Friday’s weather forecast said the weekend would be wet and getting very windy. We tookthe maps so we could walk if sailing was going to be too unpleasant.

As we towed ‘Cotopaxi’ through Portinscale to Derwent marina, we were spotted from the window of the Farmer’s Arms. We joined Terry, Judy, John and Ann there later. The weekend was underway.

Saturday morning dawned still and sunny. There was just enough wind to blow us all very gently up the lake from the marina to a beach in the SW corner. There we sat with our sandwiches and sausages, still in sunshine.

In the afternoon the breeze increased a little and all 5 boats had a good sail to St Herbert’s Island where a local Wanderer joined us briefly. A few spots of rain on the way back to the marina slipway hardly justified wearing waterproofs all day. The wind then died again so completely that we mostly paddled home; we were able to run in our outboard a bit more.

The Farmer’s Arms once again provided excellent Cumberland Ale that evening; nine of us ate there together and were joined by Mark Evans’ whole family after the children had their meal.

On Sunday morning the forecast was once again warning of wet and windy weather, but the intrepid Wanderers were out on the Water again: the sun shone and we sailed down the eastern shore in a steady breeze to the same picnic spot.

After lunch the wind picked up to a force 4 and we ran back very quickly to the north end of the lake. Various sail combinations and points of sail were being used. Dave Drewery sailed single handed all day as Mark and family had had to go home early. In the morning he had the full rig up and then jib alone in the stronger afternoon winds. He made such good progress that we all tried just the jib, we were amazed how well the Wanderer sails to windward with no mainsail, turning early and much increasing the slow speed manoeuvrability of the boat – essential in the very shallow approaches to the marina.

We had an excellent weekend in good company, with good sailing in good weather. We’d thoroughly recommend Derwent Water as a cruising venue, there are three 2 bed apartments at the Marina, a good pub in Portinscale (walking distance) a 10mph speed limit on the lake so there are few wakes and washes to rock the boat and, of course, spectacular scenery. Just don’t believe the weathermen!

Participating boats:

Terry Pullen & Judy Porter           W1161

John and Ann Eakins                  W988

David & Margaret                        W1161

Mark Evans & Dave Drewery    W1438

Mike & Janet Brenton                  W1391

Janet Brenton Sept. 17th 2003