South West Region's rally programme for 2023

The South West Regional Secretary is John Lidstone. If you have any questions about the rally programme  or would like to join a rally prior to becoming a member of the DCA,   please  email  the   Regional Secretaries, specifying your question concerns the South West.
Generally we specify locations where we will meet on the Saturday evening of the rally weekend, generally with a pub close by. The slipways mentioned below are suggestions only, participants choose their own starting points depending on weather conditions and how far they wish to sail. Also, you don’t have to arrive by boat, we often have members travelling by land to join us at the pub near the rally location on Saturday evening.  It is not essential to contact the coordinator before attending a rally but it is a good idea to do so if you would like to make an informal arrangement to sail to the rally in company with other members or if the weather looks to be unfavourable and you wish to know whether others have decided to cancel or modify their plans.

Further information for each rally and the contact details of rally coordinators can be found in the Journal and in the Forum South West section.​
​
​April 22-23           Penzance Harbour 

Launching at Penzance Sailing Club on Saturday for a sail around St Michael's Mount.  Good parking close by and a good pontoon for setting up.  Overnight in the harbour for an  early start on Sunday to sail to Mousehole/ Porthcurno.  ​Wind direction may suggest Porthleven Harbour/ Kynance cove better destination on the day.
22nd HW  6.67, 19.04  5.5m
23rd HW   7.23, 19.39    5.3m

​Host: Peter Menear
​
June 17 -18              River Exe (Turf Hotel)
Venue is the Turf Hotel. Berth in the reeds just north east of the hotel not on the  pontoon or the quay side.
Launching within 2hrs of high water is possible from the Imperial Slipway at the western  end of The Royal Avenue, Exmouth where there is also parking or launch onto the sand  with no queuing pressure and wait for the water to return. Exmouth Town Quay slip is not  recommended due to launching into fast current. Starcross Yacht Club will also host the  DCA for hand trolley launched dinghies on this rally and have parking available.
HW Starcross    1914      3.7m                  Host:   Mike Arstall
15-16 July                  Philleigh, R Fal                  CANCELLED
Venue is The Roseland Inn, Philleigh. There is a small beach on the Fal ½ mile due  north of Philleigh which used to be a ferry landing. There is a country footpath to  Philleigh.
Launching at Boscowen Park, Truro is free with free parking for car and trailer. There is  also and café. Launching and parking is available at Pascoes Boatyard, St Just in  Roseland (charge) but check with the helpful yard because I think it is onto a shallow
sloping beach. ​  Mylor Yacht Harbour also has a slip but is not conveniently set up for  parking and pontoon (also pricey).
​​HW Falmouth     1630 4.5m                                 Host: John Lidstone
 5-6 August                   Aveton Gifford, R Avon
The Saturday evening venue is The Fisherman’s Rest, Aveton Gifford. There are two options:
1.   Launching for an approach by sea can be made from Kingsbridge.  Kingsbridge Quay long stay car park has a quiet slip at south end of car park but must  be near HW.  Hope Cove is another option from the public slipway at the south end of the village and  local boats launch off the beach at the north end.   Caution! The Avon bar can be dangerous in any on-shore wind. There are notes about crossing the bar in the rally details in the Forum but for many option 2 will be better. 
2.   Launching at Aveton Gifford for a day sail at HW, Slip is across the road from the  pay and display car park. Potentially one could sail down river for lunch, returning with  the flood for the evening.
​HW Salcombe       2152 5.2m                         Host: Alastair Law
16-17 September                Churston Cove
Evening venue in Brixham town to be decided.  
Launching from trailers would probably be best from Paignton as it is the least busy of  the 3 harbours and there is trailer and car parking available. There are public pontoons  in Paignton and Brixham harbours but at that time of the year they get quite busy. Note  that Paignton harbour dries out to a sand bottom at low tide but Brixham slip is always  wet. 
​Tor Bay is sheltered in westerlies but in easterlies the venue may be changed to the R.  Dart, launching from Totnes Steamer Quay slip near HW. Large car park available.
​HW Torquay      2018 4.9m                  Host: Steve Goodchild
 14 October                    Moditonham Quay, R Tamar
Venue is “The Croft” pub and restaurant, Hatt which is about a mile and a half from  Moditonham Quay in Kingsmill Lake off the Tamar about a mile above Saltash bridges.  Launching can be from Saltash Jubillee Green Slip with free parking for car and trailer  or from Mountbatten Sailing Centre slipway which is near Plymouth Yacht Haven. - free car park with trailer spaces across the road from the Mountbatten Centre.    Mountbatten Sailing Centre also offer parking in their car park for a fee.   On the way up the Hamoaze (Tamar) keep at least 50m away from the Devonport MOD  docks and vessels on the east bank – Police vessels patrol and will “advise you” if you  don’t.
HW Saltash       1847 5.4m                            Host: John Lidstone