Swallow Yachts Association
Swallow Yachts Forum => Sailing and Events => Topic started by: Peter Cockerton on 03 Jul 2014, 18:13
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In 2013 i attended this event for the first time along with Andy Dingle and Jonathon Stuart. Andy took his Bayraider 20 Tony Langmead took his CBL Four Sisters and we shared a large cottage at a very reasonable cost. I can't promote this event enough for the lovely sailing area, the warmth and generosity of the locals, the excellent organisation and safety cover whilst sailing.
In total roughly 10 Swallow Boats attended the festival if i remember correctly it could have been more.
If you haven’t attended before think about it seriously, the journey is not difficult, Plymouth overnight ferry to Roscoff and a couple of hours drive at the other end share a cabin and get a good night’s sleep.
I must admit i had my concerns on going initially, especially when you read the stories on the fast tidal races and strong currents, but in truth we had no problems or concerns once we were on the water, the day's port to port sailing went without a hitch.
If you want to raise any questions on this event, many of the forum members have been several times, and as i said before some just the once.
I have registered my Boat for next year Joybells (Bayraider 20 GRP) see website
http://www.semainedugolfe.com/Home-1074-0-0-0.html it's fairly straightforward and FREE.
In 2013 we booked an cottage which slept 10 and this worked out well for cost and having two cars for ferrying about, i will be organising something similar for next year so let me know if interested in sharing, not only is it cost effective but good for evening company and boat banter.
Peter Cockerton
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Peter,
You forgot to mention the food, the wine, the cidre - and Andy Dingle's blue jokes.
To be serious, its a damn good event for the sociable types who like a party every evening (....and also anti-social old bores like me who hate crowds. There's plenty of quiet sailing to be had if you prefer. )
I took one of my daughters with me on my first visit (in her twenties) and she had as a good time off the boat as on it. The next visit I went on my own and had just as much fun meeting up with old friends and making new ones. I would not hesitate to take my older grandchildren as its a very family-friendly setup.
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Oi...! I 'eard that... and I'm out in Delhi...
Now, did you hear the one about the retired teacher from Nottingham who sits around all day watching 'Countdown' on't telly.. Yes, the one where he only got a seven letter word... oh, you did hear it ...?
(Sorry Peter!)
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Namaste, Andy-gi.
Delhi, is it? Are you there at the moment, or will you miss the Morbihan? Whichever. Don't let Auntie catch you!
Seven letter word on Countdown? Cor! There's posh! I don't often get past four letters, myself.
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здороваться Tony..
Astana (Kazakhstan) this week Tony.. you don't want to know where I'll be in the next two weeks - you'll be reaching for them roll-ups.. and I don't mean an obscure CBL reefing system.. (or maybe I do!!)
But come hell or (and) high water.. I'll be at Morbihan 2015 - where I'll explain the finer points of my last post re Countdown ..
Would be great to see more of the UK Swallow Boat contingent at Morbihan though - really is a very good week.
Andy
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Hi, Andy.
I wonder if we can get a discount on the ferry if a bunch of Swallow Boaters make a block booking?
I tried registering myself as a charity (like the Tall Ships Trust) to get cheap rates .....but they have funny rules about that sort of thing. A charity has to " benefit the public" or some such nonsense. Offering to do trips round the bay apparently wasn't good enough for 'em, not even if I threw in a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps. No pleasing some people.
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Tony
Last year the organisers of the event provided a booking link from the Web page to book a Brittany ferry with discount which was quite substantial. I have emailed the organisers to see if this will be done for 2015, no response to date.
On the accommodation front i have drawn a blank on finding a reasonably priced Gite this year so about to book a hotel room in Vannes which is around £50 per night for a twin or double. If you want to stay in the same place so we have two cars for ferrying let me know.
Peter
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Following online registration several weeks ago my application on boat registration is still in the "awaiting acceptance" stage, has anyone else registered and achieved the registration confirmation yet. The web site for the event is showing signs of 2015 readiness but many areas are still showing 2013 information, i.e the boats attending". i have emailed the contact information for updates but no response, and that's been a number of weeks now.
Peter Cockerton
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Joybells registration now complete, any other takers for this great week of socialising and sailing.
Peter Cockerton
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Registration for "Four Sisters" has been accepted. Email arrived this morning.
Assigned to "Flotilla 3a (bis) " as usual. (Now you know which one to avoid, Andy.)
Flotilla designations are as follows:-
Flotilla 1: Gigs
Flotilla 2: Sail & oar
Flotilla 3: Small Traditional Leisure Boats (Open- boats)
Flotilla 3a: Small Traditional Leisure Boats (camp cruising)
Flotilla 4: Classic Yachts over 8m
Flotilla 5: Leisure boats from the 60's
Flotilla 6: Working boats
Flotilla 7: Small Classic Yachts under 8m (regattas)
Flotilla 7a: Small Classic Yachts under 8m (cruises)
Flotilla 8: Classic Motorboats
The Flotillas are given different routes around the Morbihan to suit the presumed capabilities of the boats. There is nothing to stop you reassigning yourself to a more (or less) challenging category if you let the organisers know. All Swallowboats, Drascombes Whammels, Deben Luggers, etc would do quite nicely in Flot 3 or 3a but S15s and Troupers wouldn't look all that out of place in Flot 2 if you wanted an easy time of it. You can sail wherever you like once you're there and the only practical reason for "pre-booking" a change is to make sure you get tickets for the right crew dinner, free oysters etc. (A skipper of a large boat registered his two tenders into the sail and oar Flotilla to get extra free food for his crew. Shame they all turned up with the ships name plastered across their chests!)
Looking forward to it!
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Tony
Great to see your going and without any intervention we will be dodging you. They have allocated flotilla 7 for Joybells.
Would be better if both in same flotilla, i bet flotilla 7 misses the shallow water of my favourite port St Goustan.
Fancy flotilla7 or should i ask for a move to 3 bis.
Just another thought i have booked digs in Lamour Baden banking on this being the home port again, will do some checking with them.
Peter Cockerton
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Worth asking the Management but they don't usually publish the routes until after Christmas.
They often re-allocate the flotillas depending on the numbers of different categories signing up so don't be in a rush to swap, either.
Making a solid booking for Lamour Baden has to be done early as everything within 30 miles gets booked up quite quickly and I don't think you'll go far wrong there. The home port for Flot 7 was the same as Flot 3 last time, I think. Must dig out the old paperwork to check. Not the ends of the earth, even if they put you at Vannes. Its only a few miles away.
If I can track down shower blocks and pontoons for all the ports I'll be happy sleeping on board. I'll take a tent, though, in case of moorings being miles from a sea taxi. Don't want to be worrying about getting back on board if I'm eating out!
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Tony
Anne Morrice ( Organiser) now in office has contacted me, she is starting discussions with Brittany Ferries to try and get discounts for us.
All
In 2013 the discount was only available if you booked the reservation from a link within the main La Semaine Du Golfe Morbihan web site, it was not available by booking at the Brittany Ferries reservation office so best wait until it's sorted and on the site. If i remember rightly it save around £100.00 on the overnight Plymouth to Roscoff crossing (return).
Joybells now on 3 Bis flotilla hoping Lamour Baden is the home port again as our digs are there.
Peter
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Still no word on the discount Brittany Ferry deal they did in 2013 so i have prompted the organisers again to see if it can be repeated.
Update today, a discount will or has been arranged, they will announce before end of 2014 on Crew centre area within the web page or on their Facebook page.
I think i counted 7 Bayraider 20's now registered (one French) and the ubiquitous CBL.
If you haven't booked, think about it, it's a really good week.
Peter Cockerton
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I have just booked the ferry crossing with Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth to Caen car and trailer for £368.00 return, this price was after a 20% discount being applied. Depart portsmouth on Friday 8th at 14:25 and arrive Caen 21:30 approx a 2.75 hr drive the other side to Lamour Baden. Come back on Saturday 16th depart 16:30 arrive Portsmouth 21:15.
The booking is available on line now but after following the process i couldn't see where the discount had been applied and the cost was £454.00 so i called the booking office direct and quoted an account number 614261 (given to me by another booking clerk on a previous call) this gave the the discount and i booked on the phone. Hope this helps anyone who needs ferry crossing or thinking about it and though cost was to high.
http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/semainedugolfe?quote=new&OIFmode=false&PensionerMode=false
Peter Cockerton
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Any BREs out there with time to spare for a would be owner?
With retirement a mere two years away, I have been seriously looking at a trailer sailer as a way of getting out on the water. My sailing experience is mostly with 26 to 32 ft chartered sailing boats, mostly in southern Brittany plus a few cross-Channel cruises (Scillies, Cornwall, West Coast of Ireland). I am chronically short of crew and my job has taken me to all kinds of places in Europe where an agile sailing boat could be really useful. I am reluctant to leave the Paris area so its charter or trailer for me!
There are a few trailables around but the Bay Raider Expedition has plenty of attractions. Smart looks, modern design, apparently a lot of thought has gone into the design. I would really like to get a closer look at and I imagine some will be attending the Semaine du Golfe, based on the posts above.
In any case I am staying in the Lorient area all of that week and would really like to meet, chat, crew, drink Muscadet or whatever with anyone willing to let me have a look and trade a few yarns. Even witnessing a launch or recovery, since this is described a suspiciously simple to someone with no experience!
Please let me know
Michael Poisson
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Michael
Can't help with BRe look over but as it's the same hull as the BR20 GRP your more than welcome to meet myself and Andy Dingle at Lamour Barden where you can witness us launch. Will be launching on Saturday 9th May around midday. Will take her out for a local sail immediately after, you are most welcome to join us, light refreshments will follow.
Peter Cockerton
Either PM me or email petercsailing at virginmedia.com
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Did anyone see Lattis, one of only two SeaRaiders, sailing at Morbihan? I found this photo, which appears to show a fairly radical change to her sail wardrobe since Raid England last summer. It looks like the sails are made of something hi-tech like Kevlar and the mainsail is now a fathead Bermudan, having previously been standard gunter rig. She was already fast and is presumably now unbeatable.
How was the Semaine generally?
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Hello Graham.
Yes, Peter and I did see her, although I do confess to not recognising her as a Searaider(!).
An absolutely beautiful boat. You are correct about the rig, the sails are of a laminate material, fathead main with a carbon mast. Sleak, fast and looking very dangerous !
I shared a 'water taxi' out to her with her owner at Port Blanc after the lunch stop. Unfortunately i don't seem to have any photographs of her - presumably as she was always too far ahead!
I'll publish some of the photo's that I do have, together with a few words in due course..
Enjoy Caledonia, maybe I'll make it next year, although somewhat more sedately in my BC23..
Regards
Andy