SeaDog Owners Association Website

SOA Winter Rally

Our Winter Rally will be held at the Elstead Hotel in Bournemouth on Saturday 16th of January, 2010, so please make a note in your diary now. More information will be sent by letter and email towards the end of September. If you have not received this by the middle of October, please contact me. After discussions with Olive, the hotel has maintained the same prices for us as last year.
John Lansdell.

Lymington Rally Report

A big thank you to the crews of Anahita II (Bob Kelly, with 3, whose names I did not get, apologies, +Ruth, who came by car), Glory (Dot and Steve), Jacana of Pyrford (Stewart, with Justin and Laura) who had to come by car. Styria (Hilary and Martin + Brian and Jennifer from Sirex). In addition Piet Castenmiller (late of Nausikaa) and Hanneka came from the Netherlands especially for Olive and memories of Peter. Anahita in particular had heavy weather on the way to Lymington from Topsham, and when we left Bob was having to consider leaving her there because of the continuing bad weather. Audrey and I managed to make it as well! We all found our way to Ship Inn, and enjoyed a good evening. On the Sunday morning, in high winds, at around 10.30, Dogmatic, who had Piet and Hanneka on board, as well as her own crew, with Glory, Styria and Twotails, processed to the lee of Hurst Castle, toasted Peter's memory in bubbly, with a libation to Neptune, and Christine scattered his ashes off the stern of Dogmatic as he had requested. Following this we each went our separate ways home, with some very brisk winds around for the rest of the day.

John Lansdell

Fowey Rally

Fowey Rally Commentary, by Steve Herwin, Pielago.

C dog, noun, origin Reg Freeman circa 1967 Sea creature, often mature, disposed towards conviviality, sometimes seen in small packs but not afraid of solitude due to independent nature.

A synopsis of my impressions of the Fowey rally held at the end of June.
For Anne and myself this was our fist chance to meet up with other Seadog owners, and what a welcome we received, no sooner were the first warps made fast than drinks were being proffered and introductions made, so quickly in fact that even Anne’s normally reliable memory was taxed to the limit! Three ‘dogs’ were already on the pontoon when we arrived and two more came along on Saturday making a total of 6, plus a brief ‘guest appearance’ on Saturday evening by Lerryn Lady, that scurried up the river, never to be seen again; but then my old chart shows the shore marked by dotted lines with the warning legend ‘Here be Dragons’. Saturday morning was warm and sunny so Anne and I took the dinghy up to Lostwithiel where there was just time to buy a bottle or 2 of ‘red’, a selection of cheeses and a couple of pasties before making a hasty retreat on the last of the tide. Throughout the week-end the interchange of ideas, suggestions for modifications and the giving of advice was almost endless. The fit-out of each and every boat was different in so many ways, it really is a case of, ‘the good, the very good and the superb’. John and Audrey’s organisation and planning were excellent and they even managed to shepherd us to the Royal Fowey Yacht Club for a meal in the evening, here we met up with Ruth and David who described themselves as novice sailors but with the hope of realising their dreams with the help of a Seadog in the future. Conversation flowed freely and in a moment of weakness they accepted the offer of a sail on Pielago on Sunday morning. Sunday was cloudy with a few spots of rain and a stiff easterly gusting to the top end of a F5; genoa and mizzen then! David and Ruth shared the helming, brave folks, and returned still full of enthusiasm. By lunch time several boats were having to say their ‘good-byes’, those heading for the Fal and all points west must have had a quick and exciting sail, we had to get back to Plymouth; not so good, very lumpy and with the wind bang on the nose little choice other than reliance on the trusty 4.108.

Those present:-

John and Audrey, Twotails.

Kevin and Pam , Kyros.

Bill and Janie , Roma.

Phil and Jason , Tresco Maid.

Eileen and John , Tiwana.

Jim K.T.5 (Hurley 24).

David and Ruth Prospective purchasers

Steve and Anne , Pielago.

Odd notes on the Rally, by John Lansdell.

Bill was noted to be in great condition, especially with his story of the sick potato! He made two interesting suggestions, one of which he has already introduced to Roma. This was to move the throat of the divided mainmast backstay higher towards the mast. The effect of this is to improve access when going aft. The other he intends to install is a pelican hook on the lower end of the forward mizzenmast shroud, so that when the boat is moored it may be disconnected and moved aft, allowing easier access to the cockpit, he may then install a gate in the guard rails there. If I did that I would have to have a telltale on the wheel to remind me to reconnect it!. Steve very bravely gave a very practical, in the flesh,demonstration of his electric pumped shower in Pielago's cockpit (in his swimming trunks!) Phil dealt very tactfully with an invasion by Anne, Audrey and Janie into his galley, and after a detailed technical discussion it was decided he would move his galley cupboard up 3 inches. Eileen arrived after giving Captain Ahab a run for his money on the way with a bucket of mackerel. Jim, who wanted to have a look around some Seadogs, prior to visiting one for sale, seemed to be absolutely convinced nothing else would do after he had been round the pack and lain full length in the aft cabin of Twotails. Steve mentions Lerryn Lady. On Sunday Bill invited Audrey and I for a trip upriver in his dinghy to look for this mythical 'dog. It turns out she is a Sovreign 35, owned by one of the Fowey Harbour Commissioners, and he keeps it in the pool beyond the china clay wharves. So we hadn't found one of the lost boats after all. Bill had always been dubious that she was a 'dog, as he had noticed her saloon windows were a different shape. Audrey and I had two other expeditions with Bill and Janie, one to the Fowey Galant Sailing Club, full of atmosphere and rather different in style from the Royal Fowey, and in the evening to the Old Ferry Inn at Bodinnick, where the food was absolutely delicious, and a visit to be highly recommended. Thank you Bill. Our trip east back to the Hamble was inevitably marked by easterlies of F3 or 4 all the way. First stop was Dartmouth, where we took the opportunity to refuel, on to Portland, where we picked up a buoy near the channel to the lagoon behind Chesil Beach, then home. A big thank you to all who came. I hope you all enjoyed it. If you do have any photos of the rally please put them on the website, Graham Matthews will help if necessary. Eileen has already sent me some over the net and I will put a couple them there as well.