Summer holiday shakedown cruise, 21-24 July

No charges for this evening berth in Holbrook Bay

At last, the summer holidays have arrived and it's always important to set out one's stall, as it were.  This will be a summer of sailing - as if it hadn't been already.

100.7nm

The first instalment on Saturday 21st July, was to tag along with a Dinghy Cruising Association rally - the first time I had done this.  They happened to be in the area, so it seemed churlish not to.  The plan was to launch on the Orwell, sail around to Holbrook Bay, beach our boats for the evening, making use of a local pub, and then back the next day.  I like that ethos: no expensive marina fees, free moorings courtesy of 'mother nature'.  In the event, Daisy II was one of four participating boats.



Other DCA boats

Evening berth, courtesy of 'mother nature' in Holbrook Bay

The evening was only spoilt by the pub claiming it was too busy to serve us food, thus forcing me to work through some tins of rations on the boat. When we arrived at the pub for beer at 9.10pm, it was completely deserted, so they couldn't have been that busy...

Day 1: 19.0nm

The following day, I parted company from the others and sailed out of the Stour, down The Wallet to Pyefleet Creek opposite Brightlingsea.



Yet again, Pyefleet rewarded me with some excellent sunset imagery.

Day 2: 30.2nm

On 23rd, I motored out to Colne Point and then set sail back up The Wallet, bound for The Deben.  The weather was set fair, with light winds, and progress was steady and I arrived at The Rocks anchorage at about 3pm.
Later that evening, I called in at Waldringfield for a bite to eat in the pub.

Beached at Waldringfield

...before retiring to The Rocks for the night.

Day 3: 36.2

Finally, on the 24th, I motored back round to Woolverstone to return home.

Becalmed on the final morning - anchored at The Rocks, River Deben



Day 4: 15.3nm