Author: Neil Weatherley

15th August.

This years AGM will be held at St James Community Centre, St James Church, Church Lane, Birdham, Chichester, PO20 7HG starting at 16:00.

The minutes of last years AGM can be found here

The fourth of our rallies this year, the venue is at Chichester Sailing Club (https://www.cyc.co.uk/) (CSC) and the date, 15 – 18 August 2026. This has been a popular meet in the past and is the only rally where we sail on tidal waters.

As with all our extended rallies you do not have to commit to the full four days in order to attend, just let us know when you fill in the entry form on which days you will be attending.

 The provisional programme for the rally is:

Chichester Rally Programme

 (Note – all days/times provisional and subject to weather)

Friday 14 August     

Arrivals and setting up. Boat rigging at sailing club

8pm – Welcome followed by informal social gathering at Bell Caravan Park Rally Field – bring your folding chairs. (Will be outside so obviously weather dependant)

Saturday 15 August

10:15am Briefing at Chichester Yacht Club

10:30am Access to water for Racing or Free sailing

Safety boat cover provided for all boats within designated area (during race periods)

High Tide – 12:38

4:00pm AGM To be held at St James Community Centre, St James Church, Church Lane, Birdham, Chichester, PO20 7HG

 6:30 Bring your own/arrange delivery of takeaway and eat in communal group at Bell Caravan Park Rally Field – bring your folding chairs. (Will be outside so obviously weather dependant)

Sunday 16 August

11:00am Briefing at Chichester Yacht Club

 11:15am Access to water for Racing or Free sailing

Safety boat cover provided for all boats within designated area (during race periods)

High Tide –  13:22

Evening – bring your own BBQ and eat in a communal setting followed by social gathering (at Bell Caravan Rally Field – bring your folding chairs)

Monday 17 August

Sailing cruise or motor cruise

Games evening (at Bell Caravan Rally Field – bring your folding chairs)

Tuesday 18 August

Sailing cruise or motor cruise

Evening – informal social gathering (at Bell Caravan Rally Field – bring your folding chairs)Wednesday 19 August – Pack up and fond farewells

If you are not on the mailing list or haven’t received the signup email please contact the Rally Secretary via the link here.

This years rally at Rutland Water is currently being organised and those on the rally distribution list should have received details via email. If you haven’t please use the rally contact form to ask the rally sec to send them to you. Click here for details.

The Spring 2026 edition of the eTravelogue is now live on our website. We’ve made some format updates based on your feedback, but if you have any suggestions for further improvements, please share them with the editor. We hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to seeing many of you out on the water soon.

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Start of the new season for 2026. Our first rally is kindly being hosted by  Cotswold Sailing Club, South Cerney in Gloucestershire (GL7 5QJ).  Hopefully you can find your Tinker and all the other paraphernalia and come and join us!

As with all our extended rallies you do not have to commit to attend for the full period, if you are only able to make it for some of the days you are still welcome.

Camping at the Club is available from 2pm Thursday 16^th until 12 noon on Tuesday 21st.

Access to the water will be available Friday to Monday as and when safety boat cover is available. In addition to the normal couple of days of competitive racing at the weekend there will the opportunity to some free sailing, learn some new sailing techniques and get advice on boat set up.

If there is enough interest and conditions are suitable, a pursuit race with individual handicaps and a novelty race will be run on Monday.

If you haven’t yet signed up please contact the Rally Secretary via the Events page.

We wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and look forward to seeing you “Tinkering” at one of our events in 2026.

The new format Travelogue is now available. I do hope you enjoy it. Several of your talented Tinker members have put a lot of voluntary time and energy into its publication and sorting out the most suitable delivery platform.

The new format gives greater freedom to Nigel (Travelogue Coordinator) to add  extra articles and pictures etc, whereas previously if he wanted to add an extra page, he had to find material to fill four! We are also able to finance it’s publication and distribution for the foreseeable future provided the membership can provide the articles to put in it.

Seasons greetings to you all and best wishes for 2026

Alistair TCOA Commodore

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After arriving at Swarkestone on Friday night it looked like the weekend might not include any sailing as extremely light winds were forecast, (Gusts of 2mph!). It was agreed to meet for our briefing on the Saturday morning but expectations weren’t high.

However Saturday did bring some wind and although light allowed 4 races to be held. At times the win came and went so it was a good test of the quality of the sailors.

After four races the  positions are Stuart, Lindsey, Al & Isolbel, JR, Ken, Nigel, Jim & Pam, Mike and Mark.

A group meal is planned for tonight and we will see what tomorrow brings.

Day one racing at Bassenthwaite has proved a challenge with the base winds being comfortable but a succession of squalls coming through causing some damage to the fleet. Three races so far.

Sunday morning and early afternoon is looking quite favourable with the wind building to gale forecast in the late afternoon / evening. Therefore, planning two races starting at 11am.Now of to the Sun Inn for a group meal.

It’s time to book your place at the Bassenthwaite meet which will take place over the 13-15th September. For more details click here