Event Reports 2026

Unusual for the Deben Rally, the weather was, as forecasted, sunny, warm, dry with a welcome light breeze.

On Friday evening all were invited for drinks, nibbles and a chat on board Becca, our Sealine motor cruiser, not the usual setting for a Moody Rally, however, it went well meeting up with old and new friends with the usual banter and laughter. Those who stayed later in the evening were treated to John and Louise’s special Cornish vanilla rum that caused a few headaches the following day.

On Saturday the heat increased, with Bank Holiday events ashore, we were treated to the Saxon Morris Dancers, the Asparagus festival and some ventured to check the progress of the Saxon replica vessel.

In the evening we dined at the Red Lion, where we had a few drinks with nice food followed by light relaxing background music, courtesy of a local heavy metal band, this saw a hasty retreat back to the marina.

Sunday was a warm sunny day where we had a planned thirty-minute stomp up to HMS Vale, where we had much welcomed refreshments and a light lunch. It was good to meet up with Malcolm and Shirley from Mrs Magoo, a resident boat at Woodbridge. In the evening a few of us tried the local Chinese just a ten-minute walk from the marina, the food was freshly cooked and tasty, even had a chat with the Chef.

Monday, most of the boats returned back to their home berths. Thank you to all that managed to make it as you made it a very enjoyable rally.

Steve Hilyard, Organiser

For this year, we at least managed to get midsummers day within the scope of the event. It all began on Friday 19 June which found Ian & Jo French, aboard their Moody 33 Sun and Air, already berthed up in the Beacon Marina as they were in the process of moving their home berth from Tollesbury on the Blackwater to Titchmarsh marina in Walton Backwater.

Friday’s weather brought us sunshine and a gentle SW breeze, ideal for ghosting up the Orwell. In the afternoon, 2 motor boats arrived: Steve Hillyard and Denise Howard aboard Becca, fresh from their success in organising our Deben Rally, then Derek and Elaine Grant on board Rafiki. Last to arrive was Wild Thyme carrying Chris and Sheila Allcock, Marta and myself. We had left it late to take advantage of the lock into Ipswich Wet Dock being on free flow around High Water and found Ian waiting to take our lines at our allocated berth. Thank you Ian.

That evening, all 10 of us gathered in The Last Anchor for our midsummer dinner, which everyone judged to be good, if a bit too hot (the room, not the food!). All were engaged in animated conversation during the meal.

On Saturday morning, everyone was up and about in time for our 10.00 appointment to visit the sailing barge Thalatta, nowadays the best example of a wooden coasting barge afloat. For the past 59 years she has offered educational adventure voyages for schools and youth groups nowadays under the auspices of the East Coast Sail Trust. Apart from the years 2006 (her one hundredth birth year) – 2012, when she was being rebuilt, benefitting from funding from the National Lottery together with charitable donations. We were met by volunteer, John Carter-Jonas who not only outlined her history and the way they work with children but also explained how her gear works.

Being a large coasting barge, she has the benefit of a third hand to help handle her gear when at sea, together with the master and mate. All the winches on board are manually operated, including the anchor windlass. John must have given us at least 3 hours of his time answering our questions and all found it fascinating. He even made us all a cup of coffee – thank you John. We are all lucky enough to pass these beautiful vessels from time to time, while sailing on the East Coast, but it’s not often we get the opportunity to go aboard and learn something of how they work.

On the Saturday afternoon, we all got together on Wild Thyme for drinks, nibbles and more conversation, much about our morning’s visit to Thalatta. It transpired that Steve’s father had started his life as a merchant seaman on board a steel sailing barge, the Remercie, out of Mistley.

Thank you to all the participants for coming along.

Jeremy Messervey and Cathy McKenzie are running the Medway Rally as I write and Ian French is preparing for the Titchmarsh Rally on the weekend of 1 & 2 August.

Peter Wright, Organiser

A warm sunny day greeted everyone who attended the get together at Titchmarsh marina for what turned out to be a well attended and pleasant afternoon and enjoyable event.

Attendees in no special order were:

Eleanor and Tony on Svecia
Ruth and Barry on Summer Wine
Evelyn and Andrew with crew Jim on Pigwig
Jo and Ian on Sun and Air
Denise and Steve on Becca
Murray on Indemood Too

A welcome for everyone was organised on Sun and Air during the afternoon with drinks and nibbles. The cockpit proved just big enough to get everyone seated although “cosy”. A lively set of conversations across the whole party ensued.