S.O.I.A. Anglia Group newsletter - July 2002

Dearies,

What a time we had at Brightlingsea! Wall to wall sunshine, the right amount of wind – well, most of the time – and I think we managed to achieve our ambition of getting the East Midlanders to spend more time sailing than drinking. They nearly stole a march on us by getting there a day early and spending the first night in Bradwell Marina with a little visit to the Green Man. We were too late on Friday to catch the tide at Tollesbury so we launched at Levington and sailed down to the Colne on a perfect summer’s evening, arriving in Pyefleet at 2230, where Westerly Pageant Lincoln Aries (Bill and Bett Julier) was already moored.

After a quiet night we sailed round to the Blackwater and met a fleet of six Silhouettes leaving Bradwell for Brightlingsea. The hour it would have taken them to sail to Brightlingsea obviously wouldn’t be enough to even cancel out the time spent in the Green Man so we turned them about and sailed upriver to anchor off Osea Island for lunch, giving them a little excitement by leading them over Thirslet Spit. One hour was allowed for lunch as the tide was against us for the trip back: as it turned out the fair breeze got us back to Brightlingsea by 6pm. This time we provided more spine-tingling excitement by leading the fleet over the Cokum Hills on a falling tide.(We were trying to beat Omebac who was taking the deepwater route) (We failed)

Already on the pontoon were Lincoln Aries and SII Serene (Arnold and Margaret Handley). On his mooring nearby was Bob Nicholson with SII Amy and Bob’s beautifully restored Montagu Whaler. Soon another seven Silhouettes were moored up to the pontoon, and in due course the water taxi picked us all up and delivered us to the Colne Yacht Club, where eighteen hungry sailors sat down to a hearty meal. We were sharing the restaurant with Maldon Little Ship Club and Tollesbury Cruising Club, and they welcomed us to their midst.

Shortly before turning back into a water-pumpkin the water taxi patiently ferried large quantities of bibulous sailors back to the right boats, and the pontoon went very quiet!

The sun was still shining and the breeze was still fair the next day, and Margaret and Arnold were heading back for the Wivenhoe Regatta. That sounded like fun so we decided to follow them later. First we had a date with Bob Nicholson’s Whaler, Vancouver! Eleven Silhouetters piled on board and under Bob’s efficient command we soon had her beating up the Colne, taking it in turn to helm her, and dipping the lug as we tacked. She was so speedy after the Silhouetters we were quite exhilarated by our voyage, but hunger finally brought us in for lunch. At this stage, Bob Legg and Roger Titshall in Omebac headed back for Tollesbury as some people had to work on Monday.

Then six Silhouettes set off for Wivenhoe and caused quite a stir when they all arrived on the sailing club pontoon. The Handleys treated us to liquid refreshment and we also had a stroll through the village, before heading back downriver, meeting up with Amy. Seven Silhouettes arrived back in Pyfleet and rafted up on one mooring for supper (another plot to keep them out of the pub…) – quite a sight! We did think about seizing the opportunity to sail up the coast as a north-easterly was forcast for the next day. However, the south easterly died as the day cooled and we returned to join the gang. After enjoying a fine sunset we separated from the raft and moved to a mooring further up the creek near Lincoln Aries. Peace reigned all night.

We woke for the 0535 forecast the next morning (N3-4) and were soon under way for the Orwell in a light northerly that picked up as we crossed the Colne Bar. Gradually the wind built up and veered into the north-east so that by Clacton we were having to tack - and the tide turned on us. Off Walton pier – tummies ready for lunch – the wind suddenly picked up some more, and the sea got up accordingly. Quickly we handed the genoa and replaced it with the jib, but we were still over-canvassed. Reluctant to reef, as the cranes of Felixstowe were in our sights and anyway we had our hands full, Brian sat out on the side deck, and spilling wind when necessary we bounced and splashed our way at considerable speed across Pennyhole Bay, being regularly dowsed by flying waves.

A couple of hours later with some strong gusts now adding to the fun we at last gained shelter once well inside the Orwell. We had now been sailing for eight hours and were tired and hungry, so we picked up a mooring outside Levington Marina to sort ourselves out before going in, and had soon crashed out in the cockpit. When we finally got home we felt we had had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend with MORE SAILING THAN DRINKING!! Thank you everyone for your wonderful company.

PS What happened to the others? The four East Midland boats, and Golden Moon and Amy headed up to Maldon on Monday, pausing at Heybridge and meeting up with three youthful Silhouette Sailors, who we have heard about from Roy Sporne. They carried on up to Maldon for the night, touring a Thames barge and eating at the Jolly Sailor. (How long did they spend in there?) I believe Colin had a close encounter with the water at some stage but no details at time of going to press! The fleet left early with the tide on Tuesday morning, Mike returning up the coast to Ipswich (see below) and the East Midlanders hauling out at Tollesbury. Amy, no doubt, lingered a little – the joys of retirement, eh?

And here’s Mike’s tale: (excuse colour – self-willed computer)

"My return trip was rather uneventful. I had a 6am start from Bradwell Marina, and was close hauled against a fairly gentle N wind. This died soon after I passed Walton pier, so I motored until just after Felixstowe docks. The wind then came back from the NE, which was fine for the rest of the trip back to Ipswich. I got to OYC at about 2pm.

Sailing highlights of the week have to be the sail on the whaler (of course) and the wind-over-tide roller-coaster beat down the Wallet on the way down. On the social side, it was certainly very sociable. Overall, one of the best sailing holidays I can remember."

AND SO SAY ALL OF US.

Silhouettes present: Anglia Group boats – SII Serene, with Arnold and Margaret Handley, SII Amy, with Bob and Marga Nicholson, SII Sula (us), SIII Omebac with Roger Titshall and Bob Legg, and SIII Golden Moon with Mike Atkins.

East Midland boats - SII Polly with Dave Milner, SIII Misty with Alf Baldwin and Adrian Piggford, SIII Blessim with Tony Eden and SIII Allegro with Colin Robinson. Not forgetting Lincoln Aries, the only boat we can nearly all squeeze on, with Bett and Bill Julier, and the Montagu Whaler Vancouver, star of the show.

MAILBAG : Remember Thomas Jackaman, who rescued the fibreglass SII from the roadside at Tollesbury, and who brings down the average age of the group by about ten years? Here is news of Pelican’s progress:

"Pelican is starting to take shape. We have just put the keels back on, and the inside is just about finished. We still have to refit the skeg as the old one was rotten. We are also in the process of making a new rudder shaft, the old one was going rusty and had seen better days. We still have lots of work to do but hopefully we’ll get there soon. Our next job is to sand down and paint the hull - it is going to be white."

There’ll be great excitement when we first spot Pelican on the water – ED.

OMEBAC and MISTY go Dutch: Bob Legg’s entertaining write-up of this trip is on the Anglia page of the web site now, and will be in Real Writing in the journal in due course.

Arnold and Margaret renege! They have acquired another boat – a Valiant, a little more spacious than a Silhouette, and needing some fitting out - a project for Arnold, to keep him out from under Margaret’s feet during the winter months.

OSAILING DATES…

Plymouth "Ruby" Rally – August 17th-23rd.

Norfolk Broads - September 13th to 15th, details below.

Next year – Tony Eden (East Midlands) is researching the possibilities of a meeting on the Caledonian Canal. Watch this space!

N.B. Sand-yacht racing on Southport beach is no longer viable due to hazards to navigation caused by daily sandcastle competitions.

NTHE BROADS

Launching will be at Burgh Castle Marina on Friday 13th (whoops – we aren’t superstitious are we?) All the usual facilities and plenty of parking space for trailers. Burgh Castle is on the south bank of the Waveney about a mile upriver from Breydon Water, and about four miles from Great Yarmouth.

Where we go and what we do will depend on wind and tide, but there are several convenient hostelries. We researched the Berney Arms last weekend, only accessible by boat or boot. We booted it. If you want to know how we came to be walking along a railway line and through a field with a bull in it, ask Brian…

Roman has a Silhouette to dispose of. He considers it to be beyond saving as a whole boat but it has good bits and bobs. If anyone would like it for spare parts or recycling then they are welcome to come and take it away for a small consideration. He lives in Colchester and his phone number is 01206 522213

The next meeting at the Orwell Yacht Club will be on September 14th at 8pm. A few of us will be on the Broads but that shouldn’t stop the rest of you having a good time!

LAST GASP: We are about to rejoin our Eventide Avocet, on the west coast of Lancashire where we left her last year, to continue the Odyssey. We are hoping to drink Manx beer in the Isle of Man and Irish Guinness in Ireland. All will be revealed in the next newsletter, which should be in early September. Perhaps I should say expect it when you see it!

Good sailing, full and bye,

Elizabeth Letzer July 02.