August 21-22 - how not to cruise...

58.3nm; season's total: 452.8nm

This cruise was opportunistic and rather unplanned.  A couple of free days together with prospectively calm forecasts led to a quick dash to Pin Mill.  Having left the mooring, (red track) I motored against the flood until rounding Shotley Point, when I sailed along to Holbrook Bay, and popped into Holbrook Creek at, or around High Tide.  I then sailed out of the Stour, and motor sailed over to the Walton Backwaters for an evening anchorage at the far end of Hamford Water where a friendly seal stopped by for some meaningful glances - hopefully, I'll upload a video in due course.
The next day, (yellow track) it all started with such good intentions but then got out of hand...  I took the ebb and sailed out of the Backwaters against a gentle North Easterly, which then changed to South Easterly, enabling a pleasant sail along the coast to the entrance to the Deben.  Having negotiated this by motor, I sailed up the Deben, past Ramsholt, until the fickle wind fizzled out.  At this point, I motor sailed the rest of the way reaching Woodbridge at about mid-flood. 
Now, this is the bit that needs more planning in future.  Were I to have had another day, this could have been the perfect cruise: stop in Woodbridge, take in the scenery, take the ebb downstream, and then wait for the next flood to negotiate my way back to the Orwell.  However, I didn't have another day, and motored/motor sailed against tide and, often, wind all the way back to the Orwell - not the most pleasant of experiences given the incessant drone of outboard motor.  However, the one positive aspect (reaching for large plank of wood) is that the outboard behaved impeccably.  Having left Woodbridge at about 3pm, I arrived back at the mooring at about 8pm.
The other feature of this is that the wind, on the return trip from the Deben to the Orwell, had turned north easterly which, when against the tidal flow, led to some steep seas which were 'interesting' to negotiate.  Ah, well.  We live and learn...

August 13, Orwell

8.0nm; season's total: 394.5nm

August 10th, a trip to Halfpenny Pier

10nm; season's total: 386.5nm

Managed to entice my son onto the boat for the first time this season.  Strengthening, gusty south westerly winds made for some healthy speed - maximum 7.4knots with the tide using jib and mizzen.  But, in general, not the easiest weather to sail in, so resorted to engine when against the wind.

Halfpenny pier as pleasant as ever!  Following a lunchtime snack, we returned, and just managed to make the end of Pin Mill hard before becoming stranded in mud at low tide for a couple of hours.  In truth, the neap tide had departed rather sooner and to a greater extent than I had anticipated.  I had to row through the final 10 metres of mud... All good exercise...

Summer Cruise - Orwell to Blackwater estuary

Thursday 28th July (red track - 26.4nm)
Left mooring at Pin Mill, sailed out to the Naze tower and, given little wind, motor-sailed along the Wallet which runs along the Essex coast, past Walton on the Naze, Frinton and Clacton, and finally pulling up at Mersea Stone, just inside the mouth of the River Colne at about 9.30pm Anchored for night.

Friday 29th July (green track 16.6nm)
Sailed up the River Colne past Wivenhoe, finally stopping for lunch at the Anchor Inn in Rowhedge - simply because it had accessible mooring at or around high tide. After lunch, sailed the return trip, taking in a brief look in Brightlingsea Creek, and a marvellous reach both ways along the Pyfleet Channel. Returned to Mersea Stone for a second night at anchor.

Saturday 30th July (yellow track 27.9nm)
Awoke, somewhat bemused, to find that the boat had dragged anchor and was now half a mile out to sea. How the anchor didn't snag on the plethora of other boats' anchors...?
So, having started early, continued to sail up the Blackwater to Maldon, eating bits of breakfast 'on the hoof' as it were...
Borrowed mooring at Maldon, in order to find a bog and some chips for lunch. Then left Maldon, and took the ebb back to West Mersea, principally, Ray Island which is up the Ray Channel. Dried out there briefly for an evening meal, then took the early flood back to find a spare mooring nearer to West Mersea.

Sunday 31st July (light blue track - 30.9nm)
Briefly called in at West Mersea for necessary purchases, motored/sailed out of the Blackwater until opposite the entrance to the Colne, then stopped the engine and sailed with jib, mizzen and double-reefed main all the way back to Harwich, stopping a few miles west of Parkestone Quay. The sail up the Wallet was superb - strengthening south-easterly F4 led to mounting seas, some hairy moments, particularly when the jib stay almost unattached opposite Clacton Pier. Daisy II coped amazingly well. As the coast turned closer to the North, some amazing speeds with tidal assistance were clocked, consistently above 6 knots, often over 7 knots.  Stunning day's sail, definitely the highlight of the trip, and in conditions I wouldn't ordinarily have put to sea in.

Monday 1st August (white track - 7.4nm)
Sailed back up the Stour, round into the Orwell, and back to Pin Mill. 
Splendid trip.  (hopefully will add a few photos in due course).

Total track 110nm; season's total: 376.5nm