South West Region's rally programme for 2021

 All South West DCA Rallies planned for 2020 had to be cancelled, so for 2021 the same locations are proposed but with dates adjusted to suit this year’s tide times. We have avoided scheduling rallies earlier than June to reduce the risk of further cancellations due to Covid.   Members are welcome to use the  forum to propose additional ‘pop up’ rallies at any time.
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Generally we specify locations where we will meet on the Saturday evening of the rally weekend, generally with a pub close by. The slipways mentioned below are suggestions only, participants choose their own starting points depending on weather conditions and how far they wish to sail. Also, you don’t have to arrive by boat, we often have members travelling by land to join us at the pub near the rally location on Saturday evening.  It is not essential to contact the coordinator before attending a rally but it is a good idea to do so if you would like to make an informal arrangement to sail to the rally in company with other members or if the weather looks to be unfavourable and you wish to know whether others have decided to cancel or modify their plans.

Contact details of rally coordinators can be found in the Journal and in the Forum South West section.

The HW predictions given below are for the rally venues on the Saturday evening of the Rally weekends and are BST. 
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12/13 June - River Exe at Turf Lock - Grid Ref. SX 965 860 - HW 20:57  
The Turf hotel at Turf Lock is one of very few pubs in the UK to which there is no vehicle access - if you come by car you can park in the car park about 2/3 mile to the north (EX6 8EE) and walk to the pub along the towpath of the Exeter Canal.  Arriving by boat there is a pontoon at the pub which is handy to tie up to while waiting for the tide to come in but for an overnight stop we have generally moved from the pontoon to let our boats ground in or near the reeds alongside the pub grounds upstream from the pontoon. The Turf Hotel allows camping in their grounds for a modest fee, so this is one rally you can attend with a boat which does not have overnight accommodation.

Garden of Turf Hotel - available for camping with small tents

Mike Arstall, our co-ordinator for this rally, is a member of Starcross Yacht Club (EX6 8JJ) and can arrange for DCA members to launch at the club – contact Mike (details below) to arrange access through the gate at the club entrance.
There is an all tide public slipway at Exmouth seafront, the Mamhead Slipway and also a slipway at the Exmouth recreation ground which is usable only towards HW. On the west side of the estuary, under the railway bridge at Dawlish Warren and beyond the funfair, there is a slipway that goes onto sand so would need to launch near HW if not using a trolley.  Another option if the weather is suitable is to launch at Teignmouth and sail round to the Exe. The Polly Steps slipway is accessed through the commercial dock complex and is an attended all tide slipway with car and trailer parking, or there is free boat launching  off the hard beach at Gales Hill in Teignmouth.

​Coordinator – Mike Arstall

26/27 June – Polkerris (or Lerryn if weather is unsuitable for sea sailing) – Grid Ref. SX 093 521 – HW 19:47
Polkerris is a tiny harbour round Gribbin Head to the west of Fowey. It has some shelter from a single stone breakwater, a firm beach for landing from small craft and both a pub and cafe. Fowey is an obvious starting point for this destination. For launching at Fowey our members have generally used the Caffa Mill slipway at the north end of the town but Penmarlam on the other side of the estuary could be an alternative.   There is also a slipway for light craft at Polkerris itself.
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If we spend Saturday night at Polkerris then, given suitable weather, there would be a possibility to  visit Mevagissey before returning to Fowey on Sunday afternoon/evening. 

Polkerris Beach

Sailing to or from Polkerris means sailing in St Austell Bay and around Gribbin Head so this venue would only be suitable if the weather is benign.  If in doubt contact the coordinator – our coordinators cannot give advice as to whether or not to go sailing but they may be able to tell you if other members have decided on an alternative venue.   If the weather is unsuitable for sea sailing,    Lerryn would be an alternative. Lerryn is at the head of the Lerryn River which branches off the Fowey River about 3 miles above Fowey. Dinghies can reach Lerryn about an hour and a half before HW and can moor then dry out close to the bank near the Ship Inn on the southern side of the creek.
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Coordinator – David Platten 

Boscawen Park, Truro

10/11 July – Truro – Grid Ref. SW 830 445 – HW 18:44   
​Coming up river to Truro, our rally venue is on the east side of Truro river, alongside Boscawen Park and close to the ‘Café in the Park’.   It is possible to land on firm level ground towards HW and from there it is a bit under a mile to walk into the centre of Truro city where there is a selection of places to eat.  If arriving by road meet us on the foreshore near the Café in the Park  or contact our Coordinator to find out which pub we have chosen.  Last time    we dined    at Walkers Fish Restaurant.    The Café in the Park may possibly be open for breakfast.  
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 There is a public slipway at Boscawen Park near to the normally open flood barrier across the river, but I have little information about this slipway.  A good option for fairly light craft that can be man-handled is to launch off Loe beach, Feock; this is possible at all tide states. Alternatively the slipway that most of our members seem to use when visiting these waters is at Mylor, the slipway is free but visit the boatyard office to pay for car and trailer parking.   

Heading up river towards Truro you will pass the King Harry Ferry and close to the ferry the National Trust have a pontoon on the west side where you can tie up for a pleasant stroll up to the Trelissick house and gardens with associated tea shop.
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Coordinator – Alastair Law ​

7/8 August – Kingsmill Creek, off the Tamar – Grid Ref. SX 419 612 – HW 18:09
​Kingsmill creek branches off the west side of the Tamar about a mile above the bridges at Saltash. About a mile and a half up this winding creek you come to Moditonham Quay, an old stone built quay on the west side of the creek. Dry out on firm level ground just by the quay on the downstream side.    The Rising Sun pub is about a 15 minute walk along country lanes but it does not serve food. There is a small area of public space above the quay where I think we could use small portable barbeques with care not to spoil the mown grass, or eat food prepared on board, then we would likely head for the Rising Sun.  

The almost all tide slipways at Saltash are the nearest launching place to Kingsmill Creek but there are other good free of charge public slipways in the Plymouth area, for example at Mountbatten, as well as a number of marinas that offer a boat launch facility.

​Coordinator – John Lidstone

18/19 September – Stoke Gabriel – Grid Ref. SX 847 567 – HW 17:52   
Steve Goodchild is a member of the Stoke Gabriel Boating Association and has kindly arranged for us to launch at this club’s all tide slipway and to use their facilities which include a pontoon and a newly built clubhouse on land that juts out into the river Dart on the western side of the entrance to Stoke Gabriel creek.  There are two pubs in Stoke Gabriel and a tea shop down on the waterside. The tide would suit excursions down river to Dartmouth and/or Kingswear. 

Incidentally, the Stoke Gabriel Boating Association has more than 50 club owned boats available for use by its members, so it’s an association worth considering if you would like to go boating but don’t have a boat .
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Coordinator – Steve Goodchild ​​

Stoke Gabrial creek © M. Harpur