Sail Caledonia 2013

[Graham W]

The dates for Sail Caledonia 2013 have already been fixed as Saturday 25th May to Saturday 1st June, to coincide with the UK's late Spring bank holiday.  The dates do not clash with Morbihan or Venice 2013.  If you have a BayRaider or BayCruiser and want some real excitement in great scenery, with good company and with multiple safety boats in attendance, block out your diaries and let the organisers know that you are interested. 

There are already nine possible entries, of which three are BayRaiders.  Claus will probably bring a BayRaider instead of Craic, so without an all-conquering SeaRaider to contend with, who knows what might happen?

I declare an interest as the new treasurer of the Great Glen Boating Club, under whose auspices the event takes place.

[Graham W]

The barge accommodation is filling up unusually fast for next year (10 of the 12 available cabins seem to be already booked).  So if you definitely want to be on a barge (as opposed to on a separate cabin cruiser, in B&B's or camping), then it would be a good idea to put your marker down with Norna prontissimo.

[Brian Robertson]

Graham,

Great to hear that BayCruisers are eligible -  my reading of the entry rules suggested otherwise.

I will sign up for next year.  I sail on the Moray Firth so its the closest we have to a local raid!

[Graham W]

Great to hear that BayCruisers are eligible -  my reading of the entry rules suggested otherwise.

Brian,

Which part of the rules did you think disqualified you?  We had a Drascombe Coaster this year, which is sort of similar.  Except that you will find going to windward much easier!

Graham

[Brian Robertson]

Graham,

The BCs have a Bermudan rig rather than a "traditional" rig.

[Julian Swindell]

The Baycruiser rig is traditional in Bermuda.

[Graham W]

The classes for the raid are:
Class 1  -  Displacement keel boats of traditional shape and sail plan
Class 2  -  Centre-board boats of traditionally inspired shape and sail plan
Class 3  -  Drascombes and similar craft
Class 4  -  Development boats (modern materials, sails etc)
Class 5  -  Leisure Class (may use motors, not qualified for all races)

The rules go on to say:
"Specialised racing sails, including spinnakers and other similar sails are not permitted. Trapezes, outriggers and sliding seats are also not permitted. Special cases may be considered in the "Development" Class.
Note that "traditional" sail plans generally exclude Bermudan and Günter rigs although special cases may be considered. The Organising Authority reserves the right to allocate a boat to any particular class on the basis of anticipated or actual performance in the interests of promoting close competition, and to split any class."

That bit about Bermudan rig would disqualify you from class 1 and 2 but I think you would be in class 3 with the BayRaiders and the majority of other entrants. The organisers are not so keen on keelboats as they are unable to draw up their centreboards and beach with everyone else.  No problem there with BayCruisers. How do you feel about rowing, which is part of the raid?

You have to be fairly weird and wonderful to be put in class 4.

[Brian Robertson]

The Baycruiser rig is traditional in Bermuda.

Now there's an idea - Sail Bermuda, a raid for those with new fangled rigging.

Oh, what I would give for some warm weather sailing at the moment!

[Brian Robertson]

That bit about Bermudan rig would disqualify you from class 1 and 2 but I think you would be in class 3 with the BayRaiders and the majority of other entrants. The organisers are not so keen on keelboats as they are unable to draw up their centreboards and beach with everyone else.  No problem there with BayCruisers. How do you feel about rowing, which is part of the raid?

Rowing!  Not exactly, too much freeboard and no rollocks.  Would towing with a rowed tender qualify? 

[Graham W]

Four of the ten races this year were rowing along the canal sections, plus one sailing race in Loch Lochy which turned into a rowing race (10nm) because there was no wind. You could opt out of those races and use the iron donkey but you might end up last overall, if you can bear the ignominy. Towing with a rowed tender would be slow - the race leaders managed 3-4 knots in their boats.

[Graham W]

The accommodation barge is now fully booked.  Five out of the eight berths on the very comfortable cabin cruiser Taransay are also booked, with talk of a second smaller cabin cruiser being chartered.  I recommend booking early if you are not aiming to camp or sleep on your boat, which is what the less pampered majority do.

[Graham W]

Swallow Boats have generously agreed to sponsor a special prize (a quaich - see picture below) for the fastest overall BayRaider 20 (either model) during Sail Caledonia 2013.

Before this year's event, I had never been in a sailing race and had not rowed for 35 years but my boat still came in third overall.  So it is not necessary to be an expert to put in a good show.  I encourage anyone to enter who wants to learn more about their boat and and at the same time have an adventure which is out of the ordinary.  The more BayRaiders we have, the more fun it will be and the greater the learning experience.

[Graham W]

Accommodation on Taransay is also now fully booked.  The organisers will almost certainly charter a second cabin cruiser.

[Llafurio]

Swallow Boats have generously agreed to sponsor a special prize (a quaich - see picture below) for the fastest overall BayRaider 20 (either model) during Sail Caledonia 2013.

Meaning, a prize for the best overall accumulated time between Atlantic and North Sea, and with no discarding of any one race, right?

[Graham W]

I should think it means the same Sail Caledonia rules as for everyone else, based on race points and one discard.