Is there a way to save a baked cloth simulation (in .blend file or to disc)? seams odd if you have to bake each time the blend file is reopened?
Save the file first, cache your simulation with AltA. then use Current Cache to Bake. Then use the Disk Cache option on Cloth Cache and save again:
Next time you open the file the cloth simulation will be there.
On the folder where the file is saved you'll see a new folder called blendcache_filename. If you move the blend file to a new location make sure yo move the blendcache folder to the same location.