Newsl 02-2002

What a marvelous summer! No rain for weeks at a time, sunshine every day, water temperature 22 degrees. Where were we? In the Baltic! Admittedly it was the best summer the area had for 101 years so weren’t we lucky?

I left southern Denmark in May and sailed north to Gothenborg in moderate weather with Brian and Ali Wallis for crew. David Ashe joined me for the trip up the Trollhaten Canal to Lake Vannern. This is a very large lake some 60 nm across with plenty of rocky passages and anchorages. We found Sweden properly in the small harbour beside the Lacko Slott where we ran aground twice. Once on a sandbank and again, more comprehensively, on an isolated rock next to the pontoon, which required a pull on the masthead line to get us off. (We met a Dutch boat much later that had copied our exploit!) We also met the alternative population of Scandinavia i.e. MOSQUITOS. David and I defended ourselves for a miserable night ending up surrounded by dead bodies, but nursing our itches and swellings. David left at Mariestad, a port adjacent to the Gota Canal entrance and Barbara joined ship.

Because we were so early in the season we had to pay a premium to go through the canal in a convoy. There are 58 locks and we were doing about 15 to 20 a day with two rest days in Lake Vattern, so the passage took six days in all. This passage across Sweden enabled R38 CALICO MARTLET to break her own altitude record by reaching 91.8 m above sea level.

We then sailed in easy stages, north, through the Stockholm Archipelago to the Aaland Islands and Marieheim. Along the Finnish coast we began to feel we’d seen enough pine trees but they kept on coming as did the hundreds of islands. In Helsinki we were joined by some friends for the trip through the Saimaa Canal to the Saimaa Lakes. This involves passing through a corner of Russia and a bit of bureaucracy. Outside Viborg we passed under some high Russian bridges which were in a very bad state of repair. The Canal itself (run by the Finns) was very modern with extremely gentle locks even though the rise in some cases was 15 m.

We had hoped to go to the world famous opera at Savonlinna but tickets had sold out in February, so we just used the castle as a turn round point in our exploration of this extensive lake system. Savonlinna is 60 nm from canal. By now the weather was really getting into its stride with midday temperature at 35 degrees and the water temperature at 22 degrees. The anchorages in the lakes were idyllic and we were swimming twice a day to keep cool.

Passing back through the canal seemed less of a hassle and we meandered our way back along the south coast of Finland, taking a different route, where possible to our outward passage. By now we realised that our original plan to lay up again in Denmark was a bit counter productive if we wished to explore the Gulf of Bothnia next year so we decided to lay up in the Stockholm area.

We explored the Swedish coast just north of Stockholm and then proceeded inland to Stockholm itself. The yards between Stockholm and the sea were all full but we found a cooperatively owned marina at Slagsta, just west of the city that had plenty of room and more to the point was half the price of South Coast of England prices.

Our gearbox had by now developed a considerable oil leak so it was just as well we weren’t sailing back to Denmark.

RIVAL ROUND-UP 2003 A message from Jane Ashe

Now is the time to write that article that you have always been meaning to: to share your adventures and experiences with fellow Rival Owners. Last year, we had lots of new contributors as well as some familiar friends, and we are looking forward to collecting your material again this year. Wendy Tedd, the Editor, and I are ready NOW for the next Rival Round-up and we need lots of articles to make the journal as full and fascinating as usual. Short trips are as welcome as ocean crossings.

We ask you to keep within about 3500 words, unless it was a very long trip, and try to include a small map if applicable, and one or two of your best photos or drawings. We print everything in black and white, so if you’re choosing colour photos, try to pick those with more contrast of light and dark tones.

Please send your contributions on floppy disc as well as on paper, if possible, preferably in Word, to me, Jane Ashe, at Penhale Cottage, Shoe Lane, Upham, Southampton, SO32 1JJ, or by e-mail to me at jane#ashe396.fsnet.co.uk as soon as possible, hopefully before 5^th November and definitely before 1^st December. Ring me if you need any more details: 01489 860396.

Terry Low			R34  ROAM			Cowes
David & Ruth Clayton		R38 ISLAY DREAMER		Glasgow
Robin Hunter-Coddington		R32 AYTON SERENADE		Gosport
Samantha Steele & Margaret Campbell	R38 RESOLUTION of RHU		Gosport
Adrian Cross			R31 GENTOO of ANTARTICA	Cowes
David Foreman			R41 TUESDAY			Orford
Roger & Sally Chisholm		R34  EUGE			Port Dinorwic
Andrew Arthur			R36  ROSANDA OF BIRDHAM	Chichester

Inflatable sea kayaks featured in two articles in the Rival Round-up this year. Klaus and Carol Wernsdorf (R32 LINOSA) in British Columbia and Ken Scaife (R38 RAIN GOOSE) in Scotland all ventured forth in them. Barbara was particularly taken with the concept and we wrote to Ken asking him to put something together for the Newsletter. Here is his reply that starts with the bad news and finishes with an encouraging offer.

As to inflatable kayaks, firstly they have holes in the bottom and are wet. Gear has to be at least neoprene shorts and, usually, waterproof trousers and wet boots as well. Dry cags are also advisable, but the breathable ones are very useful as an alternative to oilskins on board. These craft are very stable but also relatively slow, two to three knots to a proper sea kayak’s four. If that doesn’t put you off, they are also great fun, especially in surf. I am not expert in all the different types. A lot of new ones seem to have appeared this summer. Basically there are two sorts, the light plastic ones on which kids get blown out to sea, and those made of dinghy material, often by the same manufacturers. These are pretty tough and will certainly take rough rocky landings better than you will. I would not touch the open, Canadian, single-bladed paddle type. Ours is an expensive Zodiac single. It weighs about half the weight of our very small inflatable and occupies about half the locker space. The paddle splits in two and is easy to stow. We find the paddle a bit short and tend to use one of our own proper sea paddles. Otherwise it is great. You can take yourself off in total peace and quiet, seals are curious and will come right up to you, even sniffing at the paddle blades. If you feel confident it is quite possible to sit kids up to about six years old in front of the paddle blades. These canoes will get to places unreachable by dinghy. Prices range from £400 to less than £100 and you seem to get pretty much what you pay for. The London and Southampton Boat Shows are good places to look. Find the ‘Nucleus’ stand, talk to Dominic and see if they can do you one cheaper. The upper end will tackle rocky rivers, those at the bottom being only fit for flat water. Anyone seriously interested should write to the BCU at Adbolton Lane, West Bridgeford, Nottingham NG2 5AS for the address of their local club. Canoe clubs are cheap, it’s good fun and will keep you wet in the winter whilst the boat is laid up. Alternatively, book into our B&B or self-catering at Loch Melfort and I’ll teach you for free.’ Barbara thinks it sounds wonderful, except for all that wet!

The web site continues to progress apace with nearly 3000 hits to date. There seems to be plenty of interest in the goings on of the various groups with the Meets being posted and reported on. The pictures show everyone enjoying themselves. The technical Forum shows 18 discussion points to date but I am sure this will multiply as owners get into the winter maintenance problems.

The FOR SALE and WANTED notices have been added to this Letter intact. It would be helpful if advertisers on the web added their telephone numbers and/or addresses to reach a wider audience. Incidentally out of the nine for sale notices three are by non members.

On the positive side we have had three application forms that have been downloaded from the Internet.

Les was unable to arrange another venue for the Scottish Summer Meet, so once again Tarbert Lock Fynne played host. Three RIVALSs were present R34 MEERKAT, R38 CHERRY RIPE and R32 SAPPHIRE. Former area VP Jack Meredith came along in his Swan . The weather on the Saturday was perfect and a little informal competitive sailing was indulged in. However the return was in various densities of rain with the wind dead on the nose. Les wishes to thank all those who responded to his invitation but were unable to come.

The Folly Meet in May was, as usual, a resounding success with 13 boats and 45 people. It was particularly nice to welcome three new members. One new member swelled the numbers with four children and a dog. A hot and cold buffet was served and the wine and beer flowed well. The day started with a 30 kts westerly but this fortunately moderated for the evening festivities. Barry thanks his many helpers. Barry has arranged a dinner 12^th October at the Landers restaurant adjacent to the</SPAN> Haslar Marina at Gosport. The meal will cost £15.50 pp, but the final numbers and menu selection must be in to him by 31^st September so there is no time for the usual form filling and you must contact him URGENTLY by telephone or email to make your reservation. He has already tried to contact as many people as possible who might have liked to come so probably you have already booked.

Eric arranged the Summer Meet at Shotley Marina on the Weekend of 8/9^th June. Boats attending were R34 ALIZ MOTTE, (Eric Orme) R41 SWELL-A-RIVAL (John and Marjorie Selby) and R32 JEKAPA (Mike Silverman). The crews had a superb meal at the Shipwreck restaurant (Eric recommends the fish). Boats going south on the Sunday wisely left early thus avoiding the stiff southerly that set during the afternoon.

Eric will be arranging a Winter Dinner, so watch this space and the Internet. However there will be no Meet next summer as Eric is taking ALIZ MOTTE south to the Med. Therefore if there is anyone who would like to take on this task, they are asked to contact Eric on the phone as above.

Autumn Meet at Salcombe. Mike has arranged a Meet on September 28^th, which will already have happened by the time you receive this letter. However I am sure that he will have contacted all possible interested participants. Full report in the next Newsletter.