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
Things have been dormant on here over winter. Finally, I've managed to launch and have some fun, albeit on a cold, damp, and mostly murky few days on and around the Orwell. Rather than post pictures here, it has all been put in a youtube video. Here's to great sailing in 2018...!
Easter cruising has been in Daisy II's repertoire since I purchased her in late 2006. So, this year sees the eleventh incarnation of the event. Last season's early Easter yielded a launch date on the last day in March at Bradwell Marina and a lovely cruise within the confines of the Blackwater Estuary. This season, musical commitments up until 1st April somewhat delayed proceedings. I then needed a few days of recovery before spending 3rd April putting things back on the boat and preparing for launching the next day.
112.0nm
The forecast for the week was dominated by a high pressure system moving slowly across the UK. This presented an opportunity too good to miss and the chance to do some coastal hops. I would like to have gone south, perhaps back to Kent and could well have done so, but would have needed afternoon tides to achieve this and it's really good to make use of mornings.
Tuesday 4th April
Afloat once again at Bradwell Marina slipway.
Bradwell Marina was once again the selected launchpad for the season's shakedown cruise. Tides were right to drift off to Osea Island for an evening anchorage on the south side of the island.
Light winds on the way along to Osea Island
8.2nm
Wednesday 5th April
Tides were right for an early start and a trip up the coast to the River Deben. Winds were, as promised, from the north-west and a pleasant F3 was good for sailing up to the pier at Walton. At this point, the tide was slack and, to speed things along with the wind now on the nose, I used the motor for the trip across to Landguard Point. Once across the shipping channel, I went close in to shore and sails were set once more for a sail past Felixstowe. The motor was employed once again to negotiate the sometimes tricky Deben entrance before a pleasant beat with the tide upstream against a fading breeze to a quiet evening anchorage just short of Methersgate Quay.
Evening anchorage near Methersgate Quay (well, actually, I think it's the next morning...)
Detail of tacks up the River Deben
40.8nm
Thursday 6th April
The first task today was to pop up to Woodbridge for some shopping. As is so often the case, there was little early morning wind so the motor was used.
Briefly tied up at Tide Mill Quay, Woodbridge.
The tide had now turned so I set sail for a trip back down the Deben, out to sea and south west to the Walton Backwaters. I sailed rather close in to Landguard Point by which time it was close to LW and I clumsily scraped the centreplate on the shelf there. Winds were turning more westerly as I reached the channel into the Backwaters.
Lugger entering Oakley Creek
I then found an afternoon anchorage on the north side of Horsey Island for some early supper during which time a green lugger with several passengers aboard made its way from Landermere and up Oakley Creek. Closer inspection through the binoculars showed a remarkable colony of seals at the entrance and I resolved to pop up there myself later the same evening. I wasn't disappointed.
Seals in Oakley Creek
21.5nm
Detail of track in Oakley Creek
Friday 7th April
Low tide was at 4am and I resolved to rise at 3am in order to be off the Naze Tower ready to hitch a lift on the fresh flood tide. Unfortunately, I miscalculated and found the boat high and dry. So, it was back to the bunk for a couple of hours. At 5am, Daisy II was afloat and I departed, taking in breakfast along the way.
Sunrise off the Naze Tower
Unfortunately, there was little by way of a meaningful breeze, so I had to put up with noise from the engine for the trip down The Wallet. By 9am I was pulling in to Brightlingsea. It would be good to pull in there, one day, and find an open cafe. Yet again, I was disappointed today.
Brightlingsea
So, I anchored up the Pyefleet Channel for a bite to eat. Later, I sailed out of the Colne and as far round the Mersea Flats as I could before the ebb overpowered the effect of the sails. Then, engine was once again deployed for a trip in to West Mersea for mid-afternoon fish and chips.
Finally, an afternoon breeze took me up to an evening anchorage off Mundon Stone Point in Lawling Creek.
Mundon Stone Point anchorage
36.0nm
Saturday 8th April
The morning brought on sea fog, so it took longer than anticipated for the planned return to Bradwell Creek.
5.5nm
The final piece of excitement was a broken mast crutch somewhere in Braintree! So, I improvised a splint consisting of two pieces of wood and lashings of rope - which, having had a winter clearout, if nothing else made it clear to me as to why it is necessary to have copious quantities of rope aboard. It also drove home a good reason for keeping pieces of wood well varnished...!
Improvised splint supporting the broken mast crutch.
Another year, another ECC. This time, it made sense to combine it with a Drascombe rally based at the Walton Backwaters. This was a hugely enjoyable event on its own, but to have an extended postlude cruising around the coast is wonderful!
Here's a link to some video clips taken during the week:
As may be expected, the weather played its part and, for the most part, a strong westerly airflow kept ambitions in check - F6 was a constant feature in the inshore waters forecast. However, there were opportunities to put in some extensive coastal passages and, whilst Daisy II didn't break into any new waters, nearly 200nm of cruising speaks for itself.
Overall rally and cruise, 196.6nm
Friday 5th August
At one point, it was questionable as to whether Daisy II would ever make it to the coast - here she is, trailer still being mended on the morning of the day I was due to travel. However, to cut a long story short, she has now been mended - new brakes, new wheels/tyres and various other new bits and pieces - all at considerable expense. Fortunately, the trailer now runs very smoothly, the shaking has gone and the hubs are cool after a run.
Trailer woes finally fixed - in the nick of time...
Saturday 6th August
The first day of the rally. We were based in Titchmarsh Marina who were exceptionally helpful and welcoming. Today's plan was a well rehearsed trip down the Walton Channel, into Hamford Water and along Landermere Creek.
Daisy II rigging the main
Various delays amongst some boats meant that we didn't quite make it to the top of the navigation at Beaumont Quay - in which respect, Daisy II was to make amends later in the week.
Drascombe raft for lunch off Landermere Quay
Lugger Rita May in Landermere Creek
Winds were light today although a fine breeze picked up during our return from lunch, up Kirby Creek and across Horsey Mere.
Tacking up Kirby Creek
As rally organiser, it's always challenging ensuring all the boats that set out return safely, particularly when crossing this stretch of water where the depth is only really reliable at HW. Having crossed the shallowest part, Daisy II dropped sails, waiting for all participants to return before heading back to the marina. It would have been nice to have relied on the camera at this point, but sadly it developed a focusing fault which plagued photography intermittently during the remainder of the trip, standing in the way of some potentially good pictures...
Coaster Appuskidu - impressionist style...
Fortunately, coaster Mellon's skipper's photography was rather more successful...
Daisy II on Horsey Mere
Appuskidu on Horsey Mere
Daisy II and Drifter 22 Rose heading back to base after crossing Horsey Mere
In the evening, a convivial supper was enjoyed by all in the conveniently located Harbour Lights restaurant.
Saturday 6th August; 11.4nm
Sunday 7th August
Titchmarsh Marina made a superb venue for the weekend rally
Whilst winds the previous day were light, today provided a flavour of things to come - westerly, relatively sheltered whilst in the Walton Channel but testing in the open reach of Hamford Water.
Coasters Daisy II, Appuskidu and Mellon spent time beating up the latter stretch...
... before returning to join the remainder of the fleet for a picnic lunch at Stone Point.
Stone Point made for a convenient lunch stop in strengthening F5-6 westerly winds.
Daisy II taking the stern-to kedge approach
After lunch, rally boats departed.
Lugger Rita May on the slipway at Titchmarsh - the slip is good for use at most states of the tide, although it is muddy and slippy at lower states.
Sunday 7th August; 8.8nm
Monday 8th August- trip to the River Deben
Mellon and Valentine sailing off Felixstowe
Yesterday's winds were forecast to prevail and so stood in the way of a planned voyage south. Instead, we enjoyed a run across the shipping channel off Felixstowe, sailing into the Deben.
As is so often the case, whilst winds were relatively tame at sea and passing through Woodbridge Haven, the first stretch of the Deben named Sea Reach presented more of a challenge - any westerly winds tend to funnel down this channel and we found ourselves beating into a North Westerly. This was until Daisy II went tamely aground on the turn off Green Point and, rather more calamitously, Mellon's winch broke off joining Davy Jones in his locker.
We stopped for lunch just beyond Ramsholt at the southerly end of The Rocks and, thinking ahead to the next day's planned trip south, a replacement winch was successfully ordered from a chandlery in Brightlingsea.
Tide Mill Quay - I've stopped here many times and notice, this time, that the local council has changed its terms, replacing the 24 hour free mooring sign with a rather less welcoming notice about mooring requiring prior permission. It would be a big shame if access to the town were denied to cruisers - we do spend money in local shops and pubs. I will need to look into this...
After stopping in Woodbridge for an hour, we enjoyed a pleasant run downstream...
Valentine running past Methersgate Quay
...stopping, once again, at The Rocks for a quiet night at anchor.
Sunset over Spinny Marsh off The Rocks
Monday 8th August; 23.2nm
Tuesday 9th August - trip to Brightlingsea, the River Colne - rendezvous with coaster Spray
Coasters Mellon and Valentine leaving Woodbridge Haven
Conditions today - NW F4 - were perfect for our planned trip south. Mellon, still without an operational winch, would reach for most of the trip except when turning NW at Colne Point for the beat towards Brightlingsea. Wind and tide were in our favour and we made good progress reaching the Colne by lunchtime.
Mellon reaching across Pennyhole Bay towards The Naze Tower
Daisy II off Felixstowe
Daisy II off Felixstowe
As seems to be the case, Daisy II was the match for the other two coasters on all points of sail except beating hard into the wind when the other two seem to make quicker progress. I have a few rigging tips to try out in due course to see if I can eek out any more speed in such situations - not that speed is a particular concern: when sailing alone it really doesn't matter, but it's good to try and keep pace in company! However, it's good to try out new things so we shall see...
We had planned to join with coaster Spray for a longer period on this cruise. Spray had launched in The Swale; his journey north was delayed, as was ours south, by strong winds. However, it was good at least to meet up for the rest of this day and night.
Daisy II and Spray at the town pontoon, Brightlingsea - whilst Mellon sorted out a replacement winch
In the afternoon, we used what remained of the flood to sail up the Colne to Wivenhoe and Rowhedge. I have never found a way of going ashore at Wivenhoe although, later in the day, I received a message through this blog, from a person who had seen us and who helpfully informed me that there is now a new public pontoon at Wivenhoe. Too late for this trip, though, having previously been critical of the council at Wivenhoe, I'm very pleased about these developments and much looking forward to using that pontoon on my next visit - many thanks to that correspondent for the heads up.
Instead, we pressed on to Rowhedge and enjoyed a pint in the pub there.
At Rowhedge for a pint
Finally, we retired to the Pyefleet Channel for a rather lumpy night at anchor.
Tuesday 9th August; 42.4nm
Wednesday 10th August
Spray needed to return south. We couldn't afford the time to risk such a trip given our commitment to return north by Friday, so we parted company in the morning, planning a quieter day exploring the Blackwater. Initially we tripped around the south shore of Mersea Island reaching West Mersea for LW and elevenses. The public hard makes a convenient place to step ashore and there are cafes ashore from where we could keep an eye on our charges.
At the public hard, West Mersea
Winds were lighter today, and had swing round to the North. We sailed up the Blackwater to Osea and anchored for lunch and an afternoon nap/swim.
Valentine sailing up the River Blackwater
Daisy II and Valentine off Osea Island
A lazy afternoon later...
...we crossed over to Lawling Creek, making our way ashore, as guests of Blackwater Marina, for a welcome meal at the bar.
Coasters rafted at Blackwater Marina
Finally, we retired to dry out for the night on the mud on the south side of Lawling Creek, just west of the entrance to Mayland Creek.
Wednesday 10th August: 18.6nm
Thursday 11th August - trip to the River Crouch
Daisy II and Valentine left Mellon for the day and took the Swin Spitway route into the Crouch. A later departure could have seen us through the Rays'n Channel, as indeed I have done on my two previous entrances to the Crouch from the north, but that would have involved a later arrival at the Crouch. We left the Blackwater, timing our arrival at the Wallet Spitway buoy for low water.
In the event, winds were strengthening and our progress was exceedingly quick - topping 7.5 knots as we passed the Knoll area, so we reefed and then, turning into the breeze, motored up the Whitaker Channel as far as the Sunken Buxey where we spent a while beating. Finally, reaching the mouth of the Crouch, we resorted once more to motor, reaching Burnham town pontoon by the mid-afternoon. This was a long, hard trip into the Crouch - not necessarily to be recommended and we were somewhat relieved to reach the shore for a welcome meal.
At the town pontoon, Burnham on Crouch
Later that evening, winds once again abated and we retired to a familiar anchorage in Quay Reach, just inside the River Roach.
Sunset over the Wallasea Island nature reserve
Thursday 11th August; 33.0nm
Friday 12th August - return trip north
Sunrise over Foulness Island, from Quay Reach
As spectacular as dusk had been the night before, so dawn greeted us. We set sail from our anchorage and I didn't trouble engine until the final trip into the Walton Backwaters. Valentine, so I gather, on its planned return to the Orwell, sailed the entire way. It was a another glorious trip, making the previous day's exertions well worthwhile!
We had planned to try and meet up with Mellon somewhere off Clacton. However, VHF contact failed, and we had assumed he would be further ahead of us. In fact, he was late in departing and, whilst he spotted us when turning into The Wallet off Colne Point, we couldn't see Mellon and kept going.
The furthermost extent of Walton Pier - which comes into view several miles back but takes a long time to reel in.
I stopped briefly off Stone Point for lunch, before returning as planned to Titchmarsh Marina for the final stage of our cruise. Following several early starts, I fancied a lazy afternoon and did what I'd never done before, driving along the coast between Walton and Brightlingsea, exploring all of the various coastal resorts in all of their glory...
The Naze Tower
Friday 12th August; 30.6nm
Saturday 13th August - trip with crew to Harwich
A series of snaps of Daisy II taken from Mellon
Today, for a change, Daisy II had crew. We planned to sail over to Harwich, call in at Halfpenny Pier if possible but, in the more likely event of the Pier being full, to anchor in the lea of Shotley Point for lunch before sailing back. The trip turned out as expected. A particular highlight was the beat back to Walton where, in increasingly fresh conditions, we employed the additional ballast of crew to good effect under full sail through the increasingly narrow channel, returning via the Walton Channel to base.
Saturday 13th August; 18.1nm
Sunday 14th August
The plan was to take the boats out on the morning tide at around 10am. However, I fancied a swansong trip. Leaving the marina at dawn, I sailed up to Landermere Quay and then motored along Beaumont Cut to reach Beaumont Quay by 8am, a couple of hours before HW on neaps. There was just sufficient depth to achieve this and it was good to put right what we hadn't quite managed last Saturday.
Beaumont Quay in the early morning sunshine
These stones are said to have come from the old London Bridge in the early nineteenth century, when Beaumont Quay was an important landing point for Thames Barges.
Beaumont Quay from the east.
The bare bones of Rose
Entrance to the Lime Kiln at Beaumont Quay
After a morning coffee, I sailed back to base and returned Daisy II to her (still operational) trailer at HW, thus bringing to an end another remarkable East Coast Cruise.
This is a log of sailing activities aboard Daisy II, a 22ft Drascombe Coaster No.280. Formerly named Aquarius, she was built in July 1997 by Honnor Marine(UK) Ltd of Totnes, Devon. The original Daisy, a Devon Lugger, was purchased in 2005 following an unexpectedly early opportunity to realise a mid-life crisis! Daisy II, with cabin, afforded more scope for overnight stops, and was purchased at the end of 2006.
For several seasons she was moored at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, Suffolk. More recently, the trailer sailing option, utilising a versatile ‘roller coaster’ road trailer, has extended the sailing range. Over the years, we have sailed from various locations off the south coast from Cornwall to Hampshire, a number of inland reservoirs and the Norfolk Broads. However, her key stamping ground is the east coast, usually based around the Harwich area and reaching destinations ranging from North Kent up to Southwold, whilst also launching on the North Norfolk coast at Wells next the Sea. Most recently, a trip from Harwich to Whitby has served only further to whet the appetite: perhaps, one day, Daisy II might complete her journey, in small stages of course, around the UK!
