The weather has been to put it mildly pretty dire since the New Year. Although in south Essex we haven’t had the wet rainy conditions ‘enjoyed’ by many across these fair isles, the wind at times has been ferocious. And there is more on its way with storm Ciara hitting the Thames area on Sunday!

So, we reorganised ourselves and did our ‘long’ walk of the week yesterday, enjoying the tranquillity of the Blackwater Valley, the river itself and the high country above Wickham Bishops (in Essex), thus clearing our ‘diaries’ for a sail this Thursday morning.

I was a little worried upon waking: there wasn’t a breath of wind…

Bacon and flat bread wraps packed, we hightailed it to our creek, passing the streams of ‘worker bees’ struggling to make their way off Canvey Island. It brought ‘sadistic’ smiles to our faces!

It was sublime down the creek, but a heavy frost encrusted walkway shouted for caution!.

Climbing aboard, I was exhorted to take care, watch what I was doing and … never mind ‘that’ camera … fat chance!

While my good mate got the bacon under the grill I carefully busied myself around the deck completing tasks as I went. Coming aft with one of the head sail sheets, a haze of sizzling bacon smells wafted from the hatchway – the ‘cook’ was hard at it reading whilst working. Hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Salivating over those sublime tastes to come, I slipped the boat out stern-wards and set Whimbrel on her course seawards, popping forward to hoist the mainsail.

As we cleared the creeks entrance beacons on the end of the club’s walkways, a gentle breeze slatted the mainsail and I swung it out to catch the wafts from astern.

Brent geese were swimming around the edges of the withered brown stalks of cord grass, dabbling for pickings in the food filled tide. A group, startled by a noise perhaps took of, honking in protest, only to alight a little further on.

As we finished our bacon in pita bread, the kettle sang and the first hot coffee was placed in my hands. Out in the main river a large cantainer ship was making her way seawards, as was a seemingly tiny little coaster ‘under’ her bow!

It was quiet … at that point not another small vessel could be seen on the move. We were alone. High above planes could be seen and several climbed away, above the Leigh shore. These were outbound planes from Southend Airport – engine ‘winding’ noises whirled across the water, then faded.

It was quiet. I went forward to tidy something … camera in pocket. Looking astern one would have thought I was alone … ah, but no, the mate was head down… Astern, the boat’s wake can be clearly seen as she curved round onto a broad reach.

The sky was so clear above. A deep blue. The water showed at the most a slight ruffling. Away to the west under the Hadleigh downs, a mist hung just above the land’s surface. Far beyond, the massed masts of ‘beached’ boats at the island’s other yacht club appeared as if poking from a gauze …

The boat’s course was right: these days during neaps, I take a curving loop round the Leigh Sands for it has become noticeably shallower over the past decade. Our centre plate grated as we sailed to the west of Leigh creek’s buoyed channel. I lifted it a turn or two, leaving a little for further warnings!

Along the front a group of school children were being walked in a crocodile chain herded by teachers and assistants. The mate chuckled, saying, someones let them out! (the current school curriculum makes such jaunts rarer than they used to be…)

Closing Leigh beach we turned and ran down past the Leigh-on-Sea Sailing Club’s west dinghy rack. A group of canoeists were launching from the slip – we chatted to a few awaiting stragglers … we were sipping coffee. One asked for three teas, one with two sugars … and was the bar open. I laughed and sniffing my mug, I said, yes to the last question! The mate had livened our second coffees…

Nearing the Ray Channel, the wind dropped then died completely! It was just on high water by then, so the iron topsail was stated, left on tick-over we stemmed the first of the ebb as we headed towards our creek.

The first of the buoys ranged alongside. I was designated by the mate to deal with sail stowing … while she chased geese.

Strangely, the creek’s saltings were quiet. We’d seen whirls of tiny ballerinas swooping over the water earlier, but coming home there was a silence as the ebb began. Surely, later as the mud reappeared, the dunlin, knot, redshank and oyster catchers would be busy feeding and arguing. It was clearly too early for ‘our’ curlews too!

Yes, it was a quiet sail, but we both enjoyed it. Two hours only, but such serenity to be remembered. ‘It was beautiful…’ my mate said, as we walked away from the boat.

It was my good mate’s first for the year as she was otherwise engaged when I slipped out during mid January, I am so glad she had such an appreciation for it.

It is a reminder of the joys of keeping ones boat afloat during the ‘off season’ but spring is but a whisker around the corner now and we are aware of some graft ahead when Whimbrel comes ashore for a little while … but not yet!

Going back through Whimbrel’s log books clearly shows the parsimonious nature of her travels so far in 2020. I have usually had between four to six sails in January alone. It shows up the windier conditions we’ve been having. I’m not enough of an expert to blame ‘climate change’ but changes are afoot…

It is the time of the year when boat’s already out of the water begin to be aware of the loving caress of their owners as they muster themselves with energetic thoughts. This year there have been too many dismal days during January with more than a bucketful of wind thrown in, but now the month approaches its end. Whimbrel, sadly, has had just a single day’s use…

Down in my club’s yard there has been a noticeable pick up of busy bees around ‘the hives’ and I too have booked for Whimbrel to be lifted out towards the end of March.

The centre plate lifting wire and its pin are due to be renewed, but there is more to this unusual activity.

When ‘we’ antifouled Whimbrel’s bottom last spring, the boat’s Bottom Manager – yes that’s the good mate – pointed out that she thought the bottom could do with stripping off. Heck!

That was quickly followed up with, ‘I can do it…’ so after discussing this ‘need’ I decided that it wasn’t a job for the faint hearted and began to think more about this during last summer and into the autumn.

She’s damned good Whimbrel’s mate is: she gets down to it. There are few boat wives in reality that actually do this and I greatly appreciate mine!

The antifoul paint has never been cleaned back to bare wood since her build in 1983/4. In some places, especially around the wind/waterline area down to her bilge stubs it has been flaking for a number of years. In general excess coating thickness has become quite thick up to 2 to 3 mm. (or more…)

Yes, it could be scraped off after a hard blast. Our pressure washer often takes away chunks of late … but I did not feel as if I have the stamina currently (prostate cancer medication – essentially ‘chemo’) to be of much use and just couldn’t see Christobel doing it largely alone. She disagreed!

So, the old girl is coming out. The top sides need some attention too. It’ll be hard sanded, touched up and fully over-coated while out as well.

I plan to chock Whimbrel a little higher than in the plate above, to make underneath work easier…

The bottom is going to cleaned off with a water/slurry blast by Willpine Blasting Ltd who are based at Dauntless Boat Yard. The company doesn’t have a web site: they use a facebook page to ‘spread the word’.

See: https://www.facebook.com/willpineblasting/

before ‘attacking’ Whimbrel’s bottom, Charlie is going to do a test patch to check on bottom surface. He is confident that apart from a little roughness the wood will remain undamaged. Subsequent sanding will not be a hardship…

Once cleaned off, we’re away for a land holiday during our 42nd wedding anniversary week, leaving our good ship in the open air to dry a little.

Yesterday, the Bottom Manager called into our local paint supplier for the necessaries. Oh, the Toplac urethane enamel and varnish are for me!

..

A little while before the end of last year I was contacted by a chap from Lower Halstow in Kent about his desire for a copy of one of my books. In conversation I discovered he ran a firm which ‘built’ proper tenders, rather than the rubber tube types so often seen flapping astern in a breeze…

I have not, as far as I am aware, seen one of these dinghies afloat, but the numbers of boats with ‘proper’ tenders does seem to be rising again. Anyone who knows me and what I get up to with my Faversham dinghy would testify to the level of enjoyment gained from the little thing (Twitch is her name…) by not only myself, but most of the people who have sailed aboard Whimbrel.

Let’s face it, when away cruising the east coast, sitting at ‘anchor’ is the most time-loaded occupation we do and there is a limit to the length one can chat or read etc…

The firm has the most unusual name for one which builds boats – Pond Life, for they make garden ornaments and ‘toys’ … don’t be fooled though!

See: https://www.pondlifeworkshop.co.uk/store/Rowing-boats-c26498377

There is an interesting range of tenders currently available, ranging from vessels of a little over 6′ to 10′, simulated clinker or ‘slab-sided’ hulls with flat bottoms.

The company moved to Suffolk at the end of 2019 and is now located not far from the Butley River at Capel St Andrew.

I raised the possibility of a sailing version of these dinghies. I was told that it is something being considered, so if interested ask for a price! The 10′ pram looks ideal for a use as a sturdy tender to give more pleasure than the function of getting to and from the boat.

The little ‘flatty’ version looks simple and functional.

The 10′ stem dinghy looks as if would tow well, but to my mind would benefit from a towing/painter point closer to the waterline.

The little 6′ pram is reminiscent of many little tenders that used to be available in past years. Most were clinker built too, although ‘flatty’ versions came along built from sheet ply. For someone cruising alone, this would make a grand follower astern…

The outfit of the Pond Life dinghy is quite lengthy with lots of extras to choose from (at a cost of course). Advertising says that layup is to Lloyds approved standards.

Since the picture of my Faversham dinghy was taken early last year, I have fitted an additional towing point (a u-bolt) through the stem onto a backing pad during last autumn. The as built eye is located just below the bow fender and has always been too high, in my opinion. It took me a quarter of a decade to rectify!

The dinghy, in light breezes when mother is ‘running slow’, has a tendency to slew, but not when a sailing in more of a breeze. So, it will be interesting to see how the lower painter point performs under tow.

Alan Staley will still build a Faversham dinghy, but to my mind these tenders from Pond Life deserve to be looked at.

I’d love to see a sailing version from Pond Life!

Credits: Pond Life pictures published with permission of proprietors.

This time last year I was in a very different place, worried sick about what the future held and of the approaching hospital operations and radiation treatment visits that are now done and dusted.

Looking back it was ‘easy’ for I was in good hands and all I had to do was lie back and ‘think of England’ and not fret … ‘easy’, I said. Actually, I was S-t scared!

See for the story:
http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-has-a-happy-autumn-prostate-test-is-good/

2019 began with a sail … which will not be a surprise to many!

We kept at our walking too, even when it became a challenge to hike more than six miles in one go. I well remember a walk out on the Dengie, starting and finishing in Southminster … on a leg back up from the St Peter’s Way, I faltered and ground to a halt. A handy hay bale was at hand for a seat – after a long rest we ‘marched’ on. Southminster doesn’t have a lot in way of services, but there is a cafe run by a youngish couple, there, we found cake and coffee!

And that was the way I decided that I would have to approach the year.

The previous year (2018) began with life on a high – Christobel and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary in March and family and friends were looking forward to time afloat aboard Whimbrel. One group, my sister, Theresa, friends Hannah and Steve had been promised a trip up to London – from mid June 2018, life fell in tatters around my feet.

So with a bucketful of positive thoughts for 2019, I knuckled down, got on with life and planned: surely a future full of brightness lay ahead…

Last May, a week after my final radiation session, Whimbrel was on the club hard for her annual bottom clean and anti-fouling treatment. Christobel did the grafting and even cleaned the propeller!

Soon after we had weekends away on the River Medway watching barges and over my birthday week we visited Conyer.

First to enjoy the boat were my youngest brother, Andrew, and our cousin, Roger – both good company and keen to have fun, love them both! We had a quiet sail over to Queenborough before setting of early on a Saturday morning – the 22nd of June – bound for Brightlingsea.

Christobel and I had a glorious week or so ‘bumbling’ around the Blackwater, Mersea Quarters and Colne with a night up at Colchester Hythe, before berthing in Brightlingsea for the eighth Finesse Rally. Some twelve craft attended with the owners and crew of several more coming by road.

Then it was the turn of my sister, Theresa, and friends Hannah & Steve. A good crew they are too! Steve is Welsh – well, in part, No English, he insists, just lives in England – love him and I’ve a Welsh flag for when he is aboard!

We enjoyed a romp around the coast from Bradwell. Taking in Lawling Creek, Maldon, Pin Mill, Brightlingsea and West Mersea before returning to Bradwell.

Then Christobel and I settled down to a summer of simple sailing, going with the weather and simply enjoying ourselves. At the end of July, I had a visit to my hospital. It was fantastic news: the treatment appeared to have been effective, my psa level had dropped to less than 1. (Told about in blog run)

We eventually arrived back in Bradwell where I had arranged to pick up New Zealander Paul Mullings. He and his lovely wife came aboard for coffee and chat before departing … as we did soon after.

We enjoyed a relatively benign week in which we covered a little under 170 nautical miles, taking in Bradwell, Brightlingsea, Butley river, Orford (via Iken Church and Aldeburgh), Pin Mill, Brightlingsea (planned for West Mersea), Queenborough and then home to my Canvey Island mooring. A great trip with a grand shipmate. A Yachting Monthly article is due out during 2020 about this trip.

During the autumn the three Finesse 24s at my club planned a heist to Conyer. One was still out of the water having new main decks fitted, so just two of us went.

We settled into autumn and enjoyed our regular walks, days out, sailing and a holiday based in Deal, Kent. A grand place to visit … we plan to have another dose next year!

As I’ve said to many people, who have all been aghast, I had just one letter of disapproval about going public with my health issues and my ‘prostate challenge’ to others.

Tragic really, especially in the light of recent history for I feel it a great pity some of the high profile men who have ‘come out’, e.g. Rod Stewart, didn’t do so at the beginning of their prostate journey’s. The BBC TV presenter Bill Turnbull, who has a serious case of prostate cancer, had a retrospective documentary on television about his journey from finding out, his subsequent treatments and the aftermath of living with an incurable case. Brave man.

Two sailing chaps I met recently in Leigh-on-Sea thanked me profusely for my stance, citing the fact that down in ‘their’ club’s foreshore headquarters men had actually sat and talked about it. And, more importantly, done something about it. Women do this all the time! We men all think it amusing, but they react … men, on the whole sit back and do nothing when something is blindingly wrong.

Don’t forget, my tale, there are those among us who don’t have those signs – hence the advertising campaign: the ‘Government’ too has noticed the rise and rise of prostate cancer deaths among us men.

Caught in time it can be fixed…

And now, driving along the streets of this fair land of ours, big posters can be seen at bus stops advising ‘you’ to save a life … your life.

During the mid part of the year Yachting Monthly published Dick Durham’s wonderful column about the need for men to talk and get tested. It was an inspiring piece which makes the point…

The editor of Yachting Monthly told me that he had one ‘ardent’ objection to Dick Durham’s article, a few notes of ‘what is this doing in a yacht mag and many more notes of approval. If you’re a yachting man, you can be afflicted too: there are no boundaries.

So, to all of you who came aboard, sailed and chatted. To those I met ashore in the many places visited during my afloat times over the last year. To those that contacted through this site from afar (Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada, picking out notable countries). And those of you who just had a few kind words to say when met ‘out and about’ local to home, like the two gentlemen mentioned who I met in Leigh-on-Sea this last week – both Finesse Men. To all of you, my and Christobel’s heart-felt thanks go out with our very best wishes for a healthy New Year.

This august and historic yacht insurance group has ground to a halt and, as I understand from local sailing friends, it is being wound up and therefore consigned to history.

See: http://mutualyachtinsurance.com/

There is currently no information about the demise on the web site.

The organisation was a little different to the ‘bog-standard’ insurance company most of us are used to. The ‘Mutual’ was more of a club. The club essentially took the risk from the funds held in reserve.

The Mutual was founded in 1897 and was intended for small sailing craft (no motor yachts – that remained to the end!) not exceeding 20 tons TM and a value of £500.00. Only 75% of the yachts value was insured: the premise was that you, the owner, accepted liability for the remaining 25% … thereby taking better care of your vessel. What a B- good idea, looking about today!

One of history’s stalwarts of the Mutual was Francis B. Cooke. He became its secretary in 1900 and remained in that post for decades…

Cooke sailed into great age and I believe (can’t find the reference) he enjoyed his last sail at the age of 101 – he died shortly afterwards. For a great number of years he was a member of the North Fambridge Yacht Station and remains a revered ex member. The club house sits on ‘stilts’ on the foreshore next to the modern floating jetty now situated at N. Fambridge.

The web site gives scant detail about how they operate, what comes across is the ‘club’ nature of the organisation, insular to some extent.

Up to recent times, members (risks) were still ‘carefully selected…’ with a maximum value of £80,000 and a vessel no more than 50 years old. This last seems counter to the very founding ethos: it was aimed at the ‘small man’ and his boat – times change: now women are equal in being able to own!

The main premise remained, quote: ‘… is a non profit making concern run entirely for the mutual benefit of its members.’ They were after new blood, I know from a conversation I had with a member, but they didn’t seem to really open up to my mind, and, quite frankly, for a similar boat I thought they were expensive. Hey Ho!

During this autumn and early winter, I have received a number of emails asking me where I insure my Finesse 24, Whimbrel. There have been verbal requests too: it seems some former Mutual members are finding it difficult to find an insurer.

For anyone’s information, I currently insure with Nautical Insurance Services of Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

See: https://nautical-insurance.co.uk/

If you don’t have a recent survey, they will probably want one. They are local to my sailing grounds. They know where the boat is berthed, its safety and such. Sometimes, a local firm is best.

I have a quote on file from nearly a decade ago from a ‘responsible national insurer’ … it is still well above what i pay annually now, and that is for 12 months in use.

The reason for the high quote from 10 years ago was … ‘you have a wooden boat and wooden boats are difficult to get repaired.’

What Rot! Not within the greater Thames estuary shores they ain’t! Several places trip off the tongue without any thought. So, I told the insurance Co. to proverbially ‘get stuffed’…

If anyone has any further information on the closure, I’d be pleased to know…

Yachting has changed immensely over the past 100 years, and even more so over the past few decades, where a boat is ‘just another thing’ and many are treated in that manner, sitting out the year, unused and racking up expense.

The simple life can still be attained and nurtured…

Long ago, at the beginning of 1994, we decided that Whimbrel needed a new dinghy. After looking around we plumped for a neat looking 9′ 6″ glass fibre simulated clinker moulded dinghy with a lug sail rig. She was built by Alan Staley of Chambers Wharf, Faversham.

See: http://www.alanstaleyboatbuilders.co.uk/

She was launched in the autumn of 1994 and given a brief trial sail in the gathering gloom on a Saturday evening. Her name, thought up by my good ship-mate, is carved onto a name board – Twitch… The little thing is loved by all who have sailed aboard Whimbrel since that date giving huge pleasure. She has enabled me to potter into many inaccessible places too over the years when I have been busy investigating for my books.

Since 1994 the dinghy has been covered over with the original cover made by Wilkinson Sails (then of Conyer) of Faversham. Over the years the cover has been cleaned and treated with a proprietary canvas proofing treatment, and on a couple of occasions, repaired.

Gradually the old cover began to shrink! I thought about getting a section let in at the aft end, but my good ship-mate said, ‘get a new one…’ I didn’t need any further encouragement. Lets face it twenty-five years isn’t bad for a bit of canvas!

I measured up the dinghy and produced a drawing for a sail maker – choosing Wilkinson Sails. P.S. the dinghy, we discovered, is actually 9′ 3″ upon measuring!

So, on ‘passage’ to Deal (lovely town) for a land holiday earlier this autumn we stopped off for a night in Faversham (no hardship) to drop the drawing off and show the sail maker the old cover – useful: for questions arose!

See: https://www.wilkinsonsails.co.uk/

A few weeks ago, we popped over to Kent to collect the finished cover, but I’ve only just got round to fitting it.

I have to say, the new cover fits a treat. I was a little worried: I’d dispensed with a ‘bit of string’ in the fold back along the lower edge of the skirt.

I shall now sit back and see how it gets on over this winter. It doesn’t show signs of having any ‘droop’ – note cover on dinghy next door and its pool of water forward…

Happy Christmas Twitch, and too, to all at Wilkinson Sails…

Link to my story so far:

Ditch-crawler muses on prostate results whilst enjoying a windy day within the Walton Backwaters …

During last month I had a three monthly blood test and a visit to my oncologist … I can honestly say I was a little daunted by the hospital visit: I have little or no way of knowing how things are other than that I’ve had little in way of any reaction to the radio therapy treatment which ended in mid May.

Broad open skies near Bradwell

A week before my hospital visit we did just short of an eight mile walk taking in another section of St Peter’s Way … walking has kept me going as well as sailing, of course – my wife and family too, obviously! We generally walk anything up to twenty miles each week. I haven’t been able to reach the peak distances we were doing a little over a year ago: energy levels are still lower.

A happy skipper…

Walking on the southern side of Great Baddow near Chelmsford.

I heard with a little disbelief during the autumn about Rod Stewart’s ‘battle’ with prostate cancer. His wife announced that Rod had been given the ‘all clear’ from the disease. Few knew anything about this, but apparently Rod discovered that he’d got this problem some three to four years ago. The ‘all clear’ would tell me that he finished his treatment two years ago.

I would like to talk to him: it would have been good if he’d been open about it … his saying to men, ‘get tested’ is something many would take notice of for many of us have ‘grown up together’ through his music.

Then a BBC breakfast TV presenter (Bill Turnbull) came out with a documentary about how he is dealing with prostate cancer …

All of a sudden, all over the media and on adverts there are warnings to men, yet, still surgeries are not offering tests to men!

The waterfront down in Old Leigh by the Belton Way Boat Club … when on a autumn wander…

A family visit took us into the border lands between Kent and Surrey. On the way home we came back down the old A225, a very scenic road passing through pretty villages dotted along the Darent Valley floor. At Eynsford we stopped for a walk around and found a cafe serving a very tasty soup.

The ford and bridge beside a converted mill below Eynsford’s Saint Martin’s church.

My appointed day arrived and I trundled off to the hospital with my good mate in tow. Appointments were running an hour and a quarter late!

I was eventually called and in came my oncologist … towards the end of the meeting he asked about my ‘elections’ as Christobel began to ask what, I swung into action, realising what he’d meant in a slip of the tongue: my response (rubbing her knee and saying how good she was) caused Christobel much embarrassment and the poor ‘old’ doctor shook his head, whilst rubbing his brow.

It was a happy meeting. My PSA level has dropped to 0.06 and I have been placed on a six monthly testing regime. Other medication will continue for the planned duration into the middle of 2020.

So, with happy hearts we left the hospital feeling on top of the world.

It is important to keep a positive mind on these things. I’m sure the attitude I struck upon at the beginning has helped enormously. I’m thankful to for the dedication and shared trust with the treatment department too. It is a ‘no holds barred’ situation with NO secrets!

So it was onward with a lighter feeling into the autumn.

On a visit to Faversham to pick up a new dinghy cover I popped into Alan Staley’s shed for a natter…

The Edith May

On the way home we dropped into Lower Halstow to drop off a book … lunching at the convivial Three Tuns. I couldn’t resist a visit to the dock where the Edith May has been stripped for winter.

On a recent Sunday, with bad weather in the outlook forecasts, we skipped the last service before Advent and went off for an early morning sail and communed out there on the water…

Early morning reflections on the lower Thames…

It was a quiet sail, at first, then a breeze set in and we romped along, homeward bound…

During this period we have also completed the last section of the St Peter’s Way on the Dengie Peninsular. On part of the walk, we followed the higher ‘reaches’ of Asheldham Brook which eventually flows out onto the sandy wastes between the Crouch and Blackwater.

What passes for a raging torrent in Essex…

Then, as autumn came to a very damp end for many across our country, I said to Christobel that it was a good time for an ‘over-nighter’ to the River Medway. Times of tides made Queenborough reachable before dusk … she declined (!) so I went alone … she later regretted this!

Sailing in Twitch back to Whimbrel at sunset after paying my dues…

A pint (or two) in the Admiral’s Arm was enjoyed…

Next morning dawned foggy, I departed two hours after my planned time!

Outside Queenborough harbour the sun sparkled and in the Medway the fog bank was clear to see…

I enjoyed a cracking sail back across the Thames, dropping sail outside my creek and continuing straight into the mooring.

We’re now in the meteorological winter and to celebrate I offered a friend a sail … the ‘poor’ chap hasn’t had use of his own vessel this year and has now enjoyed his fourth sail this autumn. It is the least I could do.

Down the setting sun…

It was an enchanting late afternoon sail which came to an end as the evening drew in.

Ghosting home…

It is moments like these that drive home the blessings of the world around us and the sanctity of life and the need to preserve what we have…

A sublime moment…

Yes, the world is a better place at this end of 2019 than it was in the last one. I have much to be thankful for.

In my happy place…

Hi All, some of you out there may have followed ‘stuff’ on my facebook account as well as on here – I know of at least a few! Anyway, due to a suspicious activity, I have suspended my account. Sorry!

To compensate … here are a few pictures from an early morning sail from my mooring within Smallgains Creek.

We departed a little after 0800 … enjoying bacon sandwiches!

Wonderful light reflections…

It was so quiet … with gentle zephyrs.

Then the breeze set in, giving us a grand finale to our morning’s work!

Its a grand life…

I’ve been meaning to pop down to Old Leigh for a wander around the yard that was once Johnson & Jago. It is now styled as, Lower Thames Marina. There are mud berths to ‘floating’ pontoons and berths used by live-a-boards. The big shed is used for boat repairs whilst the yard’s eastern hard-standing is largely given over to craft under owner repairs and winter layup.

It is a little while since I’ve had ‘this’ wander about. Within the layup area were a number of old friends which came out of the water, in some cases, years ago. I’m certain I did a blog way back, so it can be found by scrolling back…

I dropped into the yard first of all, smiling broadly at a man that looked my way and waving. I walked round a few vessels that have, quite frankly, been out for some years. There is a clinker cutter, shapely, of 23 to 24 feet with a well raked transom. Not sure of her class, if there is one, but she is deteriorating. Her cockpit cover has given up and rain water will be pooled in her bilges. Sad. Anyway, I cam in to find a little barge yacht, Come at Last, which was rescued by a member of the little boat club just east of this yard.

The Come at Last well wrapped for the winter…

Close by this fine old barge yacht sits another. She’s now been fully covered over: I understand she’s due for a rebuild. She’s the Heron Lee, a barge yacht dating to 1913 and built by Robertson’s of Woodbridge on the River Deben. She has pedigree and it would be good to see her afloat again.

A friend had told me that a Finesse 21 was out here too. I soon found her. She’s Cumulus, a gunter rigged sloop, which is unusual. The owner has had problems with leakage around the cabin sides for some while and has decided to renew the ‘top hamper’ completely. The task is being helped along by a previous owner (Now with a nice little Seaking). Both belong to the little boat club I mentioned … they’re a caring helpful band.

My contact said that if Alan (Platt) the builder of these craft were deceased, he’d be turning in his grave … why, I thought: surely he’d be absolutely delighted that effort was being made to keep another of ‘his’ boats alive. And this is the thing, usually anything is fixable on a wooden boat if done before too much damage is done. If one has the skills, costs can be kept well below those form a yard…

The bow of Cumulus

Looking into the main cabin – I peeped under the cover…

Looking forward into main cabin – access to focsle is the ‘dark’ area beyond centre plate case and table assembly.

Leaving the yard I wandered towards the little club hut of the boat club. I spotted the barge yacht Calluna resting on her laurels, shut down for the winter. She’s owned by a sailing acquaintance who once owned the little Nancy Grey, a lovely wooden barge yacht now based in Faversham, Kent.

Calluna, a fine little ship…

The owner of Calluna took her down to Bristol this last summer. Amazingly, he bumped into my sister whilst passing though Devizes. It took him just a few moments to connect us by a ‘barge’ comment from my sister. I met the chap in the club hut and we had a little chuckle about it! For his trip, the mast was left ashore and she came home on a lorry … but the owner and his wife had a fabulous time.

Laying off the beach are two other Finesse 21s – Penny, out on the flats beyond the creek ditch and Seamew, closest in the picture below.

Seamew and Penny (beyond) awaiting the tide…

I didn’t go any further along the front: I got chatting, as like-minded sailors do and time flew.

It was time to high-tail it home to get the soup on for lunch: the Mate would be back from meeting old pals over coffee, feeling hungry!

Yes, its good to get out and look around like this, although I often feel saddened by what I see, there is often a happiness too in seeing a loved craft being rejuvenated…

Well over two years ago I sent Yachting Monthly an article discussing what goes on in a salt marsh creek yacht club’s work party: very often the yachting press covers the good deeds of ‘club officers’, but it is rare, if unknown, for the guys (boys and girls) who do what is needed to make the club operate…

So, I wrote about it and the result has been a guest column!

The biography of me has been intermixed with a lady though … I wrote to YM and said, ‘I know I’m on medication for my prostate cancer, but hadn’t realised I’d changed sex … and my wife can assure you that all is in order!’ The editor said they’ll get it right next time…

It provided a good laugh for the guys and gals in my club’s work party: they nicknamed be ‘Nicola’!

Article courtesy of Yachting Monthly.

 

 

 

 

 

‘No boats…’ my mate said, when we booked a holiday in East Kent – an area briefly looked into many years ago on a flying visit to Sandwich. With the Isle of Thanet, the eastern part of Kent is oft forgotten as a place of interest. We had a thoroughly good time and saw some amazing sights…

Boats: yes, I found lots! Some in museums and others sitting either disused or fit for purpose.

I’ll start with Broadstairs (close by Ramsgate), where we walked down through the town’s entrance gate – once fortified against pirates and the French. The term ‘gate’ in these Eastern Kent place names harps to there being an entrance to the land from the sea. The gate led down onto the tiny harbour. This was a place much loved by Dickens and his old house sits overlooking the sea above the harbour in Viking Bay.

A fairly modern motor fishing launch, probably used for crabbing.

On the harbour top was a clinker launch in fairly good condition. It was being used as a ‘money box’ though and it was unclear if she had ceased to function as a fishery vessel. She had sturdy lines with, as can be seen, with a good rise in sheer to her high bow.

On one of our days, we spent it walking Deal … along the beach were a few older style fishing boats, some in a poor condition. There were several grp modern boats, but had the look of ‘day fishing’ types.

Lady Irene is of a typical type..

Note the lute stern, that is a counter stern built around the transom, which was decked over. Bit like a buoyancy tank…

Looking aft inside the Lady Irene. Note the wide beam and pinched stern – not unlike a 1970 cruiser/racer!

The other thing to note about the Lady Irene is that her tiller is clearly designed to move around a transom stepped mast for a lug sail. Note the ‘U’ kink…

 

This clinker launch looked pretty ordinary: it could of hailed from any part of our coasts. Her engine has been removed.

 

This old girl has the look of ‘Hastings’ but pretty standard for the Channel coasts of Kent. Her days look numbered.

Note the traditional step for boarding and alighting when launching and beaching…

 

This mini-model looked more loved…

Later, we found our way to The Deal Maritime Museum where there are a number of old craft on display.

A Deal Galley – Saxon King.

The Deal galley was a long open boat very similar to the Cornish Gig.  They would be between 27 and 32 ft in length with fine lines. There were up to four or six oars.  They also be fitted with a mast with a dipping lug.  They were clinker built with  elm planking on ash frames.  They were generally used to take pilots to and from ships lying in the downs.  Often the galleys would hook onto a ship and be towed along without the ship stopping – not unusual: this is still the basic method used by modern pilot boats, although powering alongside, not attaching…

Apparently there is another Deal galley in the Dover Museum.  For more information on ‘Kent Craft’, see: http://www.kenttraditionalboat.org.uk/index.html

A very fine stern…

An old ships’ lifeboat from the Southend Britannia, a estuary pleasure ferry which went out to the Dunkirk beaches.

This old ships’ lifeboat called Tender Too from the Southend Britannia. The boat lifted men from the Dunkirk beaches in 1940.

Outside in an uncovered yard is another larger collection of old boats. I am afraid to say that this is not the best place for them: they are slowly but surely decaying by an onslaught of sun and rain – fresh water, yes, the enemy of all wooden craft.

In the outside area there was no information boards at all…

This is a ‘whaler’ type…

These two pictures shows what can happen if exhibits are placed in such conditions…

I would have liked to have found out more information about these ‘out-door’ craft.

Unless something is done  to preserve these craft in a proper manner, then I don’t believe they’ll be around in a decade. This is one of the problems that these small provincial museums have, sadly.

The museum is certainly worthy of a visit for it covers the town of Deal too.

I have become aware of another Finesse 24 up for sale. She is a lovely gaffer called Mariette. The lovely lady was owned by a friend for a number of years before he sold her to the current owner.

The vessel had her centre plate removed some years ago, but, being a gaffer, it doesn’t seem to have affected her sailing ability greatly.

Picture of Mariette sailing in company with Whimbrel a few seasons ago.

The vessel has been well looked after. An owner many years ago converted her to gaff rig – she’s a beauty!

Mariette has a very extensive locker of goodies and would be ready to sail away…

See: https://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/Classic-sailing-boats-for-sale/a-f-platt-finesse-24-gaff-cutter/282105?utm_source=newsnow&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=sailbo&fbclid=IwAR0OzvF5qPCwyF46M3b14TLIMVzMotxhe9g2dJAiXvcHo8PLQkn3vbmEw_U

I would ask any buyer to contact me: I am current keeper of class owner records, and to also join the Finesse Facebook Group (a closed group for members only)

See: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1518607771700636/?ref=bookmarks

Mariette on the River Medway.

Contact: Colin Ramsay at colinramsay2006@hotmail.com. Tel: 07368 415432. Colin is happy for prospective buyers to make direct contact.

Boat is based at the Benfleet Yacht Club, Essex.

I was reminded recently soon after the latest RYA magazine fluttered through the letter box about seeing an autonomous vessel in Harwich Harbour.

The Autumn 2019 RYA magazine carries an article about an autonomous vessel crossing the North Sea this summer. The one in question sailed from West Mersea to Oostende in 22 hours with a ‘cargo’ of oysters. The operation was sponsored by UK’s Maritime & Coast Guard Agency, Department of Transport, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the European Space agency and partners in Europe.

Photo of picture in RYA magazine – courtesy of RYA Magazine.

The vessel’s name is USV Maxlimer and was developed by Sea-Kit International of Tollesbury. The boat was built by Hushcraft Ltd in West Mersea and Tollesbury. Her base is said to be Maldon – amongst the fleet of Thames spritsail barges!

See:

https://www.hushcraft.com/sea-kit-docks-in-belgium-to-complete-first-ever-international-commercial-uncrewed-transit/

It was all carried out with the use of GPS using a Global Situational Awareness system via an internet feed allowing remote access to CCTV cameras and controls. Maybe some of you will have seen her about.

I didn’t!

But, I did see this one in Harwich Harbour. She was being ‘shepherded’ out of the harbour across The Shelf by an escort … as we sailed in. The boat’s name is Intrepid Barracuda. Where she was going I do not know. We didn’t hear anything on Harwich VTS, so assume was doing trials.

I did find this on line though…

https://www.abports.co.uk/media/aypp4aqj/abp-lowestoft-ntm-no-23-2019.pdf

So, there we are. She was on trial!

The Intrepid Barracuda in Harwich Harbour.

I am sure that in the future we will see far more of these types of vessel in our coastal waters. I am sure though that unlike some yachts (in particular) which seem to go about on an auto pilot in congested waters, the ‘real’ thing’s cameras will tell an operator or an interface that you are in its way!

I had an ‘incident’ in late August where a yacht kept on coming up our stern … only veering away as I made a course adjustment to prevent chance of a collision. There was a ‘bloke’ aboard in the cockpit, but he made no acknowledgement … roll on full automation!

As an ex sea going engineer officer who keeps abreast of things, I am aware of shipping developments – the Japanese are to trial an ocean voyage, a ore bulker, I believe to Australia…

Interesting developments.

I was busy working among the merry band of members at my yacht club yesterday (Saturday) at the weekend work party when I saw a boat in slings coming into a new section of yard we’ve taken over from a boat yard. We’re busy ripping out decrepit rickety finger jetties and rebuilding new sound ones – it has been a continuing job for over a year now, but progress is being made. The ‘powers to be’ have decided that the new yard will be used to lay up those boats which are either in long term lay up or seemingly approaching the abandonment point! It reminded me of something I saw which saddened me and my wife at a marina during the summer.

I know my last blog was about craft close to little hope of redemption, but all of us sailors must have seen craft afloat, that had the look of not being cared for.

So, how often do you look around as you wander back to your boat, after a shower say, with a chippy feeling that is curtailed as one’s eye catches the sight of a craft that has sat neglected for many months, if not longer?

The craft and its whereabouts will not be revealed, but I’m sure someone will recognise her, suffice to say I spotted her in the north of my east coast sailing grounds…

The mooring lines on the boat’s deck cleats caught my eye first. There is no way these had been removed and retied in many months – most probably last year or further into the past.

Mooring line solidified with verdigris…

Then my eye saw some of her fenders on the point dropping overboard due to frayed and sun rotted lines.

Rotting fender lines…

Then to a tangled mass of ‘congealed’ rope at the mast foot came into view … nothing in that lot had moved for a long time.

At the mast foot…

On the fore deck was another tangle with hanging coils of genoa sheet and mooring lines.

On the fore deck…

Walking along the mooring finger where this poor girl sat I saw that the growth on her rudder (she had two and the other was out of sight…) was so thick that it was clear she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere in a hurry: the bottom would be in same condition.

Hull growth…

During this summer, we had to beach Whimbrel on two occasions – the first to remove weed and copious layer of barnacles on the ‘flat’ bottom, and secondly, fresh weed growth around the wind/water area down to around half draft. For us, it is easy: we careen her over and get to it! It doesn’t take long on shingle of sandy bank and many people do this during their season. I remember an ‘old boy’ telling me up in the River Deben that he beached his boat three times in the sailing season for a scrub…

Whimbrel’s mate getting under…

I did note though that the vessel had been fitted with a clean mainsail cover and a modicum of cleaning had been done on deck with a scattering of ‘dropped’ tools, so, maybe, there is an owner about somewhere who has begun a long task…

I looked up on various sales sited for the class of boat seen and I was quite shocked. The list price for craft of her type dating to 2003-05 period ranged from £99,000 to £115,000. It caused me to swallow hard!

Apologies to the owner, if you should read this, but I was greatly saddened.

After the trials and tribulations of last summer and my subsequent treatment for prostate cancer, I decided during the spring of this year (with my good Mate’s agreement) to go wandering this summer.

The boat’s travels ranged from North Kent up to Iken Cliff on the River Alde, covering a few miles short of 700 n.miles during period away from home. The distance is modest against those that go on long coastal voyages in all probability, but for us it has been a pleasant meander. I’ll suffix that with an exception … being wind bound on two occasions – once in Titchmarsh for five whole days. Now Titchmarsh is a lovely marina, but amenities and stores are a good walk away!

However, my time cocooned from the worst of the high winds wasn’t wasted. I had a bit of a wander through what is euphemistically called the ‘graveyard’ by Titchmarsh Marina staff looking at the various craft that are at death’s door or close to it.

I came across a sad and forlorn looking Sea King – a 24-footer, I believe – which has clearly come to the end of her sailing days and will eventually find her way to a funeral pyre…

The Sea King Halcyon appears doomed…

Inside, her cabin still ‘glowed’ in varnished mahagany.

The cockpit was a mass of various bits including her rudder. Below her sails have clearly been rifled over and parts have already ‘walked’…

The boat’s stem clearly shows her main problem – ‘iron’ rot.

The Sea King is essentially a ‘grown up Dauntless’ – her lines and hull shape show this. It isn’t surprising for her creator, Reg Patten, served his time with the Dauntless Boatbuilders of Canvey Island.

Close by the Finesse 24, Halda, still languishes in a continual state of slow demise. Much equipment has been taken (purchased, I understand to offset unpaid charges) but a perfectly good centre plate winch is still bolted to the cockpit bulkhead! The deepness of keel and completely different hull lines created by Alan Platt can be seen – a proper little yacht!

Halda moulders on…

To one side of the yard where vessels seemed not quite ‘into’ the doomed category sat a collection of vessels – wood and glass – awaiting their owners’ return to continue refits. It was clear to me that for some this was going to be a forlorn wait. Green verdigris was spread in abundance.  I chanced upon a sweet little day racer – a bit like a dragon, and it could be (?). She had the enticing name – Victoria. I wonder what the monarch of that name would have thought! The poor boat is drying out badly…

A sweet little thing – her name is ‘Victoria’…

I passed a glass-fibre sloop with a notice of sale to redeem unpaid ground rent – there were a number of these about. Little chance of Titchmarsh recouping losses!

Close by sat a couple of deepsh draft cruisers – wooden, of course – that showed a great willingness to get on with it. But how many years ago was that, I wondered.

Work appears ongoing…

But is it too much? Planking has sprung!

Leaving that little area behind, I continued my wanderings … and stumbled upon this once fine looking open motor boat – a yacht tender perhaps, for reaching the mother ship out on distant moorings. These days virtually all vessels used for this purpose around the Walton Channel are either Rib types of GRP motor tenders, left to swing on moorings whilst the ‘mother’ is away.

I liked the look of this one!

A vessel with good solid shape, designed for load carrying. Her propeller was guarded by the tunnel – seen.

Her bow was pram-shaped with a rise not dissimilar to a scow.

Oh yes, her little petrol engine still awaits the attention of an engineer!

Arkle, seen below was another launch of a different pedigree, but nonetheless, functional. She had the look of a yacht club launch… She ‘aint’ going anywhere!

Arkle…

I walked on and I found before me the bow of a good looking motor-cruiser or weekender. She didn’t look too bad at first sighting, but as I walked round her, a tale of neglect followed. I think it highly unlikely that she ever had a cover fitted over all that open woodwork – a great shame for a small amount of outlay would have stalled this sort of nonsense!

Once a fine motor launch…

Hmmmmmm …… whatever happened about fitting a good cover?

Another thing noted was the use of what are essentially DIY timber such as plywood – a false economy afloat where weather can do its worst.

In the middle of ‘this lot’ sat a pretty little thing – a Silhouette I believe, or of the type. Work had clearly been carried out, but when wasn’t clear: green verdigris was taking hold. Maybe this is a stalled project…

A pretty little boat – Silhouette?

Repainted this year, or last, but seemingly un-cared for…

I was left wondering if she would still be in the same position the next time I was likely to be in the Walton Backwaters.

The next vessel seemed beyond the possibilities of a renewal. Hull planking was seen to be coming adrift, she has a crushed bilge and her internals were a picture of decay. The old launch has served her time in some harbour with day after day of hard graft, heavy use and probably a ‘she isn’t mine, so I don’t care about the knocks’ attitude. Sadly, a chainsaw and bonfire awaits…

Not a lot of hope, surely?

Crushed bilge…

My eyes then lit up as they alighted on a fine deep draft cruiser with the look of  one of those Littlehampton built yachts. Her hull sides have been prepared and the bottom cleaned off … but close inspection began to show why progress has stalled. Keel bolts looked as if attention was needed from the look of the ballast keel to timber join. Then there were areas of degradation around the stem and opening up around the planking ends to stern post…

Some hope?

I cast my eyes towards the deck line – trouble was afoot. Open deck edges. Partially stripped cabin sides and missing window furniture in a sea of ‘green’ growth. Initial thoughts were squashed!

Fast drying out…

Some weeks later my good Mate gave up her place so that I could take a New Zealand friend sailing. The chap asked me soon after he’d arrived in Essex back in May if it would be possible to get him to the River Ore and Alde in Suffolk. I said, ‘Yes, weather and God willing…’ Starting from Bradwell on the River Blackwater, it happened. That tale is another story though…

We stopped off at the Aldeburgh Yacht Club for showers, after which we walked into the town past Slaughden Quay – once a busy and prosperous place before it was all bu washed away centuries ago – but I stopped by Demon Yachts, a yard situated on the edge of the town, and saw a couple of boats advertised as being for sale. Both are ‘projects’ and much would be needed to finish them. Most of all a willingness…

The first was a vessel 117 years old – a Whitewing, a local class boat. Her hull looked in a precarious condition, however, the planking looked ‘good’. The advert spoke of a ‘group ownership’ or of a single benefactor to complete…

As I say, true willingness is essential!

117 year old White Wing Nona…

The details…

Are you the one to do it?

The next looked less of a challenge and is a lovely sleek looking thing. The long double-ender was originally built as a gentleman’s launch. In time she had clearly gained a rig: the ‘irons’ are still fitted.

Lovely looking thing…

The vessel was built by Camper & Nicholson, but no date was given on her details. Of all the vessels I saw at the two yards, this one seemed the most likely to find a buyer. She’d certainly repay an expense, surely…

The  details…

Now, up and down the coast many of you can probably find similar craft in very similar states of disrepair or neglect. It is something I get ‘bothered’ about and generally come away full of sadness. It is the same for wooden and GRP craft. All were once loved and cosseted. Age has wearied them, but for many much life remains.

I know an owner of a Finesse 24 who obtained the ownership of his little sloop for the nominal sum of £500 – admittedly, he has accepted the undertaking of a little over £2000 of repair work, and that will probably grow… But, for a around £3000 he will gain a superb coastal cruiser, safe enough to wander the east coast and provide a ‘home’ for the summer (as I do on Whimbrel!)

There are a myriad of GRP craft sitting on yard hard standings which with a dose of elbow grease would scrub up. Defects can be fixed.

What has to be remembered is that for a small outlay a first time cruiser owner could get afloat for a relatively small cost, if the heart strings can be pulled … instead of paying out 1000’s of pounds sterling for a modern expensively built vessel with supposedly superior pedigree.

I’ve looked at modern 24-footers, their costs are frightening and their supposed spacious interiors are nothing of the sort in comparison to my Finesse 24 … I wouldn’t touch ’em with a barge pole…

My continuing ‘Prostate Story’…

See for earlier blogs: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-sails-onward-radio-therapy-done-with-freshly-antifouled-we-chased-barges-on-the-medway-2019-match/

Time ran on nicely as we pottered around the rivers Blackwater, Colne and subsidiary creeks, but in the back of my mind was my looming appointment for the first post radio therapy check up.

We had a few days at home – a 20/20 cricket match at the Oval with ‘the boy’, a blood test and a ‘family do’ all fortuitously coinciding. Returning to the boat we continued to potter before ‘high-tailing’ to Southend Hospital from Bradwell Marina (Handy having a car u there!) for my appointment.

After a longish wait … 30 minutes … I was in.

Less than five minutes later, after answering questions about loo visits, pooh problems and other stuff – like telling the youngish lady that everything was still working – I was out, clutching a fresh blood test form. Around my head buzzed the news that my PSA count has fallen to virtually ZERO.

Christobel heaved then cried. I was somewhat choked…

Very good news indeed…

I go for a further test in a little over three months.

Since then we left the sheltered waters of Essex’s middle rivers and made passage for Pin Mill with the weather fair…

Departing a little after four in the morning (a few days ago) we had a quiet motor-sail, with barely a mile under sail alone for the 27 mile trip.

Yes folks. Diesel was burnt!

We’re now pottering in the Walton Backwaters …

Today we sailed up into Oakley Creek and viewed many seals – it doesn’t matter how many times one sees them the allure never fades. The colony was seen basking way off in the distance round the inside of Garnham’s Island.

Sailing up Oakley Creek … note the coaster up at wharf.

Seals in Oakley Creek.

Leaving the seals we sailed into the Walton Channel, initially to anchor, but a squally period set us heading further up to find a vacant buoy. We found these to be numerous … and picked one under the west saltings edge.

Sailing into the Walton Channel across the top…

Once moored, I had tome to look around. To our amazement a group of dinghies of mixed classes came sailing out, tacking and gybing round two buoys local to us…

A series of ‘dinghy’ pictures follow…

Boisterous conditions can be seen!

Up, up and away…

Oooooops!

On the mud

And in the saltings…

A close encounter…

Tomorrow we plan to anchor Whimbrel in the shallows off Stone Point around two hours before low water, careen the ‘ol girl and scrub her bottom: I have seen weed growing happily on the rudder out of reach below the waterline. From experience we both knew what was coming. The Mate, Christobel, is so looking forward to it…

The call of a laundry can be heard from our washing bag, so later tomorrow will see us in Titchmarsh Marina.

That last picture ‘A close encounter…’ resonates with my thoughts currently. Part, a blessed joy in having got through this last year with a psa level first at 13.6 and now ‘0’, and of relief, an overwhelming relief, at where I am now …

But for the Grace of God go I.

My thoughts are with those who I know are currently undergoing treatment. For one ‘old boy’ his prognosis isn’t good, but for another it should be.

Favourable journey’s chaps…

 

 

This time last year was an extremely hard time for me, Christobel, ‘the boy’, as well as for my family and friends. That is all history now…

I was reminded of it all (as if one needed to be) upon meeting a boat at Brightlingsea with a nice couple aboard. They’d once ‘stopped me’ whilst I was sailing about in my dinghy in Stangate Creek. After ranging alongside we had a long chat about my various books … later I had a request by email for this and that.

Any way, I told them I’d been ‘quiet’ for a while dealing with prostate cancer – sadly, the lady’s brother has also got the disease. Unfortunately, she said, he’d not reacted to ‘pee’ problems and didn’t do so until aches in his hips appeared. The chap is undergoing treatment, but the prognosis isn’t good.

There by the Grace of God go I…

I set out this summer to have a bit of a ball, helped by my willing Mate Christobel, one in ‘letting’ the summer go (again) and in giving up her berth to various family and friends whilst they enjoyed some sailing too. Family are all done – one more friend, an Old Leigh Boy residing in New Zealand over for a long visit, is booked for late August.

Cousin Roger and youngest brother, Andrew, romping towards the Swin Spitway in June…

Two good sailing companions sailed with me aboard on a ‘delivery’ trip to Bradwell – essentially a ‘Jolly Boys’ outing with stops at Queenborough and Brightlingsea on the way. We had fun.

Christobel met us and took both boys to the station at Southminster where they began a long and arduous bus trip to Shenfield due to track works!

With the middle part of the week to ourselves we decided to ‘pop’ up to Colchester. We’ve sailed up and away many times, but never stopped…

Arriving in Colchester…

Whimbrel can be seen in the distance beyond the ‘light vessel’ berthed outside of a motor cruiser at the floating pontoon alongside King Edward Quay.

We enjoyed a wander into Colchester transiting the Hythe ‘village’ – fascinating and the main street is loaded with ‘Tudor’ buildings still very much in use.

Hythe – a little gem…

Leaving Colchester we sailed down river to Brightlingsea to join up with eleven other Finesse craft for ‘our’ annual rally. This was the best in numbers since the rally was inaugurated eight years ago.

Rally boats alongside the Heritage Pontoon, Brightlingsea.

The following weekend saw us sailing into Maldon to help celebrate the official launch of the Sea-change Sailing Trust barge, Blue Mermaid’s official launch – see earlier blog.

Cocky sprits seen from the ‘bargemen’s’ church on the hill above Maldon’s Hythe…

In a period before the planned take-over of Whimbrel by my sister and two lovely friends we had time round outside Tollesbury, within Lawling Creek and round in the rivers Crouch and Roach, enjoying generally good sailing weather – some diesel had to be used…

Running towards Burnham…

Christobel went home the day before my next crew joined … she was on (our) church cleaning duty and had also volunteered to assist at a community fayre! A visit to a London exhibition and three day jaunt ‘up north’ visiting her old town of Royal Leamington Spa (much changed) and going onto Stratford to see a Shakespeare play, kept her occupied…

My trip with my sister Theresa and friends Hannah and Steve took us to Brightlingsea, Pin Mill (& Suffolk Yacht Harbour), Harwich, the Walton Backwaters, West Mersea and the return to Bradwell…

Sunrise on way up to Pin Mill…

Playing with the cruising chute – Naze into Harwich Harbour…

On a glorious grey day sail from Harwich to West Mersea…

A couple of hours after that week’s crew had departed, my dear wife returned, laden with fresh stores…

My dear wife, Christobel, happily at the helm…

A few days at home approached when I’d re-met the boating couple in Brightlingsea: it was a reminder.

Back in early June, I’d got a blood test pre-booked in readiness for a visit to hospital to see the prostate cancer specialist. The sample has been taken and my appointment awaits during the coming week. Am I worried, a little yes, I’d be lying to say I’m not. Whatever, I plan to continue enjoying life, love and the world about me…

The sun sets on main treatment phase…

So, as the sun sets on my main treatment phase (hopefully), I am reminding all men who haven’t had a prostate test, don’t leave it until pains elsewhere drive you towards a surgery. Be proactive. I was and had had the disease for several unknown years…

Earlier this year Christobel and I received an invitation to attend the official launch of the Sea-change Sailing Trust’s new Thames spritsail barge, Blue Mermaid. The barge is a ‘faithful’ replica of the original sunk by a magnetic mine during WW2. Her remains sit somewhere near the old position of the West Hook Middle Buoy n the Swin. Soon, with the help of the Port of London Authority, a diver will retrieve a fragment of that vessel which will be preserved and kept aboard the new barge in memory of the crew who perished.

The Blue Mermaid viewed from West Mersea…

Yesterday, whilst ambling back to the waterfront in West Mersea, I spotted the new barge majestically sailing out past Sales Point over on the Bradwell Shore. For me it was a moment of magic: although the barge has been sailing for a couple of months – working up – I had not seen her in such guise.

My old family home, the Thames spritsail barge May Flower, was sailing in the Swin close by the Blue Mermaid when she was blown up. May Flower’s crew sailed round the area looking for survivors … for this reason, I have long held an affinity to the Blue Mermaid Project and, more importantly, for the work of the Sea-change Trust.

So, a little over a week ago now, on a delightful July morning we sailed into Maldon and berthed at one of the local yards.

The stern of the Blue Mermaid and bow of the Reminder, true sisters… 

I captured a view of the Blue Mermaid’s stern with the bow of the Reminder outboard … identical sisters separated by around ninety years. Later I walked past, along Maldon’s Hythe, for a look … the mate and some apprentices were hard at work making things spic and span – one burnishing the binnacle!

The Blue Mermaid’s topsail set for the ceremony…

Walking towards the Hythe on the day, the sight of the Blue Mermaid’s topsail set proudly aloft among  the cocky sprits of her sisters brought a lump to my throat. This was truly an very historic occasion. Although there has been one other barge built in recent years, she was specifically for use as a home and yacht – Defiance – a reincarnation of a Medway river barge (less a metre removed from her aft end to comply with ‘yacht’ rules). Another is the Snark. The classification of these two remains a mystery to me … it appears they’re ‘not’ barges, but yacht barges, a term not often used these days.

The Blue Mermaid’s topsail, by the way, has been sponsored by the Maldon Little Ship Club in a ten year sponsorship – a mighty impressive deed.

Trust supporters in conversation…

On the Hythe, people milled, chatting, admiring and toasting the fine vessel.

All aboard!

At some predetermined point, it fell to Chair of Trustees, Hilary Halajko, to propose the vessel’s blessing – the man of God who was supposed to have attended was apparently unavailable to to sickness…

There were thanks to supporters … sponsors … for kind deeds and everyone for coming along was followed by distribution of bouquets to various – Catherine Dines represented the Heritage Marine Yard (Downs Road) in the absence of Jim. Hilary herself wasn’t forgotten too!

Hilary Halajko making her speach.

A ‘talk’ was given too … but lost me when the line ran into similarities with Gordonstone School … absolutely nothing to do with the ethos and reasons behind ‘Sea-change’!

Speeches over, the vessel was suitably toasted, and a buffet was opened for people to partake of refreshment. This was all hosted by the Maldon Little Ship Club led by Commodore Stubbs. The buffet was the ‘baby’ of his wife Cally, an enthusiastic crew member of a barge herself.

The buffet spread…

Supporters and guests enjoying the rather tasty provisions…

Having enjoyed a few nibbles, Christobel and I went aboard the Blue Mermaid. We’ve been aboard many times over the past two years and watched all the changes from a bare steel shell to a fully fitted out and rigged sailing machine. There are still a few jobs to do … there is with any vessel, but she’s here, in use and doing the trust’s work.

From this on launch day at Toms Yard, Polruan, Cornwall…

To this…

 

Above deck, the barge is complete… Below, a little still needs to be done – varnishing the aft cabin companionway bulkheads for instance was noticeable. But to all intents and purposes she is finished. There follows what are essentially self explanatory pictures around the ‘ship’…

 

The ‘swept hold’ is home to fold away bunks – trainees, clients and extra crew.

The forward 4-berth unit to starboard.

The well appointed galley located under the aft waist deck.

To port of the galley is another 2-berth cabin.

The skipper and mate’s cabin, aft. ‘The cuddy’ – one day I hope (with sibling approval) the barge can have May Flower’s double burner cabin lamp, still a precious item of my mother’s…

A few cups gained in early barge match forays, builder’s plaque from Toms of Polruan, and notable contributors board…

As I was going ashore I spotted Don Ramsay going aboard – a key man in the workings of the Trust as administrator and head fund raiser…

Kindly Don…

I had a brief chat with the Toms Yard representative … we had chatted at the Blue Mermaid’s launch and at her safe arrival in Maldon. She was essentially ‘gob-smacked’ by the huge changes from the bare hull built at the family yard … yes, I think we all are!

‘Toms’ and Richard Titchener, Chief Executive Officer and Skipper chatting…

A very long time ago back in 2005 I wrote in my book, The May Flower a barging Childhood, published in 2007, at the end of chapter 1, detailing ‘where’ barges are now and the future, whilst discussing the fact that modern yachts are built with the rigs of their forbears whether it be a Bemudian of gaff and finished by saying:

‘if the future barge is a new steel one, the most important aspect is its rig and how it is used.’

The Sea-change Sailing Trust has built an ethos working with young people who are falling through the net, people with dementia, schools, sailability and provision of a seafaring training. This is all coupled with plans to carry a cargo, but the main aim is to achieve aims against the elements of tide and wind under sail … on the way a youngster who fails to understand the need for mathematics will learn chart work and along the way discover mathematics…

The Trust is to be commended…

How many of you walk past moored craft in a harbour and DON’T look around at the craft around you?

I suspect, not many and like me you pass an eye over them, quizzically or otherwise.

The point I would like to make is that one sees an awful lot of craft, traditional especially, where a lot of work has been carried out. Varnishing for instance where the wood has been stripped back, sanded and varnish applied. Maybe two, three or even four coats. The applier (owner in the main) looks back with a satisfied smile and walks away, complimenting himself on a job well done.

Then, how often do you see ripped, badly fitting covers, or no cover at all over varnished wood?

P.S. Badly fitting covers was written about last autumn… See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-goes-west/

 

Whimbrel’s set of covers…

Yes, well!

With respect to varnish, yachting magazines go into the number of coats required on bare wood at great length, from time to time. My maxim rests at around eight to ten as a minimum … less means redoing the following season!

When there are a number of small areas stripped back it is easy to loose track – I’ve done it and following season found just a few coats on ‘an area’ forgotten about with a ‘peeling’ coating…

I pencil the coat number against areas stripped back up to ‘9’ here!

Cabin sides could be protected, of course, but it is an unusual sight in summer and is usually when a boat is under a winter cover. I have seen ‘all over’ covers though, and cabin side canvas protectors… Hatches and cockpits are a different matter. I leave Whimbrel’s hatch protection covers on from September to May. During autumn weekends away they get removed, for tidal sails, no.

Whimbrel’s hatch covers.

This one caught my eye recently…

Another well fitting cover…

So often an owner will expend huge effort in stripping, say a hatch, cabin sides and other areas such as rubbing strakes. Below are two examples of such efforts going to waste … in fact the work requires to be carried out all over again!

Both pictures make me sad…

 

The point about coating numbers is clearly made in the following example. The varnish or similar protective/decorative coating was applied and has not been re-applied at the intervals advised by coating manufacturer. net result – a mess!

Case of insufficient coats…

In the following example an owner has been busy applying additional coats of varnish to wood that had been stripped back. The vessel, a Finesse 24, had been for sale in a Swale-side yard for a number of years. During that time she’s been ashore, but fully covered. Wrapped to her waterline almost! I found her recently soon after her sale to her new owner.

The chap, a lovely Irishman, told me the previous owner had stripped down the cabin sides and sheerstrake some years ago. He’d clearly applied sufficient varnish, albeit she was covered – from memory the boat has been out of water for at least seven years. I learnt too that the old owner even gave the woodwork an additional coat as part of the ‘sale’ deal…

For Finesse aficionados, the boat, Quo Vadis, is staying local for time being…

The boat’s new owner has been adding further coats in between completing hull preps for painting. I received a message a few days ago saying full coats of undercoat were in hand…

A lot of work is involved with stripping back and prepping – here an owner kept his boat fully covered…

Oh, and to finish. I recently sailed into Faversham with my dear wife Christobel: we like going there, but essentially to pick up a new cover for Whimbrel’s mainsail. The new sails are bulkier than our old ones and have a greater covering need … so thank you Wilkinson Sails … my sketch was bang on and your interpretation fits like a glove!

A new sail cover that does what it is supposed to do…

Whimbrel’s tender, Twitch, is twenty-five years old this year … her woodwork has been regularly varnished and when not in use the dinghy is covered: she cost quite a lot of money and unprotected she would have long had her day…

Dinghies too need caring for!

My sincere apologies to the owners of the craft used to illustrate my blog … please take the hint!

My previous post had a little film clip of me sailing on the morning of my last radio therapy session – the hospital staff were very impressed!

Link: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-sails-into-last-radio-therapy-session/

On the morning my end session was due, I wasn’t sure whether to be excited or thankful. I think every emotion would fit: it’s been a testing time in many ways. Christobel has been an absolute brick, the ‘boy’ too… I have to admit, I consumed more hooch during the process than normal for a six week period, but what the hell!

Many friends, contacts and family members have also been of supreme help in boosting morale and ‘speaking’ soothing words … thank you all.

Strangely it was only during the last couple of weeks that I really felt weakened by it all. It had become increasingly difficult to complete more than a 5 mile walk. Our ‘normal’ hour long walk had become a trial, eventually with me suffering a complete loss of energy half way through on several occasions necessitating rest!

Over breakfast we spotted that one of the pair of blue tits nesting in the new box I made in the autumn seemed to busier than just feeding ‘the mate’. Clearly the young were beginning to hatch. Wow, what a sign – new life! I managed to snap the bird, resting briefly on the nest box perch.

A momentarily resting blue tit…

It was a quick breakfast: I’d already decided upon a sail. My good shipmate and dear wife, Christobel, was going to take the morning out. A walk and catch up with friends at our church’s coffee morning – which we usually pass ‘through’ on a Wednesday walk of around 5 miles…

It was a glorious morning, sparkling sun glistening on the water and a light south-easterly. I motor-sailed out, knowing I’d probably enjoy a run in under head sail into the mooring later, and set off long and short tacking down the Ray channel until far enough east not to be concerned about depth.

Terns had arrived from distant parts since last out … always a joy to see.

Eventually, I reached The Crowstone and put the boat about for a run along the Chalkwell and Leigh Shore. It was so lovely … I so wished that my shipmate was afloat with me … later she’d wished it too!

Running, goose winged, from The Crowstone.

Time soon ran on too, but towards the top of the tide, the wind freshened a little. Some distance from the creek’s entrance the mainsail was stowed, fenders tied and I sipped some tea as the boat glided over the early ebb, inwards… The mooring soon approached. At the right moment, a hop forward, down head sail, back aft and the dear boat slipped gracefully into her berth.

With just a few butterflies beginning to buzz around my innards, I settled and sorted the boat before heading back ashore and home.

Gliding home…

I was met by Christobel … it was time for a quick bite, before getting my head down for an hour or so … my mate had long stopped shepherding me to the bedroom!! The loss of energy and tiredness could only be assuaged by rest/sleep… Upon waking, a loo visit then begin drinking water to ensure a full bladder by time of appointment.

During the six weeks, I have had to ‘go’ and begin water intake all over again when the appointment has been delayed. 20 minutes was fine … 1/2 an hour, dodgy, and once when over an hour I’d held on, diving straight to the loo afterwards! Upon arrival, I was sent straight round to a different unit, expecting a delay, I stopped drinking … but, wow, I was called straight in. Nearly 10 minutes early!

The lady radiologist said as we went through, ‘You know this is your last one…’

I nodded. She gave me a big hug, saying, ‘I’ll be listening for the bell…’

Blast, I thought, as I was hoping to give it a miss!

The two on duty, a chap and lady, both of whom I’d seen many times chatted away with me as they got the ‘position’ right … me telling them of my morning sail, then, off they went.

The scanner head went round … the table jiggled … the treatment head did its two revolutions, back and forth. (Note it can’t keep going, ‘cos the power and control cables won’t allow – I’d asked that question some while before, being inquisitive…)

It was all done. Two more hugs … out to the control office … another hug from lady who had also attended on some sessions … on out to an astonished Christobel. Done, 5 minutes after my appointed time.

Ringing the bell…

That evening we went out for a meal and celebrated after a glass of something and some canapes watching the coming and goings of our blue tits…

On the Friday evening the ‘boy’ came in for a celebratory glass of ‘shampoo’…

Time moved on … on the Sunday after, I managed to nail our boy down for a sail he says he’s long been owed! I’ve told him he can come along any time, a weekend even … but his life is a busy one. It was a chilly sail, but we enjoyed a spanking sail up to the Benfleet Barrier by the Dauntless Yard, enjoying a pleasant run for home.

The ‘boy’ in charge: I was relegated to deckhand!

A long term project to obtain new u-bolts for Whimbrel’s rigging set up is approaching fruition. All three of ‘us’ Finesse owners at the Island Yacht Club are doing this. One of the others took it upon himself to find a manufacturer for they’re not of a standard length. In the mean time, I completed making pads upon which the new U-bolts will be bedded. They’re made from Iroko.

This is something other Finesse owners might be interested in … a boat, Quo Vadis, up for sale for a long time at Conyer has just found a new owner. water ingress has caused deck and deck shelf/carlin problems.

Pad making – top and bottom.

The planned and ordered u-bolts…

One afternoon, whilst ‘resting’, I corrected a second set of new charts…

Chart correcting…

Then, just a week after my last session, we put Whimbrel onto the club hard for her annual bottom clean and anti-fouling coatings. My good Mate did the bulk of the jet washing, final scraping and cleaning of the propeller … I hasten to add, my task was to redo the sheer strake and rudder varnish work and look at the bottom hull fittings. The boot top was cut into the hull paint work. The hull paintwork was touched up here and there … in between the underwater parts of the rudder needed several coats of primer too … my job too!

Christobel doing what she loves best! Note the glistening varnish above…

 

Above – the cutting in of boot top.

All done … Whimbrel waiting for the tide.

The boat was got back onto her mooring for one night, then we were off for a weekend – the bank holiday one at the end of May.

Over on the River Medway, it was Medway regatta weekend and the annual barge match was taking place. The Friday run across the Thames turned into a 2 hour motor sail due to lack of wind, although on the Essex side there’d been a good breeze. We were able to sail from the fort into Queenborough though!

We set off promptly on Saturday morning to sail upriver to meet the first of the barge fleet, then ‘chase’ out towards the Thames estuary. Christobel produced bacon sandwiches shortly after our departure … they were delicious.

The barge fleet approached with a clear leader, Niagara, with the Ironsides and Edith May seemingly enjoying a private competition behind. The indomitable bowsprit class Edme was close behind, working through the fleet of stay sail class and ‘coasters’. At the finish, the order was little different!

Edith May kept coming up on the Ironsides, overlapping and falling behind again … it was amusing to watch!

The lovely Marjorie and the powerful Adieu seem to like keeping close company…

We sailed out towards the Grain Edge buoy before turning back. Soon the fleet of eleven stately sailormen had all passed. It wouldn’t be long before the first reached the Medway No. 1 buoy and began heading for home … and I, in particular, wanted to be up near the finish line off Gillingham to see the first home!

Inside we passed close by Doris owned by a friend.

We met dozens of large yachts in an ‘inside’ race followed by dragons and squibs.

Whimbrel healing to the afternoon breeze as we rounded Darnet Ness…

What a splendid sight – the Edme in Gilligham Reach, tacking for the line…

Poppy, a gunter rigged Hunter – a pretty boat owned by two friends…

From one of the race yachts passing close by us in Saltpan Reach floated a cheery shout … ‘Nick .. you writing another book?’

‘Why,’ I called, adding, ‘Did you enjoy the others?’ An enthusiastic answer drifted back. I called out to the fast passing craft, ‘Maybe…’

‘Good!’ was all I heard. And the ‘faceless’ questioner and clearly a fan, disappeared astern.

No pressure then…

We berthed on the inner side of the Medway Yacht Club’s visitor pontoon at the suggestion of a boatman, who helped  us in…

During the later part of the afternoon, I prepared our supper of chicken with cider and cracked pepper corns> When nearly cooked it was left to soak in its juices whilst we popped ashore for a beer at the club. It was a busy place with the milling crews of yachts and the big class day boats as well as the barges – all getting set for a long evening…

Enjoying ‘afters’ – a lovely bottle of red and a selection of cheeses sent to me by a cousin. Thanks Roger & Judy x

On the Sunday we enjoyed a spanking run down river to Queenborough. It was a little breezy, but nothing ‘inside’ – we later heard that some yachts had sailed back to Essex, in quite lumpy conditions. Silly!

We popped ashore for some stores then I was pointed to the bunk for a sleep … the mate read for a while.

Later over tea, we enjoyed an entertaining afternoon watching the movements of various craft. The local 4-oared skiff was out too, and a single hovercraft appeared, swinging off the tideway and over the mud – watched by the harbour launch!

Goose winged down Long Reach … it was busy!

A relaxed Christobel…

Afternoon tea…

Part of our entertainment!

I did get to the Admiral’s Arm and enjoyed a pickled egg too…

The homeward passage on the bank holiday was pleasant and uneventful, sailing off the mooring.

So, how do I feel?

Relieved, pleased, happy, sincerely grateful for the care shown by the oncology teams, it is difficult to put into a single word. Mostly, I’m just so happy that I’ve come through this part of my treatment – a rather large part for sure – with few if any real problems. When I sit and think about all the pro’s and con’s I’d read about last summer and how frightened I was, the current position is a blessing: everything works ‘normally’, whatever that is!

Christobel said something to me during the last week which was so touching and so special. It was what one can only say is love. The ‘what’ will remain ‘what’ for it was only ours to share … bless you darling. xx

I am thankful too for all the messages of support, love and good wishes, from all and sundry – many of whom don’t really ‘know’ me. That too has been a blessing. And, today as I write after depositing some stores aboard Whimbrel, I can relate that an ‘old salt’ stopped me down the creek to ask how things were … he said that last autumn, he thought, ‘You were a gonna…’

I told him what the oncologist had said … ‘I’ll not beat about the bush, another year, two at the most, and …’ It hurts to write it, so I’ll leave it there.

But I know now that I’ve probably escaped.

In July’s edition of Yachting Monthly is a piece written by Dick Durham, a monthly columnist – read it!

Copied from July 2019 edition of  Yachting Monthly.