Today I achieved some footage of Pamela Jean, a Drascombe Coaster new to the Orwell this season.
A sign of a good sail is the lack of need for the outboard motor which, today, remained dutifully silent throughout. Winds were light, and steady F2/3 south easterly. I began by working my way downstream against the tide and wind; by keeping away from the main channel, tidal currents were less strong, and progress was made. A run upstream with the remainder of the tide was punctuated by a brief stop on the south shore of the river, to scrub the waterline which had accumulated some summer weed.
Daisy II waiting for a scrub down
Once opposite Freston Tower, much as last week, I then turned and had a very pleasant beat in the best of the day's breeze back to the mooring.
You can often count on an onshore breeze on hot sunny afternoons and today was no exception. Setting off with all three sails on a gentle run in flukey winds upstream, by the time I had reached the turn just in front of the Orwell Bridge, the wind was beginning to pick up. Opposite Woolverstone on the return trip, I had to furl the mizzen and pull a few turns in the jib just to put things on a more even keel...and its a privilege to have opportunities to use that phrase in its literal sense...
I managed a small clip of video in light winds on a gentle run upstream past Freston Tower. The Orwell Bridge can be seen in the background. I enjoy watching the bow pushing through the water.
Today was the annual Pin Mill Barge Match. I didn't quite arrive in time for the start, but found plenty of action in Harwich harbour.
looking south east out of Harwich harbour
The barges are a majestic sight, especially as they mix with their modern day equivalents - container ships!
Trinity docks as a backdrop
Harwich and the entrance to the Stour
Barges at play, out at sea
towards Landguard point
entering Harwich harbour
Walton on the Naze in the background
For me, this was a pleasing warm-up for the main event, which was a trip to Roughs Tower. (It doesn't get an apostrophe on the map either).
Roughs Tower, half-way there, looking east, with approaching container ship in the further distance
End elevation, from the south
front view (Felixstowe Docks in the distance)
Other end elevation (from the north)
I'll leave wikipedia to chart this history of this strange edifice, firstly by detailing its original purpose and then its bizarre recent history. Situated 8 miles east of Harwich, out at sea, this place needs a calm day and little wind to entice me, which is why I nearly always end up motoring there and back. On this occasion, both legs were achieved by 'motor-sailing', but I was glad finally to be shot of the motor, back in Harwich.
Once back at the mooring, it was time to reflect on a long trip....
30.7nm; season's total: 227.1nm
.... and to marvel, once more, at the spectacle of those barges...
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!
