Our dinghy sail and camp at Cotehele, also known this year as “Never believe the weather forecast”
Weeks of baking hot weather and the promise of more of the same – plus wind – sounded almost too good to be true for the dinghy sailors 2-night camp upriver at Cotehele. And that did indeed prove to be the case, with rain turning up for two out of three days as well as a spell of thunder and lightening thrown in for good measure! But that didn’t get in the way of a very good time had by all.
Strong winds on the Sunday made for a challenging sail upriver with some unintentional swims, causing some temporary damage to one Vision, but the lure of the ice creams at Calstock kept the remaining five well-loaded dinghies tacking resolutely upriver to finally enjoy refreshments ashore before a faster trip back on the tide to our camp just downriver from Cotehele Quay.
Next day, despite much lighter winds and with the aid of paddles, support boat, and an extra outboard, the fleet made it up to Morwelham Quay to enjoy a pasty lunch plus refreshments from the Ship Inn before returning to camp for the traditional playing in the mud – the highlight of the weekend.
The evening rounded off with a splendid camp fire, songs, and ‘s’mores’. We woke to steady rain on the final morning (despite the weather forecast sun symbols onscreen) and no wind, but the dory did a sterling job of towing everyone back to Weir Quay to disperse home for much needed showers and an epic amount of drying out wet and muddy kit.
This was our biggest camp ever, and the first one done without the ‘mothership’ of our camper van which made it rather more challenging. Although I’m the lead organiser for camp, I wanted to say a great many thank yous to everyone for pitching in, in true Weir Quay teamwork fashion, and making it such a fantastic event.
To Steve, particularly for the enormous amount of work in preparing all the boats and sailing equipment. (and thanks to the behind the scenes Tuesday Fettling team too).
Rosie, our dinghy officer, for organising everyone on and off the water with unfailing good humour, fun & games. And to Sophie, our previous dinghy officer (who deserves a special mention, with her crew of Belle and Ariana, for getting up to Morwellham and back under their own steam (or rather, paddles). I hope your arms have recovered.
Chris, for support boating throughout, helping me with so much of the prep and clearing up, and putting up with my complaints about the admin curveballs that cropped up this year! Ben W, thanks for your help on support on Sunday.
Alex, thank you for getting all the insurance sorted in time and all the finance work.
To the ‘porters’ who drove the mountain of kit round to camp, back again, whisked away the rubbish and returned everything to its home: camp would not be able to happen without you: Benedict, Mary, Julia, Ben Watt, Alex. Judy. I hope there’s not too much mud and grass left in your vehicles….. A special thank you to Rob for cheerfully dealing with the unsavoury task of shifting the BBQ (hope the smell eventually clears from your car….) and thanks to Rob and Judy for using your van as the new ‘mothership’ and sheltering so many of the group on the soggy last day. I’m glad we didn’t have to push it off the site this time after last year’s mud fest! Thanks to Mary, for shopping for emergency supplies including the delicious cakes that perked everyone up at the finish.
Alan, for supplying the pasties from Tavistock, and for making an emergency search for camping stove gas when my order didn’t arrive. We raise our mugs of tea to you! To everyone who chipped in with the massive amount of work in feeding 30 hungry mouths especially the BBQ ‘team’ – Alex, Martin, Tom, Isobel, Phil – who cooked the mountain of food with great efficiency. Martin, I will never wrap my BBQ bananas in foil again! And to all the preppers and servers: Judy, Julia, Michelle, Isobel – it was so wonderful to return from our upriver expedition, cold and wet with the extra jeopardy of thunder and lightning, to find ready-prepared hot drinks and snacks waiting for us.
To all the younger campers for pitching in with camp life and looking after each other. Older juniors Ralph, Tom H, Belle,, Ariana, and Harry, particular thanks for being so helpful and responsible.
Camp this year was almost accident free (whew!) apart from a muddy eye quickly dealt with by Michelle. While all us organisers hold RYA First Aid certificates, I just wanted to say that it is a massive weight off my shoulders to have so many professional medics in our midst like Mary, Michelle, and Phil, who have indeed been called on at past events!
Thanks everyone!
Sue Coomber
Weir Quay Sailing Club 