The end of an era...

...sadly, I'll be selling Daisy II.  This is because I'm in the process of buying Daisy III, a Bay Cruiser 20, built in 2013, from the Swallow Yachts stable, similar to the one in the image below.

It's all a bit unexpected: one cannot pick and choose when such boats come on the market.  The new boat is one I've had my eye on for some time and it was just a case of waiting for the right one to come up at the right price. 


In due course, a new blog will commence detailing continuing sailing adventures in the new boat.  No doubt, that blog will include details of the reasons for the change.  In the meantime, the next post on here will contain sales details of Daisy II for anyone who may be interested in acquiring her.

Wells next the sea rally

Sunrise over 'Bob Hall's Sand'

I've attended the Wells rally three times now.  On the previous two occasions, the locals tried to organise an expedition down the coast, overnighting and returning on the next tide.  Unfortunately, conditions are key to pulling this off and luck wasn't on our side.

This time, it all came together...

Dawn on Saturday 29th

I rose at the crack of dawn to make use of the early flood tide.  There was no wind, but the scenery was stunning, particularly as the sun rose.

West cardinal

After reaching the west cardinal, I motored back to port.

We had berths alongside a new (to me) jetty

On the afternoon tide, we sailed west to Scolt Head island, at the entrance to of the channel to Burnham Overy.  Winds were SSE F4.  The tide along the North Norfolk coast habitually runs east from a couple of hours before HW, so we were reaching against this, but still making around 4kts.

Reaching Scolt Head Island, we anchored and played in the glorious late afternoon sunshine, waiting for the tide to drop before taking the beach.

Anchorage off Scott Head Island

Swimming between Drascombes

Daisy II beginning to settle, unfortunately with her head down the sloping bank

Beached Drascombes

The evening was spent in good company, aboard Salford, one of the boats from the Coastal Exploration Company.  Here, a rather reluctant fire was slowly cooking sausages whilst participating skippers and crew drank grog.

Our leader, Peter, had organised the charter of Salford, one of the boats from the Coastal Exploration company.  https://coastalexplorationcompany.co.uk/about/#boats

Early the following morning, we left at sunrise, taking the return tide to Wells.  Winds had freshened to F5 W, daunting at first, but perfect for the return trip.

Rita Mae enjoying the action on the return trip, Salford just visible on the horizon

Return to Wells

Reaching port

Yellow track: early morning tide, 29th June, 5,8nm;
red track: afternoon trip to Scolt Head Island, 6.8nm;
green track: return trip to Wells next the sea, early tide on 30th June, 5.5nm.
Altogether, 18.1 nm.

Orwell to Walton Backwaters 15-16 June

Moonlight over Horsey Mere

A spare weekend, and an opportunity to pop down to the coast for a one-nighter.  

Launched at Woolverstone, and mostly motored over to the Backwaters almost directly into a fresh Southerly F5/6 blow.

Seals in Kirby Creek

Sanctuary in the Backwaters was found up Kirby Creek, trying not to disturb the local wildlife, including a colony of seals a little further upstream.  Conditions in Landermere Creek were too windy, but there is always more shelter to be found somewhere.

Wind over tide, departing from Hamford Water

The reward for motoring all that way was a delightful return sail with the wind behind me almost the entire way.  I left the Backwaters on the fresh flood, and sailed across Dovercourt Bay in increasingly lumpy conditions, reaching the safety of Harwich harbour before the forecast winds of 20mph arrived.

Thames barges moored on the River Orwell

Back in the Orwell, a reach past Pin Mill as always presented plenty of boats to admire.

New rope clutch replacing the previous cleats.  Still some tidying up to do.

The latest modification is a rope clutch for three halyards, replacing the two cleats that used to be there.  Works well.

White track, Saturday 15th June, 14.3nm; Red track, Sunday 16th June 16.4nm; Total length 30.7nm

May 29-31, Walton Backwaters

Sunset over Skipper Island

Another May half term cruise.  Other commitments narrowed the window of opportunity to these three days.  Winds were S backing SW F5/6 initially, becoming F4/5 later.  Gusty conditions such as these are never my favourite, but it was good to be challenged.  Selected Walton Backwaters as a base, due to strength of winds in the forecast, and the abundance of safe anchorages.


Wednesday 29th May

Muddy slipway at HW+4, Titchmarsh Marina

Launched at Titchmarsh Marina.  Short trip down the Walton Channel, and briefly looking out into Dovercourt Bay.  Southerly F6 gusts made for rough conditions (by my standards) so retired to Landermere Creek.

Anchored in Landermere Creek

Thursday 30th May
Brief hiatus when outboard wouldn't start, so returned by sail across Horsey Mere to the Marina.  It turned out that the outboard had merely flooded.  So, returned across Horsey Mere by motor, and then by sail out of the Backwaters.  Winds had abated too F4/5 SW, so sailed across to Harwich and over to Shotley for lunch, and then up and down the Orwell.  Returned by sail to the Backwaters for an extremely pleasant anchorage/drying out opposite Honey Island (Kirby Creek).

Seals in Kirby Creek

Friday 31st May

Winds still SW gusting to F5.  Had to take the boat out at HW (10.30am) due to commitments elsewhere.  Brief sail towards Landermere Quay before returning via Hamford Water and the Walton Channel to Titchmarsh Marina.

White track: 29th May, 6.5nm; Green track: 30th May, 29.6nm; Red track: 6.4nm.  Total length: 42.5nm

River Blackwater, 18-19 May, 2019

Peaceful anchorage in Bradwell Creek

This was the Blackwater Rally which almost didn't happen.  Plans had been abandoned due to lack of interest, and then Lugger Eileen Mary became a very late participant.   So, an informal rally was resurrected.  We agreed to use anchorages rather than marinas and the resulting adventure was just as fun, and probably with even more sailing.

Eileen Mary making the most of the vespers of wind on offer.

On Saturday, we motored with the flood tide upstream, past Osea where the wind slowly worked itself into action, and then on to Heybridge.

At last, something filling the sails...

Running down to Heybridge

Looking back towards Osea Island

Once past Heybridge, we went round Northey Island, and back downstream with the now fresh ebb.  The wind picked up as I passed Goldhanger Creek, particularly with the ebb driving us on.  Winds were SE F3 and, once past Stone (where I put some Drascombe literature in the cockpits of the moored coasters Maid of Stone and Wagtail) we had a pleasant reach at speeds of up to 6 knots, up to the power station.

Winds were spicier returning back downstream with the ebb

Late afternoon, we retired to Bradwell Creek for the evening.

Evening anchorage in Bradwell Creek.

The next morning, winds were non-existent.  In somewhat gloomy drizzle, we motored across to Tollesbury - where more literature found its way into the cockpit of Drascombe Longboat (or was it Lugger?) Aaron.  Subsequently, we paid a visit to West Mersea, before returning to Bradwell and recovering boats.

David and Goliath

Sculling into position at Bradwell Marina.

Red track: Saturday 18th May, 22.2nm; White track: Sunday 19th May, 10.4nm.  Total trip length: 32.6nm

May Bank Holiday Norfolk Broads cruise, 5-6 May

Launched at Whispering Reeds boatyard

Jimbo on the River Bure

Creeping along Meadow Dyke

Jimbo rounding Pleasure Island, Hickling Broad

Rita-Mae rounding Pleasure Island, Hickling Broad

Rita-Mae on Hickling Broad

Jimbo on Hickling Broad

Overnight moorings on Womack Water, Ludham

Jimbo beating a passage along the River Bure

St Benet's Abbey, entrance gate, later converted into a mill

Mast-raising/lowering at Potter Heigham

Jimbo on Hickling Broad

Rita Mae on the River Bure

Jimbo on Hickling Broad

This cruise was intended as a re-run of last year's Lowestoft Loop rally.  However, inclement conditions on the Saturday forced a postponement by one day, and a general change of plan which didn't involve sea passages.  Hence, we launched from Hickling Broad, cruising along the River Thurne to the River Bure.
We took in St Benet's Abbey before retiring to a peaceful mooring just inside Womack Water leading to Ludham.
The following day, we returned along the Thurne, back under the bridge at Potter Heigham, once again to the peace and tranquility of Horsey Mere for lunch, and then returning to base at Hickling.
Winds were northerly F4, veering north-westerly (F3/4) on the second day.
Participating boats:
Luggers: Rita-Mae, Jimbo
Coaster: Daisy II

Day 1: red/yellow tracks (11.4nm); Day 2: white/green tracks (10.5nm).  Total trip length 21.9nm

[Note on Google track.  I'm beginning to get the hang of the new, slightly less user-friendly interface between the Garmin software and Google Earth.  It involves exporting the Garmin file, and then reimporting it into Google Earth.]