Submitted by roly.simpson on
Original forum:
- On the water:Association events
Its time to start working out some detail for proposed events for this year so that they can be discussed further on this forum and at the AGM on 16th Feb . Quentin has raised this point elsewhere.
Last year we opted to promote a single event which was greatly enjoyed / attended by many boats and road visitors to the gala dinner . As a special event to mark the 25th anniversary of the first Macgregor Event ( or rally as we used to call such gatherings ) we would not necessarily plan to do the big dinner this year but question is whether we still do one big event or several regional ones .
I am keen to everyone gets a reasonable chance to join in an event and hence share experience and friendship with other Mac owners . Hence I would suggest this year , if possible we try to arrange several events based in different areas. This however depends on people being keen/ able to organise such events . Suggestions might be :-
a) Scotland
It seems we have quite a few members based in Scotland / north of the country and I would strongly encourage an event such as the one done in 2015. I would really love to join such an event but the way this year is starting to pan out Im not sure I can spare the 3 to 4 weeks needed to travel there and get some decent sailing. ...next year might be better for me.
b) Chichester harbour/ eastern Solent....as per last years suggestion at AGM....good sheltered water for new sailors/ bad weather but Isle of Wight and Portsmouth in easy reach.
c) Medway.....this was mooted by John Pompeii and sounds a nice place to explore ..several members around there .
d)Cardiff Bay ....again suggested before ...possibility of good safe training plus trip to explore North Somerset Coast
e)Plymouth ....this has become quite a favourite as we have had several events here in past . Good sheltered Plymouth Sound/ rivers but chance oto sail either way along the coast .
f)Falmouth ...further to go but not explored by Macs for many years ....was the home of Macregor importation for many years .
g)Windermere .....sounds like a suprisingly lot to do for a limited area lake.
Please lets begin to thrash out these and other possibilities .
Unfortunately trips to Europe may not be good idea wrt Brexit uncertainties...I dont know...otherwise Morbihan or Holland ? .
Roly Simpson
20 Comments
Roly,
Submitted by david.claassen on
Roly,
Thanks for taking the lead on this process. I could get excited about any of these locations. We are away for at least a fortnight in early July, and my classes are over mid-June. Now that both boat and trailer are well fettled, I am keen to put in some serious time on the water
Realistically, Scotland or Falmouth would be the least likely based on distance, but could be considered at the right date.
David
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
I think the way we have
Submitted by quentin.sands on
I think the way we have focussed on one main event/rally in the last three years - Plymouth, Lough Derg, Blackwater - has ensured there has been at least one full blooded event that has achieved a good turn out and all that goes with it. I would urge us to do the same this year and at the same time of the year, beginning w/e of the 27/28 July for one week.
To this end I will make a proposal for Windermere, at the AGM. I suggest others who are interested in organising and leading the main event should submit their ideas and dates at the AGM or should make sure their proposal is submitted by someone who is at the AGM. We will then discuss all ideas and make a decision on the Big Mac 2019 - if that's a moniker we are happy to keep.
Once we have decided the 'main event' there will, as ever, be lots of scope for satellite gatherings, arranged informally, on the website or otherwise.
Roly's list is a good guide to the possibilities. I believe Rick might re-submit his Chichester proposal at the AGM but if you have knowledge of any of these sailing areas and are happy to do some of the leg work, it would good to hear your proposal.
Quentin Sands (Editor)
1993 MacGregor 19, Margarita
Hi Quentin David & Roly,
Submitted by john.pompei on
Hi Quentin David & Roly,
Whilst I would be happy to arrange something in the Medway area, I do like Quentin's suggestion as Peter Cullenden's boat Helena Rose is wintering in the lake district and I would be happy to crew for him or anyone else rather than towing ASHANTI up there.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
John
ASHANTI 2008M
John,
Submitted by david.claassen on
John,
I would be very interested in a Medway event as well.
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
Oh fancy Windermere, haven’t
Submitted by rod.wassell on
Oh fancy Windermere, haven’t done that for along time.
We would be happy with that and like the idea of Chichester and Scotland although this would have to be extended because of the sheer distance don’t want to put anybody off though!
I can see the attractions with the single event however multiple events enable people to attend things they might not otherwise.
Rod and Jill
I would consider towing Logan
Submitted by david.claassen on
I would consider towing Logan’s Run to Windemere depending on the timing. John, we could do round two on my boat.
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
I will have a mooring in
Submitted by james.brine on
I will have a mooring in Plymouth from July to August and would consider towing Proteus up to visit you good folks at another location outside of these months. J
Hi Fellow Mac'ers, I will be
Submitted by peter.cullender on
Hi Fellow Mac'ers, I will be returning to the uk probably mid june, a bit later this year, due to personal events. As john mentioned, helena rose is stored near carlisle, and windemere is just down 't' road, so will be sailing that area some time this year. Crewing the ASHANTI was always a pleasant experience, and you are more than welcome to crew Helena. In fact if you require crew for the medway, (or anywhere down south) let me know, quite happy to drive down. Back in my power cruiser days, i never tired of the cruise up/down the thames, and mooring in one of the london marinas for several days. From oz, have a nice day everyone.
Roly ,
Submitted by leigh.ross on
Roly ,
As one one of the aforementioned Scottish sailors , I’d propose at least one smaller gathering for us northern sailors. Not every gathering needs be a national gathering bearing in mind the distances involved. So possibly we could poll members to find who would be interested and then delegate organization of the event to a Scottish member to reduce committee workload and get the benefit of local knowledge. I’d be happy to help get this started.
I’m going to be getting some experience on my new boat on a small local loch before taking her out to sea , later in summer ,so I’d be up for an August or September meet up here.
Best regards
Leigh and Desiree Ross
Ptarmigan
26S
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
Hi David,
Submitted by john.pompei on
Hi David,
If you tow to Windermere I'd be happy to ride 'shotgun' and if Peter is already up there then I would be able to crew for you both during the rally.
Will you be at the AGM ? we could discuss over a pint or three !!
Best Regards,
John
ASHANTI 2008M
I hope to be at the meeting
Submitted by david.claassen on
I hope to be at the meeting for the day
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
if it looks like Windermere
Submitted by roly.simpson on
if it looks like Windermere will go ahead then I might consider towing up there and visit Scotland before of after. What is the best time of year to sail in Scotland Leigh ?
Roly
Hi Leigh and Desiree
Submitted by anneke.wallace on
Hi Leigh and Desiree
Nice to hear that there is another Mac near Crieff. I have been a Scottish member for a long time and keep my 26X Rahui at home in Aberdeenshire for the winter and on Loch Lomond for the summer these days to enable me to introduce my young grandchildren to sailing. The family live in Auchterarder. I do miss the Clyde and have a thought to spend a week or two there this summer. There are quite a number of Macgregors on the Loch and I have been in touch with some of them. There is no reason why we should not organise something for northern members, I have done this in the past. I am a bit more limited now as I do not have a regular crew.
Which Loch are you starting on? I hope to be back in the water in March sometime . I will have a chat with Roly or Quentin about events in the north.
Regards
Anneke Wallace Rahui 26X
Hi Anneke ,
Submitted by leigh.ross on
Hi Anneke ,
We have Ptarmigan on Loch Earn ( well we will in spring ). We’re at the Loch Earn Sailing Club just up from St Fillans. I’m going to sail her there for a while until I’m satisfied that all the systems are working well enough to venture further afield. Just bought a new main with three reefs so I’ll need to install reefing lines for that. Also want to ensure that the roller furling works. It’s an older RotoStay that I’m eyeing with suspicion. I may go ahead and just get a more modern system for safety sake.
Please do drop by if you're in the area visiting family or heading to your boat. We’d love to liaise with you and meet a few MAC sailors. We are of South African extraction so a knock on the door is considered adequate notice of a visit
Leigh and Desiree Ross
leighpilot@yahoo.com
0777 558-4561
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
Hi Roly,
Submitted by leigh.ross on
Hi Roly,
I’ve only been living in Scotland a few years. I’d not recommend taking my opinion on the best months to sail here. I would go out on a limb though and recommend not planning a trip between November and March though. :). I’ll do a bit of Googling and see what more august minds think would be suitable.
I’ll be putting Ptarmigan on Loch Earn for the early part of the season to work out any kinks in the setup as she’s new to me. Once that’s done I’ll probably take her out for a west coast cruise later in summer , August or September I’d be willing to try to join the Windermere get together if it fits my work and refit schedule
Regards
Leigh
Leigh Ross
Crieff
0777 558-4561
1990 MacGregor 26S Ptarmigan
1992 MacGregor 26S Pelican
Hi Anneke, no decisions made
Submitted by quentin.sands on
Hi Anneke, no decisions made yet about the main Mac event this summer but there is a growing feeling that a trip to the Clyde will be on the cards at some point. I definitely have a visit penned in (which isn't quite the same as it is definitely going to happen) for Largs and beyond starting on 25/26 May with a view to hooking up with Jim Rotheram, now berthed in East Tarbert. If other Mac folk fancy that, the more the merrier. If Windermere is the main event in late July early August, there might be some with time on their hands who head to Scotland afterwards. Roly asks when is the best time to sail in Scotland - my answer would be whenever there is a f2/3 blow. The rain and midges are inconveniences between May and September but they are both intermittent, defences do work and the rewards are great. Hope all is good with you and yours Anneke.
Quentin Sands (Editor)
1993 MacGregor 19, Margarita
Hi Quentin
Submitted by anneke.wallace on
Hi Quentin
Thanks for all the information. Unfortunately I am organising an Austin seven rally on the farm 24th to 27th May so cannot join you on the Clyde then. Also our A7 Annual rally and holiday is end July beginning August ( the 2 hobbies always clash!) I'm on the committee so cannot abscond. I have been in contact with Roly about Scottish sailing so we will wait and see how it all pans out. My problem is that I don't have regular crew and find it harder to travel with the boat. I was sorry to miss the event last year and had thought to offer myself as a lady crew but something else filled the date in the end. I will catch up with you all sometime.
My apologies for the AGM. I will miss it this year but if in the end nothing happens up north I am prepared to try and gather up the Loch Lomond based Macgregors and try and organise something this summer. I will follow the discussions here. Hope to see you sometime.
All the best
Anneke
Rahui 26X
Loch Lomond or the Clyde
Submitted by patrick.saddler on
Loch Lomond or the Clyde would be wonderful sometime in July or August. Before I can agree on any dates, I'll need to see when I can get some crew from the family.
Regards,
Pat Saddler
GladNick
26M
Hi all,
Submitted by david.kirk on
Hi all,
Sadly, we have so far just been lurking in the shadows of the MOA as we have struggled with time off in order to enjoy our 26X, which we bought in October 2017. So far we have managed to get it in the water just once!
We have promised ourselves that this year we will pull our finger out and get going with the boat. I have a little servicing work to do on the engine but other than that we should be ready to go in the Spring. Our plan is to get used to the boat at Loch Lomond for weekend excursions and then hopefully we can manage longer trips later in the year.
We live is SW Scotland so I would be very interested in taking part in a gathering on Windermere or the Clyde, or both!
David Kirk
David Kirk
26X Glissando
Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Watch this space David, we
Submitted by quentin.sands on
Watch this space David, we should have some interesting gatherings planned for 2019 and we hope to attract those looking to build experience, confidence and expertise with their boats. After the AGM we will publish plans.
Quentin Sands (Editor)
1993 MacGregor 19, Margarita