May 25-27, Duet with coaster 'Windsong'

Daisy II and Windsong on the mooring at Pin Mill

This was supposed to be the weekend of the Drascombe Association River Blackwater rally.  However, for various reasons, not least of which was a discouraging weather forecast, other boats pulled out.  In the meantime, coaster Windsong's Skipper requested the opportunity to tag along, happy to go wherever since "anywhere on the east coast was a long way from Leamington Spa..."  I had been serious about going down the coast to the Blackwater, but wasn't completely sure about the forecast.  This gave me the perfect excuse to stay in home waters, and then to take Daisy II off the mooring for a few weeks in order to attend rallies at Pitsford Reservoir (later this week) and then Wells-next-the-Sea the weekend after next.

So, on Saturday at around noon, Windsong launched at Woolverstone Marina, and then joined me at Pin Mill for a three day, two night cruise.

Windsong rowing away from Woolverstone Marina - the beginning of an adventure!

The Saturday plan was to sail from the Orwell to a remote anchorage in the Walton Backwaters.  We began by motoring upstream to anchor off Freston, whilst Windsong's skipper sorted out the cabin and I made some lunch.
Winds were North to North-westerly Force 3 gusting 4, so we had the wind with us all of the way to the Backwaters.  Windsong's rig has the yard hanging off the mast and creates a square sail - more power up top.  We both had reefed main with jib, but opted to do without the mizzen.

Sailing down the Orwell

We reached Landmere Creek, off Hamford Water at about 5.30pm and settled down for an evening of beer, wine and food, listening to the wildlife and eventually retiring to respective cabins for some well-earned rest.

Sunday morning, winds were much the same as yesterday.  The plan was to motor sail out of the Backwaters, starting at 8am, and catch the flood from Harwich harbour all the way up the Stour to Manningtree.  The plan hatched perfectly and even allowed us to do without any engines: perfect Drascombe sailing.  In Harwich harbour, there were absolutely no container ships at Felixstowe's Trinity Terminal, so we were able to reach across the harbour and then tack back across towards Harwich.  We then tacked up the Stour, reaching Manningtree by 12.40pm.  Lunch at anchor presented an opportunity to exchange experiences with the morning's sail.
The afternoon allowed us a short amount of time, on an already ebbing tide, to motor around Manningtree.  We then set sail for a wonderful reach down the Stour.

Windsong in Holbrook Bay, returning from Manningtree

Pamela Jean caught napping off Erwarton.

Windsong under attack from giant dangling warp

Windsong sailing down the Stour

There was also an opportunity for some video footage as we sailed along the Stour

Rounding Shotley Point, the tide was continuing its strong ebb, and we were not able to manage under sail alone.  So, we decided to motor up the Orwell to Pin Mill, sharing my mooring and further beer, wine, food and conversation.

Daisy II and Windsong at Pin Mill

On Monday, we took a morning sail with the flood upstream, under the Orwell Bridge and into Ipswich, before parting at Woolverstone, both boats taken out of the water in order to attend the midweek Drascombe Association Pitsford Reservoir rally.

Windsong framed by the central span of the Orwell Bridge

Dumper truck, being dumped!

56.2nm; white track Saturday - Orwell to Walton Backwaters; red track Sunday - Walton Backwaters to Manningtree, then back to Pin Mill; green track Monday - Pin Mill to Ipswich and back; season's total: 145.1nm