Dear Member,
I hope that members used the handy guide to the planets in the last Newsletter to view the spectacular display of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn high in the sky in the early dawn. To add spice to the evening sky, Mars was looking very red in the evening mists. But we didn't see these heavenly bodies until we had returned to the lower latitudes of southern Norway and Denmark.
After over wintering ashore at Rhu marina on the Clyde, CALICO MARTLET set off for the Hebrides with David Ashe and another David, Dave Cook as crew. Calm weather for rounding the Mull of Kintyre, a short sharp gale round the back of Mull to Tobermory, and visits to the Small Isles saw us to a much improved Arisaig. The Davids left here and Barbara joined for visits to the Monach Islands and St Kilda. The latter was nearly a non event as Foot and Mouth was still raging and the Warden was doubtful as to whether we were allowed to land. However our clean living record prevailed and we had an enjoyable two days there which included asail around Boreray and its stacks.
Back through the sound of Harris and on to the Shetlands. A thorough tour of the west coast and Yell sound brought us to Lerwick in early June and another crew change. Barbara went off to Scotland for more camping and walking and Domimic Oldridge and Per Strand joined for the delivery trip to Bodo, northern Norway. We departed on a very flat forecast with extremely slack pressure gradients and motored in calm seas for 24 hours after which the wind filled in from dead ahead increasing to F6/7 with rain and a nasty sea. We managed to lay Aalesund and stayed there for the night after a trip of 48 hours. The weather then cleared and settled in for a steady F5/6 from the north. So I'm afraid to say we motor-sailed up the inner leads to Bodo arriving there 10 days after leaving Lerwick. The water in the leads was mainly calm, the wind was bitterly cold,(one hour watches at the wheel was quite enough) the engine went well and my new Autoprop transformed our performance by giving us, on the average a 3/4 knot increase in speed with the same 1.6 litres/hr fuel consumption.
Some friends from Norway joined for a cruise of the Lofoton Islands and after being north of the Arctic Circle for three weeks in mainly good weather, we started south visiting glaciers, Troll "churches", and prehistoric cave paintings on the way. Before leaving the Land of the Midnight Sun Barbara spent a clear "night" ashore and obtained some remarkable pictures of the sun dipping behind some small islands, but not setting.
Entirely by accident we met up with the Tall Ships in Aalesund and further south, which rather filled the available quay space. We continued south across the Skagerrak to Skagen in Denmark, and then further south to lay up ashore in early September just north of the German border at a small town called Augustonborg.
Some thoughts:-
- The pilots books say be prepared to motor sail, and they are exactly right. Over the whole season we did 400 hours, which is twice as much as we normally do. (The total distance for the season was over 3000 nm.)
- Fuel costs in Norway are reasonable, about 5 Nok/li (40p/li)
- Berthings cost are extremely reasonable 50 Nok/night including electricity and water. Showers were normally 10 Nok for 5 minutes. The facilities were spotless. (Berthing was free in Stavanger). We have a holding tank and we used it in harbour discharging at sea. We did not see a pump out station until near our lay-up place.
- The weather was generally cloudy, not cold, and not much rain, but not much sun either. The temperature reached the giddy heights of 35 C for a couple of days in Bodo. No fog. Continuous coverage by NAVTEX.
- Food prices were high and eating out was prohibitive. But there was a good selection of fresh produce almost everywhere and there was nearly always a small supermarket by the harbours. The fishing in N. Norway for cod was so easy that it was ridiculous. Once we caught six in 10 mins and could make a selection putting the others back. (alive)
- Laying up in Denmark was about the same cost as the South Coast of England ie £1000 for 8 months all in. (Incidently about twice what Malcolm Brown (R34 WAIMUNGU) paid in Greece and I bet he paid less for flying home!)
- We did not meet any other RIVAL yachts, although the Scandinavians knew the designs. We only met three British yachts. I wonder why? Once you are there, the cruising is easy "office hours" sailing with little current.
RIVAL ROUND-UP 2002
Our President, Jane Ashe is appealing once again for articles for the ROUND-UP. She and Wendy Tedd the Editor are collecting material NOW. They hope that the magazine will be as fascinating and informative as always, BUT it won't be without members input.
It is not necessary to have sailed across oceans in order to write interesting articles although if you have please send something! It makes for a great magazine if we have a variety of topics, from an entertaining day's sail, longer voyages, technical articles, navigational information, charts, to information about cruising in out of the way places (ie costs of mooring, laying up, fuel, provisioning, cruising licenses etc).
So make this year the year YOU send in a contribution- it's just a question of getting started as Jane only knows too well!
The articles should be kept to 3500 words, unless it was a very long trip and it can be divided into two or more articles. Try to include a small map and your best photos which should be those with most contrast as the printing is in black and white.
Articles should be sent on a floppy disc (preferably in Word) and/or on paper, by 1st December to:- Jane Ashe, Penhale Cottage, Shoe Lane, Southampton SO32 1JJ.
ANNUAL DINNER and A.G.M.
This will be held as normal at the East India Club in London on Friday 11th January 2002. Application forms in the next Newsletter.
SOUTH COAST VICE PRESIDENT
Andrew and Tania want to pass on the baton to someone else and therefore we are looking for a volunteer.
We intend to carry out a review of the various options regarding a stand alone web site to include the costs and the involvement of a member to frequently monitor the site. It would appear that the majority of users are non-members so how far we should subsidise the facility beyond just providing information about the Association is a subject that requires discussion at the AGM. (Also we don't know how many of our members are on e-mail)
NEW MEMBERS
We extend a very warm welcome to the following:-
Peter Bassett R38CC PENTRISHA Spain
Mike Silverman R31 JEKAPA Bradwell
John & Simone R32 CELTIC RIVAL Ardglass Beach
Bryan Thurlow R31 RESTLESS Spain
Isobel Porter R36 Ch'i-Lin Hamble
Andy Anderson R32 VAVRONA Whitby
Brian Day Fareham
Tony McMahon R38 CIRRIPEDIA Dun Laoghaire
Rachel Chandler R38 LYNN RIVAL Lefkas
Paul Sweeney R38 ENSHALLAH Dublin
Bart & Margriet R32 BLAUWE DAME Huizen Brink
REGIONAL NEWS ROUND UP
SOUTH COAST - Vice President ANDREW GARDENER R32 St. BRIGID
The weather was once again kind to the Association and a good time was had by all. Attendance was down on last year but this may have been a reflection of the wet Spring, with boatyards' hard standing still well occupied. 16 boats and 36 people. Still an excellent turnout and thanks to Andrew and Tania and their numerous helpers.
Brian and Ali Wallis sailed R38 RESOLUTION back from the Chesapeake with stops at Bermuda, and the Azores, to Falmouth. They reported excellent "routing" by "Herb" on the SW radio. They kept south between Bermuda and the Azores and so avoided the 50 knot winds further north.
WEST COAST AND IRELAND - Vice President TAM HAZAN R34 EUGE
The Group's Meet was held on Saturday 25th June at the Holyhead Marina. It is reliably reported that this venue actually exists and 5 RIVALS and crew came to the Meet and 5 people came by car. Tam had arranged a interesting talk on SAR and there was plenty of socialising between boats besides a large party on R34 EUGE.
Sunday saw 20 knot winds and an interesting match race between two of the boats was held around the bay. (It would be interesting to know more details)
Sadly Keith Siddall (R38 ISLAND DAWN) died suddenly aboard his previous boat in Gibraltar. Our sympathies go to Margaret and his family. Keith had only just bought R38 ISLAND DAWN from Stan Roberts.
SCOTLAND - Vice President LES MORISON R32 MEERKAT
Due to Les' work he had to hand over to Stuart Wilson as master of ceremonies for the Scottish Annual Dinner. Jack and Maureen Meredith were the guests for the evening and received a presentation of a quaich and flowers for their hard work as the previous V.P. for some years. Bill McLaren (RB40 VAGRANT of CLYDE) gave a talk on their crossing of the Atlantic via Faeroes, Iceland, Labrador to Newfoundland. Twenty members and guests came to the dinner at the Stirling Highland Hotel. It was particulaly good to see Brian and Sandra Conn who came over from Northern Ireland for the Dinner.
The Scottish Summer Meet and Dinner was held at the Stone field Castle Hotel near Tarbert Loch Fyne on 11th August. Unfortunately there were only 7 guests and no boats due to bad weather. They enjoyed an excellent meal in a beautiful dining room with an undisturbed view of incessant rain.
Many thanks to Les for organising events he has been unable to take part in, and to Les Wilson for standing in.
EAST COAST - Vice President ERIC ORME R34 ALIZ MOTTE
The summer Meet was held at Brightlingsea and a magnificent dinner was had at the Colne Yacht Club. Boats attending were R41 SWELL-a-RIVAL, R36 FONTYN, R34 ALIZ MOTTE, and R32 JEKAPA.
Light winds made for gentle and steady passages to the venue with the honour for the furthest distance going to FONTEYN who sailed from Faversham, Kent. Rather fresher winds with showers set in for the return trip.
It is hoped to hold a dinner sometime in the winter.
WEST COUNTY - Vice President Michael Smith R34 WILLIWAW
The first West Country Meet was held early in May at Salcombe on the visitor's pontoon. Eight boats and 24 people attended and the dinner at the Yacht Club was very good judging by the noise and the menu. God doesn't like Cornishmen as Saturday off Falmouth offered a flat calm that turned to an easterly F6 off Plymouth and Sunday provided a westerly F4/5 for the return! The crews from east of Start were very smug but for the rest it was uphill all the way.
Michael has arranged an autumn Meet on October 6th on the Yealm. Please contact Michael direct for details.
Thanks to Michael for getting this group off to such a good start.
BELGIUM - Vice President Robert Reyniers R36 MAROJA
Robert reports that the Annual Meeting took place in February at Wijnegem and that the next Meeting will be sometime in December. Members will receive a personal invitation from Robert. Otherwise he has nothing earth shattering to report, no circumnavigation, no shipwrecks, not even a new member. All is quiet for the moment in Belgium, as (almost) always!
OTHER NEWS OF BOATS
R34 WAIMANGU Malcolm Brown has voyaged further into the Mediterranium. After laying up in Sousaki at the eastern end of the Corinth canal he has been cruising the Kiklades and when last heard of he had cruised further north to the Sporades through the channel between the island of Evvoia and the mainland. Evidently this is one of the few areas of the Mediterranean where there are tides and the current goes through here at 8 knots.
RIVALS & GEAR FOR SALE
R36 SUNBIRD Launched 1991. Go anywhere fast cruiser. Bukh 20. Epoxied from new. Wheel steering. Furling headsail. Temporary inner forestay and storm jib. Tri-sail. Cruising chute. Sprayhood. Cockpit cover. Sun awning. VHF. Autohelm. Fluxgate compass. GPS. Weatherfax. Hydrovane steering. Teak deck. Teak interior joinery. Excellent condition, ready for immediate extensive cruising. Purpose made winter cradle. £69000 Contact Derek Pannell on Tel 01305 777576 (Weymouth) Mob. 07814041640
LAY-UP COVER. Full winter/lay-up cover for a RIVAL 36 as supplied by Rival Yachts. As new condition. £300. Contact John Harkus on 01794 34004.
CHARTS WANTED
Charts of the Baltic and Gota canal are wanted to borrow or buy for next season. Contact David Jones on tel 01483 505140.