25 boats with skippers, crew, friends and family joined another excellent Cruise to enjoy a week afloat and ashore. As the Cruise WhatsApp group opened, boats were on passage to West Mersea where the East Coast Annual Race was held on Saturday 18 July. Find reports with photos and results here. Not all intended to race and some who raced didn’t join the Cruise and then there were those who joined in later as the fleet made their way back to Brightlingsea for the Safari Supper and back up the Wallet to Walton Backwaters for a barbecue on Stone Point . . . but this didn’t phase the organisers. They had a printed folder of daily details with tickets, charts, a metre of rope for the ‘rope challenge’ and personalised information for every registered boat, wherever and whenever they decided to join.
The organisers had responded to feedback from previous years and the 2026 event certainly exceeded expectations (in part, helped by the weather) for the variety of opportunities and choice of venues throughout the week. There was a welcome return of the Safari Supper on the Heritage Pontoon at Brightlingsea after the Two Rivers Race from West Mersea. Shared starters were washed down with a barrel of beer from our sponsors, the Mighty Oak Brewery, followed by dispersal in small groups for mains and desserts on participating boats. Thanks go to organisers Clare and Jodi for shuffling all the offers of food into a list of who eats where and, of course, to all the on-board chefs.
Skipper of ‘Lahloo’ notes; “Monday saw an early start for most taking the ebb tide up to the Wallet to the Walton Backwaters. ‘Lahloo’ held back to pick up her crew for the next few days, then off for a rare fab sail past our Essex piers, into Pennyhole Bay before joining the rest of the fleet anchored in Walton Channel.“ An idyllic evening was spent on the beach at Stone Point for a barbecue and chance to catch up, welcome some late arrivals, meet new people or find crew for the next race.
Tuesday was the opportunity for Lady Skippers/Helms and Junior Helms to compete for these highly prestigious prizes. The course was in Pennyhole Bay but as this race had already been run in May, the organisers named it the Stone Banks Race. Sadly, due to the tide and winds there were a few who retired after failed attempts to round Stone Banks buoy. However, it’s the ‘taking part’ as much as ‘winning’ isn’t it (?) and a second barrel of beer awaited the returning fleet as they rafted up on the ‘island’ pontoon for another sociable evening at Titchmarsh Marina.
The Seaways Bells Passage Race took the fleet from the Walton Channel to Woodbridge Haven on Wednesday and into the River Deben to pick up moorings at Waldringfield. The Maybush Inn was a popular destination for most crews to take their evening meal. Thursday was spent enjoying a rest day before sailing down to Felixstowe Ferry for a meal at the Sailing Club.
Sadly, Friday was Lorna Hill’s funeral in Ipswich. Several Gaffers decided to leave their boats, go to the funeral at Seven Hills and then drive up to Southwold. Ten boats made the early start to get out of the Deben for the passage to Southwold, commemorating the funeral at sea in true maritime style: a tot, engines off, ensigns down and each skipper casting a beautiful blue hydrangea into the sea – Lorna’s wind blew fair.
Our final evening meal was at the Harbour Inn with prizegiving hosted by Southwold Sailing Club. On Saturday morning, those who had reached Southwold by boat were visited by the judge for the Concours d’Elegance. He will announce the winners at the Area AGM in October. Several boats decided to leave as the weather was beginning to deteriorate but 19 Gaffers joined the Adnams Tour at 4pm. They enjoyed a guided tour of the brewery with a very generous tasting session as it was the final tour of the day. Those who were leaving on Sunday morning had a very early start. Five boats remained in Southwold, awaiting more favourable weather on Monday.
Thanks for support must go to West Mersea Yacht Club, Brightlingsea Harbour, Titchmarsh Marina, Woodbridge & Waldringfield Boatyards, Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club, Southwold Sailing Club, Burnt Mill Brewery and The Mighty Oak Brewing Company.
The addition of the ‘Gaffers Trucks’! Road Crew has been an inspiration, not to be forgotten in our thanks. Not only can beers be sought, spares and prizes too! Definitely a must for future events.
And finally, a few quotes from skippers & crews:
‘the organising team were fabulous, great programme of sailing and social’
‘thankyou for yet another wonderful week of sailing and socialising – massive thankyou to all the organisers & helpers’
‘fab week, you’re all so kind to me’
‘absolutely fantastic organisation’
‘grateful to the Gaffers for giving me the confidence & encouragement to go a little further and do a bit more out of my comfort zone’
‘it was a great week, added new memories to the great memories I already had’
‘Ed, Evie, Josie, George & Sarah planned a wonderful week with everything running so smoothly – we will be back next year’
‘combination of races, shore gatherings and open days gives a good mix between organised fun and free roaming on the lovely East Coast’
‘a fantastic week exploring more of the East Coast in great company – bring on next year!’
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