Jun. 23, 2008 - Myfanwy Dismasted

Oh dear, a collision on the Deben this weekend has put Myfanwy out of action for a few weeks. She'll need a new mast and some remedial work to the damage on her starboard side.

May. 29, 2008 - Sunrise in the Thames Estuary

Our delayed departure from St Katherines finally took place on Wednesday. We left on the ebb and darkenss fell as we left the river.

At first you are confronted by a confusing array of lights as all the various channels converge at the mouth and none seem to be the one's you want. However we were going up the most westerly so we just kept to post and finally the channel becomes more obvious. We had a fresh southerly which slowly died away leaving the sea smooth and level.

The featureless ocean belies what goes on below so you can never relax, so easily can you stray into the shallows and onto the hard unforgiving sandbanks. On a calm flood there's an element of safety but imagine going aground on a rough ebb tide, it makes me shudder. If you can't imagine it read Magic of the Swatchways!

Finally we saw the sunrise, got over Gunfleet, I relaxed and went for some sleep happy we were now all but home. I slept like a log (being sawn) and was wakened as we came up to PinMill, what great crew mates.

May. 23, 2008 - Caressa Went to Town

We left Pin Mill at 0700 hours on the last of the ebb to take us out of the river. We went past Pye End at slack water and we were a couple of hours into the flood when we hit Gunfleet Sands. When I say hit, it was more of a scrape with the guage on 2.1m (Caressa's draft) for a few nervous minutes.

Safely over we navigated our way through the channels and the swatchways and into London River.

We got as far as the QEII bridge before the tide turned against us. There's nowhere really to stop and get ashore around there so we just kept going. We could have picked up a mooring and spent the night aboard but Gerry was keen to get ashore. We just kept going and going till we couldn't get any further.

We tied up alongside Butlers Wharf at 21.30 and went ashore for supper at Pont de la Tour. After some great food and dreadful service, for which refused to pay, we returned to find we were being told to move on. Having been ashore Gerry was now happy to sleep on a mooring which we found right outside St Katharine's Dock.

Next morning we had until 1700 before we could lock in so we took a trip down the river. We had a cooked breakfast on deck in the sun moored off Canary Wharf then we picke dup a mooring off the majestic Royal Hospital in Greenwich.

Andy Smith, a member and qualified London guide, who lives in Greenwich was on the shore waiting to give us a guided tour of the painted Hall, the Chapel an the Trafalgar.

We puzzled how to get ashore from the mooring. We reckoned while rowing the inflatable to the shore the tide would take us about half mile upstream so we didn't immediately jump at that solution.

Luckily there was a rib buzzing about. We hailed them and asked them for a lift. They were hapopy to oblige and they came back at 1500 to take us back to the boat. That was service.

May. 10, 2008 - Sunset from the Ramsholt Arms on the Deben

May. 10, 2008 - All Out on the Deben

We had all five boats out together for the first time this season. We took them round to the Deben and had the most idylic weekend. The weather was perfect with sun splitting a clear blue sky. We rafted four of the boats together just up river from the Ramsholt Arms, explored a few creeks in the dinghy and a few of the braver souls dived in. It was bracing and very refreshing! Let's hope this weather lasts a bit longer.

On Sunday we sailed further up river and were rewarded with a sighting of the very rarely seen Deben Seal. We got them on video which you can see by clicking this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5biReIeZ1Qc

May. 4, 2008 - Tim gets slightly more than he signed up for

Yet another RYA Course on Caressa - April 27th to May 2nd 2008

Mike Rochfort, Tim Reynolds, Barry Webster and myself, were doing various RYA courses (Coastal/Day Skipper/Competent Crew) with Richard Wells as Instructor. We met up on Sunday evening at Wolverstone, taking the tide down to Levington on Monday morning. The genoa roller jammed on its second deployment which was just the beginning of our action-packed 5 days on Caressa. We picked up a mooring and sent Tim up the mast in the bosun's chair on main halliard with the spinnaker halliard as safety. The problem solved (a slack and twisted genoa halliard) we set off for Titchmarsh after a fairly comfortable sail via the Pye End Buoy, learning about preferred yacht tracks and sail handling on the way. Soon after arrival Mike served up an excellent chicken and rice dish which we devoured hungrily.

Tuesday saw us attempting to reach Brightlingsea, with Barry as Day Skipper. Richard thought it was a good idea to do some man overboard practice off Walton with the bucket-tied-to-a-fender routine. Spot-on maneouvering by Richard was spoilt when Dick let the boathook slip out of his hand and both the bucket and hook had to be retrieved by Barry and Ian hanging over the side. This didn't do our insides much good and several breakfasts were lost, the owners rueing the consumption of all that bacon and those fried eggs. Heavy squalls off Walton Pier had us hove to and deciding to return to Harwich and, after a rest, quietly to Ipswich Haven in the rain.

Wednesday brought a Force 8 gale in the river, so Dick's trick at Day Skipper involved no sail work. He made up for it by writing masses of gibberish in the Ship's Log! The expected calm waters of Levington Marina turned out to be a maelstrom of furious wind and rows of plastic yachts waiting to be destroyed by a rampant Caressa. However Richard, looking more like Captain Ahab every minute, roared at everyone on the mooring ropes and we managed to berth without damage, even though Dick managed to trip over the guard rail at the last minute. Many lessons were learned that day! We spent the afternoon examining Barry's Morgan Giles dinghy, currently being rigged at Levington. Dick thoughtfully cooked spaghetti bolognese whilst the others sought out the pub in the village.

Thursday opened brightly and Tim as Day Skipper took us down the Orwell in a vain attempt at circumnavigating the Whiting Bank. Strong SE winds enlivened our crossing of the Deep Water Channel on an open port reach. Quartering seas were difficult to manage and the heavy forces on the tiller became too much for one to handle. The mild broach was quickly recovered and we continued on to round the Wadgate Ledge buoy and then to recross the DWC and return to Harwich Ha'penny Pier in a dramatic thunderstorm with associated squalls. Fish & chips restored our energy levels and we ran back to Ipswich in strong sunshine with a fair wind on our stern.

A celebratory dinner at The Last Anchor in Ipswich sent us to bed very happy. On Friday we picked up on the skills we thought we had missed out on. Mike got some steering practice, Barry did some mooring up and letting go, Dick got his chance to sling Caressa around like a dinghy with all reefs shaken out between Levington and Shotley Spit and Tim anchored in Erwarton Bay in the Stour where we had lunch. Barry had time to work out a 'cocked hat' with his dinky new hand-held compass and Dick at last got a go on the radio.

Every hour of this course gave us a new lesson in yacht handling and navigation. This was partly due to the strong and varying conditions which presented us with problems at every turn.  However most of the lessons we learned were due to the skill of Richard Wells in presenting us with the problems, letting us attempt solutions and being on hand to recover the situation and explain what we should have done when it didn't quite work out as planned.

A great trip!

Dick Houghton

Apr. 28, 2008 - RYA Course on Caressa 14-18th April

Two Couples, the Klegg-Smiths and the Crowleys took RYA courses with Richard Wells on Caressa. You can see Charles Crowley's other photos here

and Sekeeta made the following comments;

We had a great time. The weather behaved too.. started off v calm and built up over the week, but much less rain than forecast.
Richards Wells was very patient with us, made us do everything hands on, so we learnt loads, inc safety. We got on well with the other couple too, and hope to all meet up again in June.
It is funny looking at your email about the Gastro weekend, we also ate extremely well during the week, and I was daydreaming yesterday as we sat in the Butt and Oyster (the Ship at Levington was pretty excellent too) musing that you could easily run a sailing and eating trip with all this fabulous food around... and it just shows great minds think alike!!

Feedback:
Good course
Good instructor
Good boat; Caressa is lovely and as a beginner I felt really safe
Good company
Good fun

Member Sekeeta Crowley

Apr. 10, 2008 - Caressa Launch

Mar. 8, 2008 - Ransome's Secret Water

Our latest purchase is a Lapwing class dinghy built in 1960.

Her first outing will be the weekend trip of 12th 13th April  to the Walton Backwaters. That's the setting for Arthur Ransome's Secret Water. We have a special offer for families with children.  12 and under go free, 13-18 half price.

For full details see:  www.classicsailingclub.com/html/ransome's_secret_water.pdf 

Jan. 26, 2008 - Painting Intent

We need to have all five yachts painted, varnished and back in the water by mid April. The problem is it's too cold for the varnish to dry at this time of the year.

Solution: heat up the tent. Only trouble is this causes condensation which drips on the lovely new paint and varnish.

Solution: Will and Lee have rigged up a polythene inner tent with a de-humidifier.

Jan. 26, 2008 - Elsie Ada

This is Elsie Ada kindly donated to the Club by member Mathew Knight .

She needs a little bit of work but we hope to get started on her once the yachts are back on the water. She has a sailing rig so we are looking forward to towing her around and being able to explore creeks

Jan. 24, 2008 - Raffle Winners

Congratulations to the winners, commiserations to those who weren't lucky, thanks for entering

Earls Court Show

1st Prize       Day on Ierne at Fife Regatta,                         Martyn Webster
2nd Prize      Weekend on East Coast,                              Adrian Donovan
3rd Prize       Day on Caressa at BCYC Regatta, Cowes,    Alison Noice

Excel Show

Day on Ierne at the Fife Regatta                                          Jon Ogden

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Jan. 2, 2008 - London Boat Show Excel : Half Price Tickets

Sponsored by Classic Boat magazine, International Paint and Old Pulteney, the Classic Boat feature is approximately 25 per cent larger than in 2007.  New to the feature will be the inclusion of the much-publicised ‘Cutty Sark’ restoration project – drawing interest from classic boat enthusiasts as well as other members of the general public.

The area will provide an opportunity for visitors to watch, learn and – most importantly – talk to enthusiasts about classic boats and find out about the traditional skills involved in their restoration.  There will be four examples of classic boats at the feature this year.  The oyster fishing smack Boadicea is the oldest working sail boat in the UK and will celebrate its 200th birthday at the Show.  Mylor Yacht Harbour is providing a 25ft Solent Sunbeam.  Yalton Marine will showcase an 18ft classically styled small open yawl, built using modern materials.  Meanwhile the Classic Motorboat Association will re-introduce its 10’ 10” classic wooden speedboat, Colliwobble, after she first exhibited at the Show back in 1962.

There will also be other working aspects to the classic boat feature, such as sail making or fiddly canvas work.  Jeckells Sails will provide advice and continual demonstrations on sail making while boat building students will build a classic dinghy during the Show.  The feature will also have a lecture area with a host of vocational speakers keeping the area busy, entertained and educational.

Dec. 15, 2007 - Mama Mia! Trailer

Pierce in action on the bow.

There's a trailer for Mama Mia! on U-Tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKx_14vJNZg

Try not to blink, you may miss the boat's appearance

Dec. 11, 2007 - Fifes take Centre Stage

It's no exageration to say Ierne and The Truant stole the show at Earls Court. Ierne, fresh from an 18 month renovation, was jaw droppingly gorgeous. Did we detect a quiver of recognition as these two majestic old ladies were reunited for the first time since 1914? Maybe, certainly there will be no love lost when they Duel again in June.

The Duel of the Fifes will take place over ten days, each day with places for six guest crew, three on each yacht. You spend a morning on one, pause for lunch then switch to the other for the afternoon so you get to compare how they sail. Members can come as individuals or why not get two crews of three together and make a match of it. 75 points per place including lunch.

Dec. 11, 2007 - Maid in a Pond of Plastic

Thanks to all those members who came along to the new Earls Court Boat Show and visited us on Hampshire Maid in the pool and the Fifes either side of the stage.

The 10% show discount has been extended to the end of December so those who couldn't make it to the show can still take advantage.

You can now buy points online at

http://www.classicsailingclub.com/acatalog/index.html

Welcome also to all the new members who joined up, we are looking forward to seeing you on your Classic Day Out in the New Year.

If you couldn't make it to this show, we'll be at Excel on the Classic Boat stand January 11-20th

Nov. 28, 2007 - Maid goes paddling in the pool, Ierne is unveiled

What do we have there?

Well Hampshire Maid is appearing in character as 'Cassandra's Dream' from the Woody Allen film of that name. She is acting as our floating clubhouse, so bring your membership card to get on board for a breather and a half of Adnams, generously supplies by the Butt and Oyster.

We've also got the two 'Dueling Fifes', Ierne and The Truant. The gaffer Truant has been in the water this yaer after her restoration but Ierne is only just finished. Her mast went in for the first time yesterday and she is stunning. I think it's going to be difficult to put her in the water, she should really be in a display case! Our stand is behind Ierne and although the public aren't officially allowed on board I'm sure if you are interested in coming along for the Duel we might be able to sneek you a peek.

For our special Boat Show Offers see the home page www.classicsailingclub.com

The theory went that London could not support two boat shows, I'm not so sure. Most of the exhibitors at Earls Court aren't able to get into the Excel show so there's no duplication. They are both worth going to: Earls Court for your bits and pieces and the smaller marine businesses, Excel to be  impressed by the big boys and the latest  shiniest  technology.

Nov. 10, 2007 - Floating Clogs

Welcome to those new members from the Dutch Classic Boat Show at Enkhuizen. We shared a stand with Seafair Milford Haven http://www.seafairhaven.org.uk/

It was a very modest show with the friendliest atmosphere. Why are the Dutch always so happy? Are they detirmined to sieze the day because tomorrow they may be under the North Sea? Come to think of it, everybody in Pin Mill always seems in a good mood too.

I think their traditional boats are an acquired taste. I'd like to have a go in one sometime. Sailing on the East Coast has produced the hithertoo unthinkable effect of finding Maurice Griffith's boats attractive. So maybe after sailing one on their hime waters I will learn to appreciate their design.  

Nov. 8, 2007 - Will we? won't we? (get wet feet watching tele)

This is the Butt and Oyster on Friday morning at high tide waiting for the 3 metre surge that was predicted. All the furniture was upstairs. Last time conditions had been similar in the North Sea in 1953, Pin Mill was flooded up to level of the downstairs window ledges.  Luckily conditions eased at the last minute and the surge did not materialise.

Oct. 16, 2007 - First time at the Bar and my First Oyster