Beating About in Home Waters

25^th July

We are at anchor just off Brightlingsea Creek having arrived yesterday evening.

We have been on board since Friday. With fairly strong north easterly winds on Friday evening we sailed under stay sail only and anchored for the night in Abraham’s Bosum.

On Saturday we crossed the Orford Haven Bar at 1100.

It was still blowing hard from the north east. A couple of hours of the flood tide gave us a lift south, before we had a foul tide from the Cork Sands all the way down the Wallet and in to the Colne. There was no hurry but we hugged the coast, first under stay sail, then under genoa and finally under twin head sails for the final run down to the Colne Bar Buoy.

The wind was starting to ease as we turned to starboard and made our way in to the Colne. Thames Barge ‘Centaur’ was slowly making her way past Mersey Stone Point as we sailed passed her.

I fear I stole her chosen place to anchor, as the breeze dropped to a very light north easterly, as we dropped anchor under sail only. There was room for both of us thank goodness.

‘Centaur’ was underway this morning and I was able to apologize properly beforehand whilst heading ashore in the dinghy.

“What would Captain Bob Roberts have said?” I asked, to much amusement.

“Probably something fairly fruity!” came the quick reply.

Captain Bob Roberts, owner and master of Thames Barge the ‘Cambria’ in the late 1960’s was the last to trade, under sail only, in 1970. Bob was the last of the true Sailormen! I highly recommend the many books that Bob Roberts wrote about his times at sea.

This evening we are still at anchor off Brightlingsea Creek. There will be little wind over night to disturb the peace.

26^th July

And it was nothing but a perfect night at anchor.

There would be a little wind later in the day from the south and south east so at 1140 I hoisted the main and raised anchor. We were underway three hours before HW Brightlingsea. I was thinking that even with a stong ebb tide, it might be slow getting up the Wallet and in to the Orwell.

It was a pleasure to see David and Jane Russell and ‘Tin Fish ll’ coming in to the Colne as we were leaving. A rare event to see a fellow RCC members.

It did take nineteen tacks to clear the Colne in light south easterly winds.

The ebb began as we slowly passed St Osyth beach heading north. A further six tacks and we rounded the Naze as the wind veered to the south for the run in to Harwich and on up in to the Orwell. I feared that the wind might die at 1700 but there was just enough to get us through the port of Felixstowe and up to our anchorage just up river from Colton Creek. Light south westerly winds are forecast for tonight.

Zero engine hours again today.

27^th July

It took 14 tacks between Trimley Marshes and Fagbury Point to clear the Orwell and then a further 4 tacks to round Languard and head towards Orford as the southerly wind slowly increased.

By the time we were passing Woodbridge Haven the wind had backed to the south west.

We sailed in to the Ore and up to our mooring. Dumping the main in the lower reaches of the Ore made it very hard to pick up the mooring under sail only and after several futile attempts against a powerful flood tide, close hauled, under stay sail only, we had to start the engine. Doc watched the whole comedy act and was very helpful with his masterly observations afterwards. Last time I’d come in to the river I’d comfortably picked up the mooring under main.

I don’t want to be lazy. It’s simple enough some of the time. I want to be confident to nail it when it’s tricky. And it would have been under main sail only.

Engine hours today 0.2!

I go home tomorrow.