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North East Coast Rallies 2008.

The North East section of the Dinghy Cruising Association has been active since 2000. Your contacts are Ed Wingfield and Bill Jones. Cruising the NE Coast of England and across the border into Scotland takes you past some of the most beautiful coastline in the UK but it is not a coast to take liberties with. The sheltered harbour of Holy Island is a good introduction for people wanting to engage with Northumbria as a cruising area. Farther south, the region includes the currents and sandspits of the Humber Estuary, the Wash, and the Norfolk Coast.

 

Holy Island and the Farnes.
19-21 September 2008
(Some folk arrive earlier and/or leave later.)
This rally is suitable for the novice or the skipper with a young family as the launch area is directly into sheltered water. Experienced skippers will be happy to advise newcomers.
See Ed, Tim or Bill who will rustle up extra muscle for your launch/recovery if necessary. See them also to learn of the restricted Tern nesting sites.

The semi-sheltered expanses of Fenham Flats and Holy Island sands give plenty of estuarial-type sailing to tackle, or you can explore the fascinating LW channels. Sea dogs will sail the 7M coastal passage to the Farne Islands reserve archipelago.Harbour dues are £5 per week.
All of this is in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Non- sailors will find plenty of interesting things to do locally, eg. Bamburgh, Berwick on Tweed, Eyemouth.This year we've chosen a w/e with spring tides and a morning and evening HW (proven most convenient for both liveaboard and liveashore
skippers).
website http://www.tmtr.com/rally

We've gone for later in the year for better weather. The spring tides offer Holy Island circumnavigation possibilities. For experienced skippers we hope to include a night passage from Inner Farne (The Kettle anchorage) to Holy Island. The 7M passage has unlit rocks and shallows to negotiate. Navigation aids are represented by three local lighthouses and by generous lateral and cardinal buoyage. Chatton TV mast might also be useful. Holy Island harbour approach is a dog-leg marked by two sectored leading lines.

Night passage skippers will be reminded also to consider: adequate clothing, food, water and hot drinks. Should a decision be made to remain, then s/he must be self-sufficient, there is no landing or facilities on Inner Farne.

Another innovation is for liveaboards who might overnight in the most remote corner of Budle Bay. Here you are far from artificial light. A clear sky will give a fantastic starry night.Naturally, all Rally skippers will assume full responsibility for their boat and crew.

Rally Phone: 07813 106792. Rally Radio: vhf Ch MI (with a beach check to make sure we are all receiving both mobile and vhf). Overseas members might contact me that I may team them up with suitable boats.




ed_wingfield (AT) yahoo.co.uk