Sadly, the new van can’t have a towbar fitted and having sold the Freelander we can’t take ‘Cachalette’ to events in other parts of the country . . . however, at the end of this season we enjoyed sailing on Ullswater and the Norfolk Broads.

Arriving from Scotland in the campervan on Friday evening, we joined the Gaffers at Ullswater Yacht Club for the North West OGA Rally, starting on Saturday 23 August. The morning dawned with very light airs and sunshine. The plan was for a gentle sail down to Howtown for a lunchtime drink at the pub. The sail was certainly very gentle with plenty of rowing involved and auxiliary power for those with outboard or inboard engines available. A few took advantage of a tow from those with engines. Bev cycled down the quiet road to join the sailors with Sarah and Dee while Steve hired one of the Gafflings to sail down. The day was rounded off with a barbecue at the Clubhouse and careful scanning of various weather forecasts to see whether a sail all the way to Glenridding may be an option for Sunday. 

On Sunday Yvonne crewed with Steve for the sail to Glenridding and back. Bev had researched a bike ride round the lake, but this involves a huge climb over rough terrain. Instead she joined Alasdair and Chris in the safety boat with her camera. The outward leg took just over three hours, tacking down in beautiful sunshine. After a short rest ashore at Glenridding, the fleet returned to the Yacht Club enjoying a wonderful sail with the wind behind taking just two hours. There was a quick turnaround before catching a fleet of taxis to Tirril for an excellent meal at the Queens Head. Bank Holiday Monday 25 August was the Gaffling Championship and we were both keen to take part but not sail together! Yvonne crewed with Steve and Bev crewed with PTK. There were three sets of heats followed by a final for all six boats – drawn by lot as to which vessel you sailed. The racing was very competitive. Bev & PTK won! Sadly, Steve & Yvonne capsized – after winning their heat really well. After a shower and change of clothes for Steve and packing away at the Yacht Club, we all bade our farewells.

On 5 September, we met up with the Gaffers again at Bureside Holiday Park, Oby, near Thurne on the Norfolk Broads. We joined the circle of vans and walked down for welcome drinks and nibbles aboard the wherry, ‘Albion’. The oldest surviving wherry still working on the Broads, ‘Albion’ was built in 1898 and now carries a cargo of people enjoying a day out rather than delivering coal from Lowestoft to Bungay. After a briefing from skipper Mick, we set sail on the wherry. Everyone was encouraged to help with the helm, hoisting/lowering the sail and generally enjoy the passage. The sail is enormous, and is awaiting a new ‘bonnet’ which would add a huge amount to the sail area. It’s hoisted and lowered with hand-cranked winches and just one sheet with some huge blocks. She has no inboard auxiliary engine but an outboard in the tender to assist when tacking and gybing. After returning to the campsite, everyone adjourned to the Lion Inn, Thurne for supper. The wind was much stronger on Sunday morning and Steve decided on a bike-ride. The wherry was doing two trips as most people didn’t want to take dinghies out in the high winds. After pottering around the campsite for the morning Bev enjoyed a very different afternoon sail, fully reefed but still in bright sunshine.