The forecast for Sunday was cloud with a risk or rain, clear visibility with S. to S.W. winds force 3 increasing force 5 later in the day.
Glasson had not been visited before and proved to be an interesting and busy little village. The sailing club was easily located although somewhat obscured by a long drive through a factory yard. Frank and I were met by Norman Whewell, who as leader of the cruise, effected introductions and made us feel welcome. This process did not take long as regrettably, only three boats had signed up for the cruise and one was not even a Drascombe! Given the venue or the cruise and its close proximity to large areas of population I was surprised it was not better supported.
We rigged and launched down a good slipway into high water springs. Motoring off we quickly ran aground - something like that always happens in full sight of the Club House! Following Norman and Ted under power in light head winds we followed the buoyed channel out to the River Lune West Cardinal and hoisted sail. I never like motoring and it was lovely to have silence and feel the boat gently heel under drawing sail.
David Evans and the lads in their First 18 (we forgave him for that!) sailed down the channel and with Norman and Ted gradually pulled away from our Lugger. The sailing was satisfying and relaxed and as promised the visibility gradually improved. Whilst the winds remained manageable we found the seas very rough and confused, steep sided and silted, indicating how shallow Morecambe bay is. We remained on course for the halfway tower, which required a couple of tacks to compensate for the strong tidal stream. The seas became rougher and the boat began taking on a lot of water - waves clearing the boat regularly - bow and bumpkin both submerged in the steep sided swell. At the stage when we were losing the horizon in the troughs we lowered the main and continued sailing under mizzen and jib. Whilst the wind was now blowing a good force 4 and gusting 5 (so much for the forecast!) the confused sea made controlling the boat very difficult and it was not until we started the engine that we felt in control and making progress. We continued to motor, with jib and mizzen set, up the shipping channel, past the southern tip of Walney Island, heading for the impressive castle on Piel Island.
Like half drowned rats we landed in the mud next to Norman and Ted and after a welcomed brew and a bowl of stew on the drifter we unloaded the Lugger. Apart from gear wrapped in waterproof stuff sacks, all our equipment was wet through and after erecting the boom tent we had to sponge the water out. After getting sorted we settled down to a good night in the pub - plenty of good conversation, beer and two portions of pie and peas (that's all they serve).
After a good nights sleep next to the pub, which was only interrupted by the dawn chorus (including Peacocks), we breakfasted and prepared for the return journey. We had time to explore the castle which was far more impressive than I had imagined.
We had moved the Lugger fromthe shoreline to a mooring the previous evening so with a lift from the jetty by David and the lads, we were soon on the boat and motoring down the channel with a moderate headwind. Norman and Ted, in the meantime were still high and dry on their mooring off Roa Island.
By the Walney Buoy we set jib and mizzen in freshening winds and moderate sea and aimed for Blackpool Tower. The wind eased and we hoisted the main, initially reefed and made good progress. David and the boys shot off under reefed main and showing rather a lot of antifouling for comfort. The Lugger was going like a train and Frank and I were enjoying ourselves apart from feeling a little seasick. The wind was blowing force 4 from the south which left us sailing close hauled but drifting N.E. under the flood tide. We saw Norman and Ted to our south and this plus our position in extremely steep and turbulent seas confirmed that we were getting in water that was very shallow. In spite of being a log way off shore and at high water springs we tacked to improve our position. By now we were again shipping a good deal of water - waves breaking over our heads on a regular basis. Like the day before we found that the bilge pump and the crew were unable to handle the volume of water entering the boat.
We met Norman and Ted who waited for us about three miles off Sunderland Point. In strengthening wind and angry seas, we lowered the main and motored under jib and mizzen with some determination as the tide was turning and access to the sailing club was threatened. Progress was slow and as we laboured on with seas continually breaking over the boat. On reaching the confines of the estuary we motored slowly up the channel feeling very satisfied with our achievement.
Whilst I've often sailed in winds stronger than those experienced on this cruise it was the wind combined with the sea state which made this an exciting and challenging adventure. It is often said that crews give in before a good boat and on this trip my trust in the boat and respect for the sea were both enhanced. Finally, I would like to thank Norman, Ted and David who with their superior skill and experience (and boats with lids) kept a watching brief over us. Without that support a trip like this would have been unwise.
John Cobb
This sounds a really hairy cruise! Should they have sailed father south in deeper water and gone by Lightning Knoll? Would they have been better to sail well south of Lune No.1 on the return and let the tide take them too it? The course to Piel across the banks is a fair weather one. What do other members think, we should all learn from these experiences.
Ray Morris