You’ll never get a Wanderer through that gap! Oh yes we will…….I’ve just measured it. The gap in question was between a concrete post and an intractable bollard, which led out of Coronation Park, Dartmouth to a slip, shared with the higher ferry.

Dartmouth lacks any dinghy friendly visitors’ facilities and this corner of the Park has to be diplomatically negotiated with South Hams District Council, whose resident Park manager runs a coffee bar. Since it was July and his peak earning season, he had decided to take some holiday, so the West Country cruisers were left to their own devices! Rules are rules however and one, which was non-negotiable, was that cars had to be removed from the Park during the day. Since Dartmouth welcomes its holiday makers by restricting parking to a maximum of two hours, this involved a carefully planned Wanderer “park and ride” facility, which with a combination of Russ & Liz Sharp’s eight seater and Philip & Jill Meadowcroft’s reserved parking in the Marine Hotel, was executed with great precision. The day was already going well.

No fewer than thirteen Wanderers and Anthony and Janet’s Drascombe launched that morning in spite of the “variable” forecast. Under a flooding tide and reasonable winds the fleet sailed past Britannia College’s boatyards, through the narrows south of Dittisham and then into the open reach towards Stoke Gabriel and Bow Creek. The weather was slightly “disappointing” for July so the fleet sought shelter on a beach overhung with branches which offered some respite from the cold and penetrating rain. Lunch appeared from lockers and under foredecks, with the exception of Bob and Karin Northover who had made a very early start from their home in Bath. Ignoring the inclement weather, they continued up Bow Creek to Tuckenhay where the Maltsters Arms offered them an excellent pub meal in very hospitable and warm surroundings.

Cream teas are at a premium on this stretch of the Dart and so Jill Davies had spent the previous week slavishly creating forty, special West Country scones. These had been deposited earlier with home made jam and clotted cream at Ferry House, previously the home of Ian and Betty Proctor. They would have been delighted that their home was host to such a gathering. Their sons, Keith and Roger welcomed us with some excellent and warming hospitality and after devouring tea, the clouds took their cue and dispersed. The fleet headed back towards Dartmouth on the falling tide, a good breeze and yes, even some sunshine!

The evening meal at the Floating Bridge Inn was served by a most excellent crew of waitresses, whose lively banter and obvious delight at having an extra 36 covers, made it a special celebration. We were allocated the Terr..arse, overlooking the river, as described by our landlady, Gay Brent. Toby Elliot and Graham Davis were both celebrating birthdays, so Joanna Byrde, ex Falmouth art college supremo, was commissioned to provide an appropriate cartoon to mark the occasion, rounded off with a Wanderer type version of “Happy Birthday”.

The Brixham coastguard warned of high winds on Sunday which kept us in the River. We sailed down to the mouth, enjoyed the spectacle of Dartmouth Castle, before returning to Dittisham where we landed for lunch. The pub and the café provide excellent refreshments. As always, the weekend was too short and with the homeward journeys foremost in everybody’s mind, the fleet returned to squeeze through the gap back into the Park. The cars were rescued from the outlying lanes of Dartmouth and the West Country cruise was over for another year. My thanks to Toby and Julie Elliot (W462) Steve and Barbara Harvey (W571) Geoff and Marion Hall (W98) Chris and Theresa Partington (W463) John Hobbs and Anne Bliss (W1505), John Carter (W772) Graham and Wendy Davis (W1527) Derek and Jane Summers (W197) Liz and Russ Sharp (W282) Philip and Jill Meadowcroft, Vicky and Martin King (W940) and Bob and Karin Northover (W183), our wonderful supporters, Anthony, Janet and Joanna Byrde in their Drascombe with Colin and Margaret. I hope to see you all again next year in Plymouth where I can promise a cream tea in Lord Edgecumbe’s Orangery!

David Davies (W318)