It’s got to be something really special to tempt us to take the Wanderer on a round trip of some 720 miles! The WCOA Lake District Cruise weekend proved to have just that ‘special’ quality.

Organised by Ken Dickinson for the weekend of September 15/16^th the cruise was based on the ‘Jewel of the Lakes’ – Derwent Water using the facilities of Nichol End Marina at Portinscale, close to Keswick.

We traveled up on the Friday, having previously booked a self catering apartment located at Derwentwater Marina, a ‘rival’ establishment just a little distance from Nichol End. We were to spend the following week in the Lakes and thought this would make an ideal waterside base – it proved a sound decision on our part.

We arrived after a seven hour uneventful journey and deposited W863 in the dinghy park. Our accommodation was fine and offered excellent views of lake and fell and Nichol End marina could be seen a little way round the lake. We decided to rig the boat in the morning and sail it round to meet Ken, Mary and the other Wanderers for the 10am meeting. A welcome dinner with fine views across the lake was enjoyed in the marina restaurant/bar before ‘hitting the sack’.

Saturday was dry, a little overcast and windy with the marina’s flag testament to the northerly F4/5. We rigged the boat, slid it down the concrete slip and stepped aboard from the pontoon – luxury! Just 4 mins motoring and we were moored up at Nichol End and making ourselves known to Ken and the others.

Despite much early interest in this cruise there turned out to be only four boats in attendance as:- Ken and Mary Dickinson in W1131, Rosemary and Alan Garfitt with Anna in W004, Dave Drewery and Ed Morris in W1438 and ourselves Terry Pullen and Judy Porter in W863.

With the exception of Ed and Dave all decided to reef ashore. Following a short briefing from Ken the three remaining boats joined us afloat and at about 11:15 we all headed out onto the lake to explore to the southern end with possible lunch on one of the tree covered islands that seeming 'float' on the lake. As we drew further from shore so the true strength of the northerly winds became ever more apparent! We were in for a bumpy and wet sail. The decision to reef ashore had proven sound seamanship.

As we settled down in the boat and got used to sailing mostly with only reefed main we couldn’t help noticing that Ed and Dave were really ‘going for it’ in their un-reefed boat. Whoops or exhilaration could be heard from them as they took full advantage of yet another F6 gust and off they would shoot on the plane rapidly becoming but a white speck against the dark backdrop of the Borrowdale fells. Clearly Dave and Ed considered that reefing was for ‘southern whimps’ J

As the three reefed boats emerged from the protection of St Herbert’s Island a particularly vicious and sustained F6 gust hit. It was one of those gusts where you just let go of everything and lay quivering in the bottom of the boat! As soon as it had passed we three headed for the shelter of the windward shoreline and left Ed and Dave still whooping with delight planing up and down the lake – the masochistic ‘fools’! However before we could reach the relative calmer waters the wind managed to inflict some damage to W004 and W1131! Ken’s stainless steel fitment attaching jib clew to sheets was bent open and parted company with the jib! Rosemary and Alan’s flotation pad was ripped from it’s sail pocket and sent cart wheeling across the lake! More whoops from Ed and Dave as ‘cavalry like’ they rode yet another gust and retrieved the pad some couple of hundred meters away – remarkable sailing and eyesight!

After about a couple of hours or ‘white knuckle’ sailing we all [even Ed & Dave!] decided that enough was enough and edged our way back to the marina for an ‘early bath’. We all departed to entertain ourselves for the afternoon before returning at 17:30 to the marina’s compact restaurant for an excellent three course meal with wine. You can guess the main topic for after dinner discussion! As we departed we were treated to a promise of better weather for Sunday by a beautiful red sunset on the northern Skiddaw peak and fells.

The chat and night-caps was continued at Ken and Mary’s beautiful 1864 Victorian hotel nestling at the foot of Skiddaw, where we had been provided with exclusive use of our own ‘Syndicate Room’. We listened to Anna’s stories of life back on Christmas Island and the open water sailing and navigation of the traditional dug-out canoes. All this put our 6 mile navigation of Derwent Water into perspective!!

The weather was much improved for Sunday. The wind had dropped off to F3/4 with very few gusts. The cloud had broken to give sustained periods of very warm sunshine and the surrounding scenery was ‘out of this world’.

We were launched by 11:00 and proceeded down the lake. In stark contrast to Saturday, when we had the lake much to ourselves, today we shared the lake with some local sailors and canoeists also out to enjoy the improved conditions. Glorious sailing was had by all and a lunch and sun bathing stop was made around noon in a sheltered bay at the southern end of the lake. This spot was close to where the Cumbrian Way long distance footpath passes the lake and many walkers sauntered by during our extended stay in the sun.

Eventually we prized ourselves away and commenced the sail back to Nichol End. We decided on the way back to explore, in true ‘Swallow & Amazons’ fashion one of the lovely islands and made landfall on the north spit of St Herbert’s Island. A brief exploration disclosed that this island was obviously a favourite barbecue spot with fallen trees handily lying on a small grassy strip near the green slate shingled beach – an idyllic location.

Arrival back at Nichol End was about 16:00 and after thanking Ken and Mary and exchanging farewells with the others we sailed W863 back the short distance to our base from where we spent a further five days of sailing, walking and sight seeing in this truly relaxing and beautiful area. Many thanks to Ken for organising the weekend and we hope to see more Wanderers at next year’s Lake District Cruise [Windermere perhaps?].