The
Dinghy
Cruising
Association
DCA South West Area Rallies for 2010
15/16 May - Topsham. HW 19:41
The plan for Saturday evening is to head up the River Exe (not up the canal that runs almost alongside the river!) to pull in for the night at a point less than 100m from a pub that is adjacent to Double Locks, these locks being on the canal, not the river. The grid reference is SX 933902. I havent been there myself, but I understand from those with local knowledge that it is feasible. Launching is possible at Mamhead Slip, Exmouth over about three quarters of the tidal range, or from the recreation ground at Exmouth at near HW. However, when we have held rallies on the Exe in the past, most members have decided to make a longer trip of it by launching further away, for example at Teighnmouth where there are a couple of slipways that can be used at all but the very bottom of the tide.
31 July/ 1 Aug - Newton Ferrers. HW 21:43
We tried a DCA rally on the Yealm Estuary last summer and that was much enjoyed, so if the weather is reasonable we will repeat this. It is possible to launch at HW at Noss Mayo on the Yealm (although parking can be very difficult), but it makes a nice weekend sail to start from the Plymouth area and sail out through Plymouth Sound and a few miles along the coast, passing the Mewstone before turning into the spectacular entrance to the Yealm. There are several good public slipways in the Plymouth area, for example at Mountbatten Centre and a little way up the Tamar at Saltash. There are also slipways at all the main marinas in the area. However, if it is windy, it could be a difficult sail from Plymouth Sound to the Yealm, so if the weather looks uncertain I suggest you get in contact by phone and we will see if we can do a rally up the Tamar instead, probably starting from Saltash. Assuming that we do sail to the Yealm, I suggest that we all rendezvous at around 18:00 at Newton Ferrers, near the harbour master's pontoon. Those who do not want to cook on board can than get something to eat in Newton Ferrers or Noss Mayo, then later in the evening we would head up the estuary on the still rising tide to find a quiet spot to beach or anchor for the night - there are several nice little beaches where one could land by the woods at near high water.
25/26 September River Dart - Tuckenhay. HW 19:53
By popular request, we are returning to the Dart. This time we plan to spend Saturday evening/night up Tuckenhay creek, which is well up the estuary on the west side. The village and pub are at the head of the drying creek. The nearest slipway is only a couple of miles away at Stoke Gabriel, but this is only useable about an hour and a half each side of high water. There are also slipways at Steamer Quay Road Totnes, at Dittisham, and at the upper ferry, Dartmouth, or you could sail from another river if the weather is good.
Notes:
We have left the whole of June clear of South West Area Rallies since we understand that a Joan Abrams Memorial Rally will be held in the west country during that month - see elsewhere for details.
HW times are all Plymouth times, BST, for the Saturday afternoon/evening of the rally weekends. We find that it generally helps to have high water during the evening of the Saturday, so that boats can be hauled up on a beach to spend most of the night dried out, then refloat in the morning.
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