take a motor "just in case"! Rowing a BRe is heavy work and for the past 2 years there have been headwinds for much of Sail Caledonia and you will appreciate the motor for the non-racing canal sections unless you are a dedicated and fit rower. I also think there's a safety point here - the Beauly Firth, for example, is a wide and exposed body of water with strong tides and I would certainly feel happier with a motor there regardless of how much use it gets.
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It looks like there will be fair winds for the raid - at least F3/4 every day and always from astern. Perfect for the rowing races and for ensuring that the oars can stay stowed during the sailing races.
Good luck everyone!
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The first photos from the raid have been posted https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sail-Caledonia/148794295156229?v=wall
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Stand by for some really excellent Swallow Boat news.
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BR20 'Gladys' (M. Peacock prop.) swept the board this year, winning the Swallow Boats trophy and the Loch Ness Challenge in just over six hours - they must have been flying, as even a crow has to cover 27 nautical miles to complete the course. To top it all, 'Gladys' was the 2015 overall winner. This is the second time that a BR20 has scooped the pool, proving that you don't necessarily need a SeaRaider to do a proper job.
Well done to Matthew and his crew. I gather it rained quite a lot this year but at least there was plenty of wind and it wasn't on the nose.
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Sail Caledonia was again a most enjoyable event with great camaraderie between all boats, crews and support staff. Anyone who appreciates stimulating company, laughter, live music, good food, occasionally challenging sailing, interesting small boats and a memorable experience should come. The Sail Caledonia Spirit developed during through the week as we all got to know each other, old friendships were renewed and new ones forged. It is a truly international event with crews and boats from Sweden, Holland, Italy and France as well as distant corners of the UK.
The organisation and support staff are efficient and keep just the right balance between ensuring safety, keeping things moving and maintaining a fun and sociable atmosphere. The live music and homely food are perfect for restoring minds and bodies at the end of physically active days.
This year the weather was cool, with a dramatic mix of showers and sunshine but no midges. Even though we camped, we did not get soaked. The wind varied from flat calm to W-NW F4-F5, providing exciting sailing and occasional rowing for those who could be bothered during racing.
The racing was the icing on the cake and the last reason why anyone should attend. Many boats are justifiably content to cruise and enjoy the scenery but for the sad souls who like to race the competition was sometimes intense. Gladys was almost beaten by Moirach on the first race, Ristie led all the way down Loch Ness but we had the crew weight to sail back without reefing and Ella did well to over-take 2 boats in the rowing pursuit race when Gladys only just held her own.
Gladys was successful this year it was because:
a) Andrew Peers, “the nut on the helm”, is a brilliant helmsman and tactician.
b) Mick Byrne is a great crew; a powerful oarsman, willing to hang out and hang on when required, steadfast and cheerful.
c) Graham very kindly loaned us his precious CF oars which made rowing almost pleasurable as well as efficient
d) Other boats were helpful, freely providing lifts (thanks Ristie and Ella) and loaning tools and expertise (thanks Auk) when, ahem, repairs were necessary.
e) Gladys is a Swallow Boats Bayraider!
Matthew
BR20 Gladys
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There were three capsizes amongst the fleet this year, which shows how difficult conditions were. Needless to say, none of them were Swallow Boats. The last time there was even a single capsize was 2012.
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Vagabond was there again, bumping into old friends and various bits of jetties and land etc. We had an exhilerating down wind run under jib alone to the n.e end of Loch Ness, touching over 6 knots several times. I've only just recovered!
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Well done to everyone who took part in Sail Caledonia but particularly to Matthew and his crew.
Matthew - I maintain the Sail Caledonia website (albeit less frequently than I should) so would you mind if I added your words as a quote on the site?
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Matthew,
Congratulations from all of us at Swallow Boats on your success at Sail Caledonia!
I really must get up there again one day to try my hand against you and your crew!
Best wishes,
Matt
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As a first-timer myself and with three other folks sailing Moireach, we had a great time during the Sail Caledonia week. The opportunity to sail, row and chug up the Great Glen is stunning. Hats-off to the Martin and his team for providing a safe and enjoyable environment to do that in. We enjoyed our accommodation on one of the Taransay cruisers, getting to know our fellow residents, and the opportunity to chat and mill around with all the participants and helpers was a highlight of the week. The Bay Raiders all looked good, but there were also other stunning examples of hand-crafted boats; how they made it along Loch Ness still amazes me. In all this mix our schoolboy French and Italian was tested with those that had come from Europe. which added another dimension to events. The week was a challenge, but in a good way; we enjoyed the thrashing around the cans as much as we enjoyed the quieter times and meeting a great bunch of people. To next time!
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Matthew,
Congratulations from all of us at Swallow Boats on your success at Sail Caledonia!
I really must get up there again one day to try my hand against you and your crew!
Best wishes,
Matt
Thanks Matt. How about coming to Ullswater 13th June when Turaco, Moireach, Ristie, Gladys and other Sail Caledonia veterans will be there to challenge? Although someone more competent than me will need to organise a race if that is what folks want.
Matthew
BR20 Gladys
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This video gives an indication of the conditions on Loch Ness this year https://www.facebook.com/belinda.rapley.7/videos/917865228275534/
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Good video. Down wind in a following "sea".. Always an exciting sail. Similar conditions for me, coming back into the harbour this weekend. I had the following sea coming through the rudder hole in the stern of my BayRaider . No harm done though as it just went out of the outboard well! It was exciting though.....
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John Macpherson's pictures from this year's Sail Caledonia are now online:
http://albums.phanfare.com/isolated/VUFq3OdI/1/6921871
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2nd Officer Mick "Bow-Thruster" Byrne (IC Forward Propulsion and Ballast Management Systems) put together this excellent video of Sail Caledonia at https://youtu.be/QJq84fSAM8U
Matthew
BR20 Gladys
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Excellent, I wish I'd been there!
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Kathy Mansfield has now posted all her photos of the raid http://www.pbase.com/kathymansfield/sail_caledonia_2015&page=1
Some favourites:
Look at the determination on the faces of Gladys's oarsmen - no wonder they won http://www.pbase.com/kathymansfield/image/160390469
Despite (or maybe because of) a following wind, Osbert seemed to spend most of the raid rowing - this shot is impressive http://www.pbase.com/kathymansfield/image/160306618
The need for speed - you could almost waterski behind Moireach http://www.pbase.com/kathymansfield/image/160306621
Jim's whoopsy (for the second time) http://www.pbase.com/kathymansfield/image/160399392
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Full results from 2015 are now on the Sail Caledonia website:
http://www.sailcaledonia.org/page40.html
(The cumulative results page has 2013 in its title but these are definitely the 2015 results).