New OGA member, Peter Smith brings us a report from the first sailing event on the East Coast this summer following cancellation of our Easter Egg Rally. Typical of the English weather, our early spring sunshine and gentle breezes turned against us for this Bank Holiday weekend!
What a blistering introduction, as a new member, into to the East Coast OGA. I know that I’m preaching to the converted, so this is just a reminder to all you members of what a fabulous Association you are all part of. Like any voluntary organisation, it really is only as good as the enthusiasm of those prepared to give it their all. I have a Norfolk Gypsy, no.1 ‘Dream Catcher’, home port, Manningtree. I met the East Coast Secretary & Vice President, Pete Elliston, during the spring launch of the Stour Sailing Club’s cruiser lift-ins. Pete’s enthusiasm and passion for anything ‘gaff’ was glaringly unmistakable and it took little persuasion when he invited me to come along to the forthcoming Rally with one little proviso: I join the OGA. Whilst resistance was futile, I couldn’t be happier about the outcome.
Friday 23 May
The easterly winds that had been persistent for a couple of months or more had finally shifted westerly in the last week creating a far more favourable playground on the River Stour. The forecast, however, was a little less friendly with strong winds and varying degrees of precipitation. The ‘plan’, whilst as fluid as the Stour itself and possibly as rough, was for every ‘rallyer’ to meet ashore at or near Hut 31 under the cliffs at Wrabness for a social gathering, and to smooth out the rally’s itinerary for Saturday.
I arrived from Manningtree around 20.00, took up a vacant mooring and apprehensively came ashore, to meet all those gathered there. I was instantly welcomed and introduced to all, even though I could feel the enthusiastic commotion of various conversations, broken momentarily to acknowledge me. The warmth of chatter was only equalled by the warmth of the evening and an established bonfire on the beach, with a cackle of red faces in the glow of the fire. The outlined plan was confirmed that the flotilla should leave around 0830 next morning and head up river to Mistley quay for bacon rolls and coffee arranged with and supplied by ‘Tea at the Quay’ café. After breakfast, we would return to Wrabness, to initiate a weather dependant passage plan for the rest of the day. As the embers faded on the fire, and the rising tide threatened to quench any remaining ashes, all those around the fire headed up the steps to join those in the hut Conversation continued until late into the evening.
Saturday 24 May
0830, and nobody was left abed. The enthusiastic ‘bunch of boaters’ prepared to head up river, aware of the weather forecast, but spurred on by the thought of bacon rolls and hot drinks waiting for us all at Mistley Quay, courtesy of Nancy & Derek Bell. The fleet consisted this morning of ‘Transcur’, ‘Daisy Bell’, ‘Morag’, ‘Lady May’, ‘Penelope’, ‘East Breeze’, and ‘Dream Catcher’. There were some 16 hungry mouths to feed and drink. Full marks to ‘Tea at the Quay’ café for the mouth-watering feast! After an unusually well-orchestrated rafting up at the quay, (what a difference a bit of forward planning makes!), breakfast passed along the line at what looked like an equally well rehearsed wave of rolls and drinks. Incidentally, it was very interesting, and heartening to see and hear just how many onlookers at the quay shared all our thoughts regarding the futility of the fence along the quay, and the fact that our breakfasts had to be served though a small hole in it. Our presence appeared to some as a kind of waterborne protest of this ‘fortification’!
So revittled, the democratic decision took us back to ‘Hut 31’ at Wrabness, to wait for the near end of the ebb to sail down to Harwich, where we were to rendezvous with ‘Ostara’ and ‘Rhapsody’. By then, the increasing westerly wind was fighting the flood, and a challenging sail for some was had on the return to Wrabness moorings, blowing the cobwebs out of the rigging. Fresh air, and there was plenty of that about, not only gave one an appetite, but also stimulated the brain. Both were now to be satisfied! PTK fired up the BBQ, and soon hungry faces were again filled to capacity with a generous selection of good grub. Drinks flowed along with the conversations of the success of the day so far; the weather and disruption to the ‘Little Ships’ taking part in the 85th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo 1940, (including a couple of local boats) return from Dunkerque; and just what impact the weather was to have on the remaining plans for our ‘rally’. Saturday evening became a relaxing affair of satisfied bellies and a steady flow of drinks and chat, in the comfortable and cosy surroundings of ‘Hut 31’.
Sunday 25May
The ‘Stour Rally’ due to conclude tomorrow, Monday, looked this morning likely to fizzle out, so with the ever increasing threat of poor weather, the general opinion was to ‘cut and run’. For myself, a short run up river to Manningtree, meant far less of an issue than for others travelling greater distances. However, on reflection, the Stour Rally had lived up to its name, having an orderly cluster of craft travel just about the full length of the river in both directions. Hugs and embraces over, and the band of jolly sailors slowly dwindled as the wind increased. HHA Erwarton weather station was recording gusts of just under 30 knots and wave heights of 1.3 mtrs on the river, so common sense prevailed. ‘Dream Catcher’ and ‘Rhapsody’ were the last to depart leaving ‘Morag’ on her permanent mooring to sit it out. In conclusion: This commentary illustrates a memory of my first event as a newly embraced member of the OGA. For most of those involved it had been an opportunity to get together with like-minded friends. For me, an opportunity to make new friends and share the fulfilling and unparalleled joy of sailing.
Report: Peter Smith, ‘Dream Catcher’
Participating boats and crews
Smack, ‘Transcur’ CK 365, Orwell YC; with Pete and Clare Thomas
Smack, ‘Daisy Bell ‘CK 451, Stour Sailing Club; with Will Harvey Will Roberts Ed Roberts, Evie Roberts and a Uni friend, Jess Slater
Drascombe Coaster, ‘Morag’, Stour Sailing Club; with PTK and Sarah Adie
Norfolk Gypsy, ‘Lady May’, Stour Sailing Club; with Kevin Misslebrook and Lloyd Davies
Open lug yawl, ‘Bel Ami’, Walton & FYC; with Des Trollip
Winkle Brig, ‘Penelope’, (Walton); with Yvonne Mitchell
Tamarisk 24, ‘East Breeze’, Orwell YC; with Melvin Fox
Centre board Classic Bermudan Yacht, ‘Ostara’, with Rory Howlett, Kitty, and the future of the OGA: Max, Henry and Edith all under 11 years old!
Anderson 22, ‘Rhapsody’, with Liz Reynolds from Pin Mill
Norfolk Gypsy, ‘Dream Catcher’, Stour Sailing Club; with Peter Smith and Shona Fairchild (‘Songbird’, Heir Island Sloop sailed to the Deben on Friday so could not attend!)
Thanks are extended for our breakfasts, supplied by Tea at the Quay ‘through the fence’ assisted by Nancy and Derek Bell from ‘Free the Quay’.
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