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SAIL CALEDONIA – The Highland Scotland Raid

27th May – 3rd June 2017

Coast to Coast Adventure through the Great Glen & Caledonian Canal!

Fort William to Inverness, sail or row in canal, loch and sea.

Traverse the 66 mile course and enjoy the exciting sailing of very open green water in Loch Ness 22 miles (36km) and the 29 Locks and 10 swing bridges along the way.

A warm invitation to traditional style boat sailors (5-9m length)
Challenging Highland environment.
Great company, great competition and excellent music!
International entrants very welcome the Swiss, Dutch, French,
and many other countries are regular participants.

2016 prices for entry will be held until the 1st October for the early boats!

Full details & registration at: www.sailcaledonia.org
Follow and join Sail Caledonia on Facebook.

This year’s Swallow Yachts Raid will run from 2nd – 6th July 2017.

The programme has yet to be finalised but will definitely include the now-favourite cream tea run, and we’ll hopefully head out to Helford this time too.  Despite the less than fabulous weather last year the Raid was enjoyed by everyone and we hope to see new faces and people returning again this year!  It’s a fun event, with friendly racing and cruising in company, camping/campervan accommodation can be included as part of the package (first come, first served) and a cooked breakfast can also be included.  Your packed lunches are provided and the days are rounded off with a drink on the jetty and a fantastic evening meal served by Castaways on the harbour front.

Cost of the packages vary depending on what you would like to include so please email events@swallowyachts.com for further information. We can’t accept entries or requests for further information via the forum/comments or to other Swallow Yacht email addresses – you must email and use the events@swallowyachts.com address!

https://southamptonboatshow.com/

https://londonboatshow.com/

The world’s longest running sail and oar event, held in the stunning scenery of the Scottish Highlands, returns for 2018. See the event’s website for full details:

http://www.sailcaledonia.org/

Entrants List

Ullswater is a popular venue with attractive scenery, interesting but not too challenging sailing and good shore facilities.

Patterdale is a straightforward 15miles (30 mins) drive from J40 on the M6.

See the “Ullswater” blog on the Swallow Boats forum for general sailing advice and location details.

Local B&B’s and campsites to suit all tastes can be found on the internet.

A popular choice for Swallow boaters is Gillside Farm, Glenridding, Penrith CA11 0QQ
www.gillsidecaravanandcamping site.co.uk 017684 82346
Gillside Farm has pitches for tents and motor homes, is a short stumble from the Travellers Rest and and a slightly longer stumble down to Glenridding.

Glenridding Sailing Centre  is again providing parking, launching/recovery, changing rooms and a warm welcome for £65 Friday to Monday.  If you are attending then please let me know on this forum or messages and book yourself and boat directly with GSC at:
Glenridding Sailing & Activity Centre

Tel: 017684 82541
info@glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk

www.glenriddingsailingcentre.co.u

Please note I’m happy to provide advice and assistance on the location and meeting arrangements but please see the terms on which I organise this event mentioned in the Ullswater blog and elsewhere on this forum.  Skippers are entirely responsible for the physical safety, money and property of their boats and crews.

Matthew Peacock

Classic raid from Fort William to Inverness, from sea to sea.

Probably now fully booked but contact the organisers and try your luck.

Huge French sailing festival.  Brits made very welcome!

This event is now fully booked but please email to join the reserve list

The rally will be based at Glenridding Sailing & Activity Centre.  Skippers should let Matthew Peacock know (via the forum) if they intend going, but book directly with:

Glenridding Sailing & Activity Centre
The Spit
Glenridding
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 0PE

t: 017684 82541
e: info@glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk
w: http://www.glenriddingactivitycentre.co.uk

For camping see: http://www.ullswater.co.uk/camping.html#Watermillock

For Ullswater map and sailing guide see Ullswater Users Guide at http://ww.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/?a=254047

For info and feedback on the previous June 2015 Ullswater event  please see: http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,980.0.html

As usual, skippers will be solely responsible for their boats, crews, property and money.

For more details and registration please see the forum topic: http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,1224.msg8684.html#msg8684

To view the programme and costs click on the Programme 2019 link.

To register your interest in attending please click on the Register 2019 link.

Last time I was at Mylor for a Swallow event it occurred to me that Dunstaffnage Marina www.dunstaffnagemarina.co.uk and the adjacent Wide Mouthed Frog Hotel would be a good place to have a gathering of Swallow owners which is more accessible to those of us who are based North of “Watford Gap”.

Over the last 4 years a small group of us have cruised together in the Oban area and have visited many of the lovely anchorages ranging from Loch Ness, N of Mallaig, to The Sound of Iona, West of Mull, in our BR 20 boats.  In doing so we have never come across any other Swallows and are keen to share some of our knowledge with others.
The biggest problem that we have come across is to find a good base from which to explore the area where there is  secure parking for cars and trailers close to a slipway. Dunstaffnage Marina does tick this box and the facilities at “The Frog” make it an excellent venue for socialising in the manner of Mylor gatherings. I am offering to co-ordinate an informal meet there in the week beginning Sunday May 17th or the following Monday. The date is chosen as it leads up to Sail Caledonia which starts on the 23rd and which usually includes a Swallow or two.

As an informal meet there will be no racing, no safety boat nor fixed programme but shore based advice on many of the places that can be explored from Dunstaffnage. I have retired from the rigours of the ‘wild camping’ enjoyed over the last 4 years and Mary will be my crew (as long as the weather is reasonable) and we will be based at The Frog each night.
I am posting this proposal now as I would like to find out how many owners might be interested in trailing to Dunstaffnage for a gathering of this sort next May. The Frog Hotel opens its bookings at the beginning of November each year and they say that they get booked up quickly for May being well before the worst of the infamous Scottish Midge season! Depending on the level of interest I can explore the option of set menus at The Frog etc.

If you are interested in joining in such a meet, please indicate through this S Y Forum. It will be up to each owner to book for their own needs but I may be able to negotiate group rates in advance if there is enough interest. An expression of interest will of course not be binding and anyway I will not be crystallizing any arrangements before mid October.

Rory C BRe 25 Gobhlan-Gaoithe

“The Great Glen Raids – which later became Sail Caledonia – were wonderful intense experiences. They seemed like a season’s worth of sailing crammed in to a week.” Iain Oughtred, boat designer (Water Craftmagazine no. 111).

The 2019 Raid was another great success with an eclectic selection of boats, while skippers and crews enjoyed fine passages and racing during the day with warm and friendly socialising each evening. The Results are now available and the Galleries page has photos from this year’s event. Don’t miss out next year, join the world’s longest running and best sail & oar raid – Sail Caledonia.

Well done to Jim Black, overall winner of Sail Caledonia 2019 in “Two Brothers”, a Drascombe Lugger.

“Sail Caledonia was again a most enjoyable event with great camaraderie between all boats, crews and support staff. Anyone who appreciates stimulating company, laughter, live music, good food, occasionally challenging sailing, interesting small boats and a memorable experience should come.” Matthew Peacock, 2015 winning skipper.

Sail Caledonia is the annual Scottish ‘Raid’ or expedition for boats powered by sail and/or oars which takes place in the Highlands of Scotland each May. Everyone who has taken part has acclaimed it a fantastic event and an experience not to be missed.

Using the Great Glen’s stunning and varied lochs and the 200 year old Caledonian Canal, a fleet of up to 25 boats sails, rows, races, explores and ceilidhs their way up the glen. Accompanied by safety boats, nothing beats sailing and rowing from the Atlantic at Fort William, through Fort Augustus and the mighty Loch Ness, to the finish in the Beauly Firth at Inverness, the Highland’s capital. Sea-to-sea via some of the world’s most stunning mountain scenery in the safety of an accompanied expedition for small boats.

Sail Caledonia is a friendly, open event for smaller (c. 5m – 9m) boats capable of completing the journey under sail and/or oar. Anyone can join providing their boat conforms in general terms to one of the classes and the safety regulations set out in the Notice of Race (available on Downloads page).

We are always looking to build on the success of previous years and attract sailing boats of many shapes and sizes. Please enjoy our web site and if you have any questions simply get in touch.

Festival of the Milford Haven Waterway

The event will again be based from Lawrenny and will be a week of guided and free sailing for traditional vessels with the usual entertainment, camping, bbqs and company from regulars and newcomers.

Registration will be published in due course on the website.

For further information Contact:-

Paula Holt
Tall Ships Wales Trust Coordinator
Mobile: 07766647240
Email: paula@seafairhaven.org.uk