The Saltash riverfront is overshadowed by the two bridges spanning the River Tamar. Isambard Brunel’s train bridge, the Royal Albert Bridge was opened by Prince Albert on the 2 May 1859 and the road bridge which. when it opened in 1961, was the longest suspension bridge in the UK.  The South West Cruise was based this year at the aptly named Brunel Green. Negotiations with Cornwall Council had been protracted, but once the Property Services department had satisfied themselves that a proper risk assessment had been completed and the public liability insurance arranged, they couldn’t have been more cooperative and the facility was perfect with an adjacent slip for easy launch and recovery.

Eight Wanderers assembled on Saturday morning for the briefing, joined by our wonderful Drascombe regulars, Janet and Anthony Byrde. Our destination was the Cothele Quay which is situated below the woods that surround the medieval manor house of Cotehele owned by the National Trust. Unaltered since the last century, the stone quay and slate buildings were to provide a great lunch stop. After the usual social interchanges (which lasted about forty five minutes!!), we finally departed Brunel Green at about 11.15am and with a flooding tide made good progress up past Cargreen on the Cornwall bank and then Weir Quay on the Devon side. The forecast was a force 4 but in reality it was a 2/3 all day. The river starts its gentle meander from the point known as North Hooe, then around the South Hooe reed beds, past Hallon Quay and on up to Cothele. In all a distance of some nine miles. The flotilla as usual, sought out for themselves and their dinghies the best spots, whilst a number of onlookers clearly enjoyed the spectacle of some deft handling skills as we moored the boats and then tried to appear nimble as we climbed vertical ladders to reach the safety of the grassy quayside where the sandwiches and flasks were unpacked.  The Shamrock, a 57ft ketch-rigged vessel built in 1899 sat in her mud berth alongside us as a reminder of the river’s industrial past when the Devon Great Consols mineworkings at upstream Morwhellham, were once the richest copper ore seams in the world.

As the tide turned, we loosed our lines and headed back towards Weir Quay, where Jill Davies’ cream tea had been unloaded from the Drascombe and set up on the foreshore. Brigitte was fortified by a hot cup of tea having slid off the foredeck of her Wanderer in to a cocktail of thick mud and water in a brave but unsuccessful attempt to avert a capsize, whilst Niall’s shoes were left buried for prosperity in the all pervasive sludge. Not a great place to stop but the West Country cruisers can’t go without their cream teas!!

We reconvened at Saltash sailing club at 7.30pm for the evening meal. This was a truly memorable evening of steak pie and vegetables followed by apple crumble. Our very own ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ competition commenced with nine acts competing for the coveted Westcountry swingers trophy!  There were no bounds to the versatility of our Class membership…...singing, dancing, oration and games. Endless amusement and jollity which was finally brought to an end by a sermon and blessing from Andy Peter, alias the Rev. Canon St Arting-Gunn. The competition was fierce but the new Trophy was finally awarded to Mike and Alison Hamilton for their extraordinary ‘Come Dancing’ performance.

Sunday was less than conducive for sailing, so everyone took off to various places of interest and convened again for the evening meal at the New Holland Inn, which provided an excellent carvery.

Monday was forecast to be blustery, verging on a force 5. In reality, the wind barely rose above a 2 and the sun came through to ease us gently up the River Lynher to St Germans Quay. It was an exquisite sail with stretches of the river where there was not a house to be seen. For me, the highlight was rounding the point known as ‘Dandy Hole’ and seeing Brunel’s wonderful viaduct in the distance over the River Tiddy, with St German’s sailing club and boat houses, all built in a bygone era, nestling on the foreshore with a terrace of picturesque cottages setting off the tranquil scene. The members of the Club made us most welcome although with the sunshine now well established, we again distributed our picnics generously outside along the grassy verge and watched the tide continue to flood in around the small boats that lay on the mud.  

All too soon it was time to retrace our steps. The wind had freshened a little for the beat up the reach to dandy Hole before the river turned NE and provided a reach all the way back to the Tamar.

A memorable weekend in all sorts of ways, but as usual a great opportunity to enjoy good company, pottering around our lovely West country estuaries in a very fine dinghy.  

My thanks to :

Brigitte & Jack Mann

Niall and Sue Doherty

Andy and Judy Peter

Graham & Wendy Davis

Philip & Jill Meadowcroft

David Guy,

Vicky King

Mike and Alison Hamilton

Jane & Derek Summers

Anthony and Janet Byrde

For making the weekend so enjoyable.

Report & Photos David & Jill Davies

South West Cruise Organisers