OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - Next Annual General Meeting is at Colwall Village Hall - 2:30 p.m. on Saturday 14th January 2017
Full details on the AGM page
Abject apologies from Pugwash! Having (foolishly) promised to release newsletters after each cruise this year - a resounding silence from those who ventured North on the two week attempt to circumnavigate the North of Scotland, encompassing the Orkneys (in time for the Battle of Jutland memorial gathering) then via the Caledonian canal led me to believe that it never happened . . .
Suffice to say Lyn Ballard and company DID embark with two Westerly yachts from Alba Sailing at Dunstaffnage near Oban on 28th May. Problem was the prevailing Sou’ Westerlies were distinctly lacking, indeed, a high pressure system gave them great weather - for sunbathing!! Persistent North Easterlies meant either much motoring or tacking away to see how far they could get - they made it to Loch Gairloch before crossing The Minch and sailing down the Outer Hebrides before returning for a bimble around the island of Mull - where fouled anchors were recovered by judicious use of engines in full fore and aft mode - not before an offer of one brave crew member to dive over the side and try to free it (it was that good, the weather!)
Now - looking ahead to 2017 - many thanks to all who took note of Ian Rose’s plea for expressions of interest in his planned Shetland cruise - 27th May to 10th June - Ian now has chartered the two yachts for the period 27 May to 10 June. We embark Lerwick, crew change mid cruise (if any join for one week only) and disembark Kirkwall. The outline itinerary is to cruise Shetland waters in the first week then sail to Orkney in the second with, hopefully, some time in both Shetland and Orkney waters. All as conditions permit, of course. Provisional cruise fee is expected to be in the range £450 to £500/berth/week including victuals. There's the prospect of assisting the return of the Shetland yacht to Lerwick after the Penguin cruise. Just a notion at the moment, although it has been raised with Shetland Yachting.
Jonty was too slow in taking one pace swiftly backward when the committee asked for a volunteer to organise the Easter cruise to step forward . . .
So, Easter – 1 week from April 15th. 2 boats booked from our friends at Isle of Skye Yachts, one in reserve – the plan is a circumnavigation of the Islets Of Langerhans. (Off Port Pancreas - look that one up!) - we already have one firm crew member and two new members who are planning to join up!!
Please contact Jonty Pearce (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) if interested.
Lastly, for those that prefer to turn left when they reach Land’s End and cruise the warmer waters of the Med. Simon Morton has contacted the Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association (club we met whilst at the RYA Midlands conference - very similar to us in chartering yachts in parts foreign!) and they recommend the Croatian coastal cruising area from Trogir.
So - Simon plans for a Croatian cruise - to start from Trogir (20 mins from Split airport) - do a two week figure of eight (so can accommodate a changeover mid cruise) dates during school holidays, 26th August to 9th September - cost approx £490 per berth-week, visiting the Kornati Islands National Park, possible detour up the Krka River to Sibenik to seek out the impressive Krka Falls. On the second week, head south through the pine-clad Dalmatian islands of Solta, Brac, Hvar, and Korcula. Or sail down to the medieval city of Dubrovnik and back.
The marinas in Croatia offer some of the best facilities in the Mediterranean and there are laid moorings on most quays and mooring buoys in many locations.
Please contact Simon Morton (simonmorton8 “at”yahoo.co.uk) if interested.
After the committee have met on October 1st, we should be able to publish details and application forms for the 2017 cruises on offer as above - so your expressions of interest would be very much appreciated before October 1st please!
Meanwhile - this is Captain Pugwash signing off - international man of mystery