Visitors had an absolutely marvellous weekend in glorious sunshine in this magnificent location. Even those who travelled all the way from the midlands and south of England had no doubts that it really was worth all the petrol and mileage. If this opening interests you, you should have been there, but read on.

In 2000, we had opted for a change and decided to visit Ullswater in September rather than in May, This would have been fine, but for the petrol crisis. Enquiries with Ullswater Yacht Club, revealed that no petrol was available in the Penrith area. After e-mails and telephone calls, members decided that discretion was the better part of valour and that being stranded in Cumbria with a boat but no fuel was not a good idea. None of this worried, or apparently affected, the Scottish contingent. It is reported that they attended and ran their own Laser Weekend - How about an article from you Scottish lads for Laser Lines?

Imagine the consternation then, in March, with the outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in Northumberland and Cumbria. Would we have to miss a second time? We learned that the club had closed, partly for safety reasons and partly out of sympathy and respect for local farmers. Eve-of-departure enquiries revealed that the weekend was "on", subject to certain conditions, so Saturday morning saw us arriving off the Pooley Bridge - Howtown Road with cars and boats dripping from the disinfectant pads, but enjoying the now customary warm welcome at the club.

Foot and mouth prohibited landing anywhere on the lake shore, other light north-easterly breeze enabled four boats to drift idly all the six miles to Jenkins’ Field, Glenridding, where ice cream, loos and dry grass for picnics proved welcome distractions from the concentration of sailing. If this southbound "passage" is outstanding in the passenger steamers "Raven" and "Lady of the Lake", it is even more so in your own boat. On the middle section of the lake, there is a feeling that you are sailing literally into the mountains, rather like the Pied Piper leading the rats and children into the mountain cave. If you have never done it, you missed a lot
 

The return trip was a long, slow series of tacks in light airs, but the majority doggedly refused to engage motors, Nevertheless, all were back at the club in time for a delightful communal supper in the committee room, all kindly laid on by club staff Barbara and Sheila. Bed and breakfast for some, a night under the stars and full breakfast. in the clubhouse for others, preceded another and rather faster run downwind to Glenridding in a stronger, but equally warm and pleasant. breeze. We heard our first cuckoo of the year in the trees above the Birkett Memorial at Kailpot Crag. More picnics, ice creams and loos, then a series of exciting boards the full length of the lake back to Pooley Bridge, taking on one or two local cruisers on the way. Off Norfolk Island, cruiser "Lumley Lass" reported "Miranda" as doing 4.6 knots in 120 feet of water, which was duly logged.

In the evening many of us gathered at the Sun Inn at Pooley Bridge for a jolly evening of eating, drinking and chatting before returning to our beds and tents under a full moon.

Some us were fortunate to be able to continue an excellent weekend’s sailing on bank holiday Monday morning. The airs were very light, and the water glassy, so a dreamy couple of miles down to Howtown Bay was all that could be managed in the time available before returning to the club to de-rig and head for the bank holiday traffic queues.

John and Anna Leigh (and Christine Roy)
Miranda