Event Reports 2017

Highs and lows of the season were discussed. Lows included a broken fuel tank and its replacement being backed into by a car; an engine that had had enough of this world; a couple of dunkings, and other such trials and tribulations of boat ownership. These were far outweighed by the highs of some lovely sails and happy rallies. Some have thoughts and plans for upgrading to a bigger Moody, some have plans for winter projects, and some are working on plans for intrepid voyages next year. Whatever we each do over the winter we all look forward to happy boating for 2018 – the programme for which has been worked out and is available on the east coast homepage.

Looking forward to seeing many of you next season, keep warm and best wishes for a happy CHristmas and for good weather next summer!

Those arriving on the Friday all met up in the Marina’s Swallowtail restaurant for an evening meal. This is a popular rally given the various activities so we had some 40 members for the marquee lunch and  for nibbles including Yvonne’s famous cakes. Quite a few arrived by virtual boat especially as the weather forecast was pretty grim for the homeward trip. On the Sunday the marquee becomes a boat jumble with stuff you never realised you needed, and some stuff you aren’t sure what you need it to do! Most people seem to end up with a net gain but the RNLI is the winner as several tables give their takings to them!

Yvonne’s excellent cakes

Sunday was another scorcher, Epona made an early departure for Brightlingsea. At lunchtime 14 of us assembled at the marquee again for a BBQ.  After lunch we sheltered in the shade provided by the lock powerhouse, including Scamp the Branch Captain’s Jack Russell, who may well have to be Branch Captain next year, Scamp that is!  Essex Skipper slipped quietly out at silly o’clock on the Monday morning into a very foggy river Medway, followed hour by hour by the rest of the fleet, still much too early for our hosts to wave goodbye!  Another successful Rally on the East Coast. (Thanks to Graham and Mags for the organisation).

A Thames barge trying to capture the breeze.

Scamp for East Coast captain ?

Rally to Walton Backwaters

Each skipper must always make passage decisions for their particular boat, crew, interpretation of weather forecasts and their own attitudes to “challenge” versus “comfort”. This was very apparent on the rally to Walton Backwaters; the forecasts were for very unsettled weather, winds 5-7, rain, heavy showers, the tides and wind direction made for passages at the “challenge” end of the spectrum for those from the south. Also because the forecasts gave heavy rain at the time of the planned Barbeque several boats decided to cancel. A couple of skippers chose to go a day or two early and a couple of others made the journey on the day and were rewarded by weather less horrible than forecast. There were three skippers who chose to go by virtual boat, and of course Derek and Elaine were already there as host boat.

I will decide what way we go home !!!!

However everyone arrived, they were rewarded by drinks and nibbles on Derek and Elaine’s Wispa, migrating from on-deck to down-below and back again as the rain came and went. Fortunately they had had the foresight to do a Plan B and book a table in the Marina restaurant for the 18 members as to barbeque would not have been pleasant!  We all had a lovely evening entertained by magic tricks from Henry (how DID he do that???) various recitations and party tricks. Much laughter and such good company made the journey to Titchmarsh marina so worth while – however it was made. Thank you very much to Derek and Elaine for their hard work and adaptability in making it a successful rally.

On a serious note, Phyl off Epona had a fall off the pontoon whilst mooring. She fell into the water probably because her shoe caught and tripped her but the difficulty is always getting someone out of the water. She was wearing her lifejacket of course and was fully concious, three fully able chaps were there in seconds but even they had a job getting her back onto the pontoon. The salutary lesson is ALWAYS wear a lifejacket while berthing and learn how to lift a person from a low level and/or look where the ladders are. Phyl is fine with a couple of bruises.

The afternoon saw Cantata depart for Dover.  In the evening we meet up with members of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club in the Yacht Club Boulognais.  When we negotiated our way back to the boats we all agreed that La Goulade must be stronger than we had thought!

Next day we set off either for home or holidays with memories of a most enjoyable weekend.

Linda Woolgar

Rally to Heybridge Basin

The annual pantomime that is our rally to Heybridge Basin was as glorious as ever. The sun shone all weekend and we sweltered in the heat as the Heybridge Regatta got into full swing on the Saturday. You may have experienced the blazer and boater elegance of The Henley Regatta, watching the muscular and disciplined athletes powering down the course. Well this was absolutely nothing like that. The rowing races included ‘Blindfold rowing’, and ‘Shovel rowing’ (handy tip next time you row with shovels – use the backs not the scooped side). Some races were serious – The Smacks and Bawlies fleet is very competitive around the area, and some races were awe inspiring – the “Classic Wooden One Design Yachts” were majestic in the light wind. Back to nonsense in the late afternoon with many of the local ‘Young Dudes’ fired up with excess beer and testosterone pillow fighting on a very greasy pole slung across the lock! In the Marquee the RNLI stall did a good trade in Christmas Cards (yes – the ‘C’ word already) and 2018 calendars etc. The Cake Competition was for – recipe supplied – Chocolate and Guinness cake – which about sums up The Heybridge Basin Regatta!

All aboard Saraband

Five boats sensibly arrived on the Friday, not just to get berthed and rafted more easily but the weather was so wonderful. Three only had to totter up the river Blackwater but they were joined by members from the river Colne and the river Deben. The lock from the river Blackwater into the Chelmer and Blackwater canal can operate only about 3 times across high tide and take 4 or maybe 5 boats at a squash so spreading the arrival over a couple of days is helpful, especially when 2 big Smacks complete with generous bowsprits decide they want to enter the canal basin! The Friday contingent met up at The Jolly Sailor for a meal and chatter then carried on chatting over coffee on Sansofé until the sun went down over the mud.

Two more boats arrived from the river Crouch and the river Medway on the Saturday, and along with members off 3 virtual boats we all piled onto Robin and Linda’s Saraband for a wonderful selection of nibbles and afternoon drinks (lovely bread pudding too!).

Heybridge Basin has a good BBQ area and lots of picnic tables so in the evening out came the BBQs, the sausages, the corn cobs and all sorts of things people think will be better BBQ’d. More chattering, more laughing and a good time had by all. Mike Ballinger Branch Captain thanked everyone for coming and thanked Robin and Linda for all their hard work organising a successful event.

Concentration and fenders at the ready as we all jockeyed about for the Sunday lockings then off to our various home ports with sunshine and excellent winds making for excellent sailing. Sadly the timing of the lockings meant we missed The Raft racing but heyho there’s only so much excitement one can take! Thanks Robin and Linda for a great weekend.

Betty departing for home

More nibbles and drinks!

9 boats came from various  places and most chose to pack themselves into the marina with help from waiting hands. It was lovely to see Crazy Diamond with new members the Ford-Crush family having sailed from Fambridge which is quite a jaunt. We were also joined by a virtual Solar Wind who came via the A12. A noisy and fun afternoon was spent by 25 members and 3 dogs aboard host boat Epona, with Phyl and Pete providing the necessary refreshments.

Then it was over to a new venue for us – The Yachtsman’s Arms – for a meal. It turned out to be a good choice as the food, service and seating were very good. Eventually we all returned to our boats tired, full and happy!

The marina at Brightlingsea has a cill so the morning was spent relaxing and ‘people/boat watching’ until boats could rejoin the Colne and set off for a fair sail home.

A big thank you to Pete and Phyl Sander for organising and hosting a really enjoyable rally.

Rally to Shotley Marina

Following close on the heals of our rally to Tollesbury was the rally to Shotley Marina, opposite Felixstowe docks. There is a lock into the marina which gets very busy at summer weekends so there was a lot of milling about waiting just outside the shipping lane into Harwich! Some of our members met up and started the chatting whilst in the queue! Colin and Yvonne on host boat Namaqua had gone up the day before so were there to point out berths and assist with ropes.

Due to the numbers everyone congregated for drinks and nibbles on Sansofé whilst the sun beat down. Scamp and Bailey got fed up and spent the afternoon snoozing, some ignored the style-fairy and donned unsuitable sunhats.

In the late afternoon the barbeques came out. The marina had kindly allocated an area where we could all congregate (noticeably at the very far end furthest away from anyone else including The Shotley Owners barbeque which was giving a send off to 3 of their boats who were setting off on the Monday for a round Britain cruise although given what the weather did on the Sunday night I bet they delayed a while!). Lots of chat and smoke then we all retired back to Namaqua for tea and coffee or more importantly Yvonne’s wonderful cakes!

Entrance to Tollesbury Marina

Among the many tiny creeks and saltings that make up Woodrolfe creek lie the abandoned dreams of many a would-be sailor, rotting and breaking up. A few are possibly still used if the owner can find their way in and out of the tiny rivulets on spring tides, some could possibly be restored with a lot of TLC and money and time, but the majority are gradually succumbing to the ravages of the weather and salt water, nature wins in the end.

Fitting Out Lunch

The Butt and Oyster at Pin Mill was the setting for the Fitting Out lunch again this year, and it did us proud – as in previous years. No-one had ventured to this most beautiful of places on the river Orwell by boat – as in previous years. However no matter where the car journey had started and despite the adventure of getting down the very long and very narrow track down to the pub it was worth it for the 29 members who assembled to excitedly discuss the plans and intentions for the coming season. Many of us will return to Pin Mill later in the summer and hopefully have a lovely fish lunch basking in the summer sun (!) outside the pub, admiring the view and watching all the different craft sailing / chugging past.

Many thanks to Robin Harris for organising the event and labelling us. It was great to see friends new and old chattering and laughing together, enjoying a good meal and good company. And now let’s get boating!

Branch Captain Mike Ballinger opened proceedings by asking everyone to remember in their thoughts Mike Peyton who passed away earlier in the week. He was a well known and liked East Coast sailor, known also for his cartoons that appeared in the sailing press.

The AGM part of the day was squeezed in between the ‘orange and cointreau bread and butter pudding’ or the ‘chocolate parfait with passion fruit gel’ and the coffee. Mike Ballinger gave his Branch Captain’s report highlighting the increasing turnout at most Rallies and shore based events, and thanked the committee, and all the rally and event hosts for all their hard work and support throughout last season. Robin Harris presented the accounts and Roger Price invited nominations/volunteers for the committee positions. Following a deafening silence the committee all agreed to carry on. Unfortunately there had been no nominations or suggestions for recipients of the 2 trophies so without further ado the AGM was declared over and we all went back to chattering! A big thanks to Roger Price organising the day and Robin Harris for his labels!