Event Reports 2024

• Rally to Ipswich – Jun 2024
• Rally to Deben – Aug 2024
• Laying Up Lunch – Oct 2024

Lunch and Annual General Meeting (AGM) – Sunday 20th January 2024

Forty members gathered at The Bull, Great Totham, for lunch followed by the AGM. It was great to see so many members attend, the best turn out since BC. (Before Covid) The AGM has been held at The Bull for some thirteen years so its probably time for a change,
so watch this space as they say.

The meeting proper was the usual short event, over in about thirty minutes, with a report from the Branch Captain, which included last seasons events and what was planned for this year.

The Treasurer’s report and election of Branch Captain and Committee followed. 

Roger Price, East Coast Branch Secretary

The full minutes for the 2024 East Coast AGM can be viewed here: East Coast 2024 AGM Minutes.

The East Coast Branch 2023 Accounts can be viewed here: East Coast 2023 Final Accounts.

Noggin and Natter – Sunday 25th February 2024

This year’s Kent based Noggin and Natter took place at Medway Yacht Club where, once again, we were able to enjoy an excellent roast lunch with some members finding room for both starter and dessert.  Many thanks to Neil and his team.

Twenty members attended, mostly from Kent.   It was good to see some who had not attended a MOA event before and hopefully we will see them at a sailing rally soon.  As usual at this time of year there was much talk about maintenance problems and plans for the coming summer. 

A good way to spend a Sunday lunchtime on a cold and cloudy day in February.

Linda Woolgar

Fitting Out Lunch – Sunday 24th March 2024

Some 29 members turned out for out Fitting Out Lunch at the Butt & Oyster at Pin Mill on the River Orwell. This is one of the favourite East Coast watering holes, is beloved by East Coast yachtsmen and is always very popular. Sunday dawned fine and clear, with some sunshine and a nippy Northeasterly wind blowing.

Nonetheless some of the members attending came early enough to enjoy a stroll up the river side, no doubt to sharpen the appetite! The Butt & Oyster did not disappoint, the lunch was excellent, with very generous portion sizes. No one went away hungry.

As always it was a very sociable occasion and it was good to see some new faces attending, and naturally there was a lot of catching up to do over a beer or glass of wine. Linda Woolgar received the ‘Services to the Branch’ trophy from our Captain Peter Wright, at the end of the meal.

Colin Shead

Rally To The Crouch – 11th – 12th May 2024

Rally to Heybridge Basin – Jun 2024

Four boats met at Bradwell Marina on Monday 17th. Solar Wind, Teteli, Sky Song and Svecia. They all departed at 8 o/c on Tuesday for Heybridge Lock to arrive at the lock-in time of 09.45. We all managed to sail although the wind was light.

On entering the basin we found that Sun and Air had arrived a day earlier, so the crews of now five boats, joined by the crew of Elaine, which had suffered steering problems, and had travelled by car, sat down to a convivial meal in the Jolly Sailor Inn adjacent to the lock.

With the arrival of Troika on Wednesday morning six boats eventually assembled in Heybridge Basin for the BBQ Rally on June 18th.

The six crews, joined by the Branch Captain, Peter, and four non-boat owning members enjoyed bright sunny weather, though a tad chilly, for the BBQ.

All locked out the following morning to make their way to home ports.

Roger Price, Solar Wind

Rally to Ipswich – 28th June – 30th June 2024

Four Moodys arrived in Ipswich at various times on Friday, the passage up the Orwell being made more picturesque than usual as several Thames sailing barges were arriving for the Pin mill Sailing Barge match the following day. Entrance through the lock into Ipswich wet dock was delayed for some due to sailing barge Repertor having trouble making fast in the lock, but all arrived eventually, safe and sound.

That evening, we all enjoyed a convivial meal at the Last Anchor restaurant, made more enjoyable by a 10% discount offered by the Ipswich Beacon Marina to their visitors.

On the sunny Saturday, we walked through the centre of Ipswich to Christchurch mansion, an Elizabethan house where we were lucky enough to have a tour guided by a very knowledgeable lady which was fascinating. Afterwards we had a coffee in the Mansion’s café then some went out into Christchurch Park to hear the 200 year old Ipswich Choral Society singing in celebration of Cardinal Wolsey’s 500th birthday, Wolsey being a son of Ipswich who attended Ipswich School, now situated just across Henley road from Christchurch Park.

On Saturday afternoon, all gathered on Wild Thyme for drinks, nibbles and conversation in the sun.

On Sunday morning, not too early, the boats let go from the pontoon and headed for the lock to make their way back to their home ports.

Peter Wright (Wild Thyme)
Branch Captain

Rally to Deben – 24th – 26th August 2024

This year’s early weather forecast was looking promising. Despite knowing Denise and I were hosting the Deben rally a promising 10 boats, with over 20 persons, recorded an interest to attend. Then, Storm Lilian, named by the Met Office, reported likely travel disruption, flooding, power cuts and dangerous conditions in coastal areas, they continued that the UK will be lashed with heavy rain and strong winds of up to 80mph over the bank holiday weekend. Probably not ideal conditions for
the rally and a possibility that this might put a few boats off.

On Friday, Sky Song (our boat) attempted the sail up to Woodbridge from its Felixstowe Ferry mooring. We set half a headsail in very gusty conditions, in both speed and direction. As we got further inland the sail filled and backed violently several times and as this would have damaged the sail, we decided to motor the rest of the way, often being heeled under bare poles. The decision by the Rally boats to remain in the safety of their berth was very wise.

Despite the conditions and lack of MOA boats in the marina, we had good attendance to the rescheduled meal in the Riverside restaurant. It was with determination that the MOA members who attended Saturday managed to leave their boats that evening (some in SYH) and get to Woodbridge by car. The evening was, thankfully, enjoyed by all.

Sunday’s weather was a bit better and we managed to have a BBQ, again, with most MOA members attending by car. Two boats did manage to get to the marina on Sunday evening, unfortunately arriving just after the BBQ had finished. Credit to them for making the effort, particularly as one had overheating issues on the trip up the Deben the previous day.

A big thank you to all those who attended and to those who had planned to attend but, understandably cancelled in what was the very worst of weather.

Steve Hillyard

Laying Up Lunch – Sunday 27th October 2024

Unlike last years torrential rain, this year members were treated to sunshine, blue skies, and light winds, with excellent views across the River Crouch from The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club.

Forty-one members had booked in to enjoy a carvery lunch, in what has become our traditional venue at this time of year. After pre-dinner drinks from noon, we sat down to another magnificent carvery lunch and dessert.

Our Commodore Paul Woodward and partner Martha Clarke had joined us this year. Paul is visiting as many branches as possible to ‘see how we tick’. After dinner Paul addressed the members present and urged us to support our Branch by joining the Committee and organising events. At our AGM in January next year, two committee members are standing down, so volunteers will be especially welcome.

Paul was followed by our Branch Captain Peter Wright who summarised our achievements with events this year, and sought support for events during 2025. Our Branch AGM and Lunch for 2025 will be on Saturday 25 th January, at the Blue Anchor in Feering. All members will be getting full details by e-mail, and on the web site.

Colin Shead – East Coast Committee Member