Sometimes it is necessary to do a spot of maintenance on the dinghy. On the whole this tends to be done during the April to June period in between ensuring that Whimbrel is more or less up to scratch. But due to the possibility that I might not be feeling ‘on top of the world’ in the spring, what with brachiotherapy and radio treatments going on I thought that due to weather conditions – either a lack of wind or too much, I’d get on with it…

On the way down the Thames in August I ripped off the forward keel runner on the dinghy – ‘we’ were dragging it above the tide line on the hard at Greenhithe. The problem was that a couple of the screws had suffered wear … and one last pull caused it to bend back. Fortunately I was able to remove the section without tools! Upon reaching our home berth some days later it was temporarily fixed…

Refastening the forward keel runner. 

Part of my problem was that when I did this job some many years ago I didn’t have a bench drill to drill the piece of stainless steel properly I’d purchased to face the strip of timber bonded to boat’s keel. Hard concrete and shingle hards soon took their toll on the glass fibre. The dinghy is now twenty-five years old. When purchased, it has proved to have been the finest £1200 pounds spent. She has given umpteen hours of joy when away cruising and when being sailed around my local area of saltings. Many of Whimbrel’s crews have shared those joys too.

Preparing to refasten the aft section.

The hole on both lengths were re-drilled with deeper countersinking to take slightly larger screws.

Job nearing completion…

The sail was removed from its boom and gaff and washed in the washing machine at low temperature using a hand wash soap … it seems to have come out looking much better … softer after the removal of salt!

The washed sail…

Sail dried and folded awaiting an airing afloat…

In the meantime the boom, gaff and tiller were all sanded and varnished. The two spars were in need of stripping back in fairly large areas … the re-coating is still on going. Mena while the house is suffering from ‘fumes’ and I’m sure many a boater has done these jobs in the warmth of a conservatory. I’ve know bedrooms and kitchens to be used too!

Spars prepped for varnishing…

My next job is to strip the floor board system’s central timber. The floor boards I tend to leave as ‘bare’ wood – they’re made from larch. Following this I am ‘programmed’ to sand the dinghy’s interior and give it a coat of grey bilge paint. It is flaking a little in places.

Meanwhile, the winds are about to pop up to the 50+ mph level, again, so I’ve time enough to get these jobs finished…

I’m sure the summer-time crews who sail aboard Whimbrel will appreciate Twitch (The dinghy’s name) being prettily dressed for them in 2019!

This post is dedicated to John, who after some thought, has booked a PSA blood test – well done John…

Having had a spot of inclement weather and being away visiting family for a weekend the level of autumn sailing was beginning to trail away with the season, so, with two days of good forecasts I made sure they were grabbed with open arms. I was itching to get afloat!

Christobel was other-wise engaged meeting pals and nattering over coffee … but she had enjoyed a sail out the week before.

Outside the creek, well, before reaching that point, the gentle yet harsh ‘craarks’ of Brent were heard, and in amongst the stands of cord grass a host of them were paddling about looking for grub. I’m always pleased to see these little geese feeding healthily on the areas abundant autumn gift – eel grass. When that has all been ‘scoffed’ they’ll be away inside the sea walls along under Hadleigh’s downs cropping the succulent tops of winter cereals. As if to taunt me, two grebe popped up over the shallows – I grabbed the camera … but before I could focus in, they’d gone under to search for food. Lovely little things … and their larger cousins will be around too, surely.

Upon leaving Smallgains Creek, I set a path towards Benfleet with intentions to turn at some undetermined point … it being set by the light levels.

So, whilst reaching towards Two Tree Island’s hard I came across a group of Essex Fire Brigade personnel carrying out an exercise – all very interesting. Leaving them behind and turning to head ‘westwards’ up Hadleigh Ray towards Benfleet, it was apparent that long and short tacks were needed.

Essex Fire Brigade in training…

Oh, it was such a glorious afternoon. The tide was a neap (5.3 m) but as I float at around 4.4 m, I had plenty of time and tide. Darkness would be my barrier (although for a passage, obviously not!). Above there were a few ‘puff-ball’ clouds like handfuls of cotton wool and some aircraft trails, but a blueness filled the rest. I was wearing a coat, but it was unzipped over late summer early autumn garb.

Bird Island

Passing Bird Island, the scene of several escapades by boats heading upstream to lay up, I watched open mouthed as a huge flock of brent, duck (Widgeon??) and waders took off. many just circled and came back, realising the red sailed apparition coasting by wasn’t a threat! I stood, feet apart, tiller held by my bottom and sent my good Mate a text … Christobel has always appreciated this, especially if over a lunch period when still teaching…

The mud level of Bird Island is rising. Passing recently, I realised it wasn’t properly covering until almost 5 m tide at Southend (as given by VTS). Surely, it can’t be long before the first sprouts of cord grass and glasswort appear after the spring neaps – the seeds of these plants need around 72 hours out of the tide to germinate and take root. The tide is well into the base of the cord grass in the marshes close by on Marks Marsh Island, and Two Tree Island further to the north.

Benfleet Creek’s wreck…

I was fairly clipping along, but after passing the gnarled posts of the abandoned Salvation Army wharf I felt the boat’s speed drop. The wind was fading. Some weeks ago the abandoned yacht sitting up on the mainland sea wall saltings ‘lost’ its mast – well it has come down, probably due to bits being taken, or vandalism. I have been somewhat surprised that the thing has been left. The higher tides move her around a bit and being GRP, she will not quietly fade in time. Responsibility: owner – unlikely for it would surely have been removed; PLA – possibly, but not a hazard; it is more likely to be Castle Point for it sits on ‘their’ land!

A shadow upon the land…

A long shadow was being cast along the bank of the seawall as I ghosted close to before tacking every now and then. The sun was rapidly falling … ‘how far should I go,’ I mused… It was more the dying breeze that made the decision. In amongst the buoys of Benfleet Yacht Club’s lower moorings, I turned and began to reach away eastward. In this direction the true blueness that pervaded above was accentuated by the setting sun.

A welcome mug of tea after making my turn…

Passing Two Tree Island, I took two photographs – towards the sun and away from it.

Towards the setting sun…

Away over Two Tree Island…

All around me flocks of birds were airborne. Several large gatherings of little egret sailed past high over the mast top, heading west up the creek towards rich pickings amongst the wide swath of saltings along the Canvey island side. A dark waft weaved around too – waders, dunlin and knot surely – dancing across the sky. A flight of small duck (wigeon?) flew fast and straight past the boat’s stern…

I watched enthralled by it all…

A waft of waders…

All too soon, I realised, I was nearing the entrance to Smallgains Creek. Time to set the fenders … a test reach showed that there was insufficient slant to reach home under sail … I dropped the sails and motor in astern of another intrepid sailor ‘Old Jack’ who has sailed these waters since a young boy in the late 1930s.

The sun was setting … it was time to head in.

Approaching the mooring…

Once moored, the boat was ‘stabled’ for the night: tomorrow, I promised her, She’d enjoy another little jaunt…

The moon reflected amongst stands of cord grass… 

The next afternoon …

Christobel was otherwise engaged again, so, I beetled back down to Whimbrel in good time to get all set before the boat floated. Before that though I offered a hand to a small group looking at a bit of jetty damage caused by the club’s new work boat settling into her berth … she’s somewhat larger than the previous model and has let everyone know – breaking a post! They were okay and weren’t planning to do anything until the boat had floated, so I left them to it…

My view as I sat, mug of tea in hand, awaiting the tide… 

While i waited for the tide I sanded a couple of bits of varnish that were looking for attention – a coat over with the finger tip would keep it good until the spring – and listed a couple of items for 2019’s work list…

Ah, the tide slowly rose. It was due to be a 5.0 m (Southend). I got away, all sail set, as soon as Whimbrel picked up, churning the water around in a muddy froth. The sails bit and we were away, the engine silenced…

I nipped forward to take this gorgeous shot…

This second sail was going to be shorter (But I still had nearly an and a half out) than the previous day, so I went ‘east’. If anything the sky was even more brilliant – why? Don’t know – atmospherics? Out in the open the only sound that pervaded apart from the occasional slating of a sail was ‘gulls’. The water had flocks of them resting, squawking at one another and others in an apparent snooze state.

Looking aft … I thought of all those seafarers of WW1 (especially) and since, who had perished in last centuries tragic carnage’s.

In memory of lost sailors…

I was on a reach. Far away I could see Chalkwell Station and the beach running to the Crowstone off Westcliff. Away over on the Leigh-on-Sea shore the sun kept reflecting on window after window as my and the sun’s position moved across the globe – small as my part was, it was fascinating.

Bright ‘eyes’ in Leigh…

The setting sun…

I turned before the sun actually hit the distant horizon and when I did I was captivated by the intensiveness of the colours that began to emanate around me. Astern, eastward, wafts of high cloud and jet vapours were going ‘purple’…

The estuary sky…

Entering the outer creek it was clear that the wind had stayed favourable … I continued onward, allowing the boat to sail herself whilst fenders were tied off …

Inside, the wind was faltering, as it does, but I had enough. It was just after high tide with no run as such. Every now and then the sails slatted, the jib especially as the land blanketed us … she had way enough…

Across the saltings curlews called now and then. Oyster catchers cried at one another and settled. Night was falling steadily. A chill too had grown, ‘surely the balmy days of this autumn will come crashing down soon,’ I thought … it has been a fantastic year for sailing (boating) in this corner of England.

Well inside…

Closing Whimbrel’s mooring…

… slipping in…

Boy I enjoyed that and was in a ‘singing’ state as I bagged up the jib and covered over the mainsail. As I left, I patted the ‘old’ girl and said, ‘… thank you…’ taking a wistful look back as I left her alone… When will the next sail be – with my mate Christobel, hopefully!

The two late afternoon sails were a piece of supreme autumn bliss, years down the line, I will remember them with a deep fondness.

A dead calm amongst the Island Yacht Club’s moorings…

Apparently, I arrived home with a BIG grin on my face – I wonder why!

Message for Brian Ingram – recontact me: your email contact details aren’t connecting back to you…

best wishes,

Nick

Do you remember my blog back in the summer about ‘the deadly snake that wants to bite’? If not read…

If so, and a man of fifty or over, have you been tested yet?

More men are dying of prostate cancer than women of breast cancer, and in the press you’ll not hear a single beep.

See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawlers-warning-to-all-men-prostate-cancer-the-deadly-snake-that-wants-to-bite/

It is no laughing matter for many GP surgeries are not in the business of warning men about this danger or, even, sending men for a prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests. NHS England recommend or wish to instate routine testing from the age of fifty (Ref: BBC Radio 4 interview NHS England and John Humphreys). This being so, why aren’t ‘they’ ordered to comply. The initial test is an inexpensive blood test. Long term costs of a late diagnosis are severe, to NHS and to life expectancy…

I wish I’d dreamt of asking earlier…

Whimbrel snapped recently by Dick Smith, up Benfleet Creek…

Once I began my course of medication in the form of hormone tablets, we got away for an uninterrupted few weeks in August before I took my brother (over from Canada) and my sister for a few days sailing (the siblings’ sail)  – actually a dash to Pin Mill and back via the Swale.

Since then, I have kept active, lost a little weight and generally had a ‘good’ time with my dear wife Christobel (Who will tell me off: ‘I’m the Mate’ she’ll say!). Sailing was curtailed during the hectic days of June and July, it being snatched between appointments at hospital. The autumn has been sublime and we had several weekends away during September and other days sailing on the tide together and I’ve had a few more. I still harbour a desire to sneak away for a night or two over on the River Medway, but weather will dictate that – my youngest brother wants to come!

All along, in the back of my mind has been the knowledge that the next visit to see ‘my’ oncologist loomed.

So, today was the day of my oncologist visit. The good news is that my PSA level has fallen from 13.6 to 2. The oncologist was very pleased.

He said,‘Your cancer has been arrested…’ And, in a rapid almost one sided discussion gave me (us) the ramifications of the next stage … due to start at the beginning of March.

This will be Brachyherapy first, followed by five weeks of external beam radio therapy – seven weeks in all – all over by Easter 2019!

So, I should be fit and well to help my good Mate get Whimbrel’s bottom tickled up and the anti-fouling done during May!

Currently, the good news is that other than an enormous heavy tiredness at times, I haven’t experienced any noticeable side effects … yes I was asked by the oncologist how our marital relationship was going … the Mate quipped, ‘He’s alright in that department, it’s his single cell brain I’m worried about…’

Laughing, the Doc said, ‘That’s good…’

Tiredness … sometimes I will be ‘sent to the bedroom’ by Christobel, but often sleep is far away, but the rest works … other times, I have gone out for up to three hours. (P.S. – it’s better when ‘she’ comes with me…)

My dear sweet sister kindly photographed me asleep on Whimbrel, after being ‘sent to bed’ during our siblings’ cruise … she took my glasses off afterwards!

So, I keep on taking the tablets, stay fit, stay positive and keep smiling…

Now, wives and partners of your men-folk: be pro-active. Withhold all favours until your man gets his test booked.

A number of men I know have done so – many had heightened PSA levels with fairly long term ‘peeing’ problems they’d been ignoring (I had none of this). All of them have been given the all clear regarding prostate cancer, but several have other issues to be treated.

So, do your families a favour and do something positive, please…

On our way back from Cornwall last week we stopped off for a couple of days at Dorchester … but our arrival was interrupted by a small detour into Topsham. Why? Well, the spritsail barge Vigilant sits by the town’s wharf being rebuilt.

The Vigilant, the subject of a lovely little book, ‘Sailorman’ by E. G. Martin and published in 1933, came down from Essex (St Osyth) where she had ‘festered for some years becoming more and more dilapidated as time rolled by. Then came a saviour from Topsham … and, away she went under her own engine with shuttering boards fixed over the leaky bits…

The starboard bow of the  Vigilant looking all but completed…

I photographed her on a visit a few years ago when the gear hung onto temporary fixings whilst side planking and frames were being renewed. Then, the hull had open areas awaiting new planks. Now she has apparently had all that finished. However, much still needs doing.

Here are some pictures.

Port bow, looking down side.

Port side of the Vigilant.

I then moved round the starboard side, the side to which she sits against the quay. I was immediately struck by the strange curvature to her body: this was, and should be, a shapely barge. She looks horribly hogged.

A gaze down the starboard side of the Vigilant.

An old section of her rail – new rail is made up of two sections, one above the other…

If you study this plate below it can be seen that the stern drops away with a ‘hump’ in way of the main sheet chock area. The covering board has a join here and it looked as if movement is taking place…

Starboard aft quarter…

Vigilant’s transom…

Vigilant’s new transom has been varnished in the fashion of Marjorie’s. Looking closely at the runs into the stern post it is clear that her bottom planking needs attention. For this a drydock will be needed. The barge’s hull reminded me so much of the way the May Flower went during the last decade or so of her life. (For those that don’t know – my childhood home)

Temporary bolts could be seen at both the fore and aft ends fastening new frames to planking needing renewal.

The project has an information board to ‘educate’ those that come to stop and stare: a spritsail barge was a rarity in these waters even in the days of trade. What hit me was the huge mistake over the Vigilant’s displacement. The barge was built by Orvis & Fuller of Ipswich in 1904 and is 74 NRT. She would have loaded 150 – 170 tons. Her light displacement will be around 140 – 150 tons, yet the information board records her as being only 4 tons!

Vigilant’s information board.

There wasn’t anyone around during my visit so I couldn’t challenge this displacement … or to discuss such things as ‘plans’ for her future. I do know that the crew of EDME are reported to have given an undertaking to show the owners how to sail her when completed … the basis of this only being hearsay!

I wish them well: a private rebuild is rare these days.

While my wife and I were down in Cornwall on holiday – a NO BOATS holiday – I just happened to fall through the gates of the Rhoda Mary Shipyard down stream in Truro.

Now, the Rhoda Mary is a vessel I was quite intimate with as a youngster: with my older sibling, I would play around in her hull … probably without ‘mothers’ knowledge … the vessel had been hulked on the Hoo mud flats on the River Medway some years before.

My father aboard the Rhoda Mary in 1951. (Pic – Ardley family archive)

One of the ship’s anchors was removed and was used for one of the spritsail barge May Flower’s moorings (my chidlhood home). The anchor is now ‘lost’ for it is out on the mud flats off Callows Wharf up the top end of Milfordhope Creek. It’ll be sitting deep below lots of cord grass now…

My father also had some timber out of the old ship for use on May Flower!

The Rhoda Mary Trust was set up some years ago with the intention of providing a sail training vessel for Cornwall … plan were made to dig out the remains of the vessel on Hoo mud flats and rebuild her. The Rhoda Mary is the last of the ‘Cornish’ fruit schooners – fast vessels that brought fresh (citrus) fruit to England. To my mind she should be left in peace … a new vessel is the real answer: it is the rig and how it is used in the manner of her historical context which can be preserved.

The yard is the planned place … will it happen. Who really knows. Money will sit at the core.

Anyway, my good wife had a book to hand, so all was well!

A general view of the shipyard with a new vessel under construction.

Alongside the quay, where one day the current build project will soon be floating, rested an earlier vessel from the master builder Like Powell – the lynch-pin of this enterprise. The vessel, a small pilot cutter, Agnes, is something that is fulfilling to look at. She just hums with power and purpose – she twinkled in the light of an appearing sun…

The Agnes…

I took various shots to fulfill my desire to record: my chances of seeing her again are slight!

View from the bow.

Her ‘stern sheets’…

Deck view…

Now, my visit was to see the new vessel under construction up on the yards large open space – much filled with seasoning timber. The vessel is a faithful copy of a vessel built in 1852 – the Vincent. The new vessel has been named as the Pellew after a famous frigate captain, Edward Pellew who was a resident of Flushing (Cornwall).

Bottom of access and wood stack around the Pellew’s bow.

Mounting a set of stairs after being unable to find anyone ‘below’ I stepped upon the decks of this fine new build. Ones breath is taken away by the sheer size (not as big as a Thames barge…) and for me, the beauty of the workmanship going on. It hits you full on.

A look aft before stepping aboard…

A look forward too…

A radio was playing some kind of ‘modern’ music – a phenomenal ‘ghetto blaster’ – I called several times. No response. I could hear work going on below in at least two places. After a final call – I knocked. Ah, simple. One bit of noise stopped and a face appeared. This turned out to be shipwright Ned.

Explaining my desire to look over this fine new build, Ned, said, ‘…use that ladder … be careful and enjoy.’ at which he left me to my own devices. There follows a raft of views from below…

In main cabin looking aft towards door to ‘cuddy’…

In the aft cabin (cuddy?) I came upon a worker hard at it within the port bunk cubicle … her face appeared full of surprise … then got straight back to work!

Looking through forward cabin area into fo’c’sle 

Intermediate space between fore and  main areas with mast step.

Main cabin with some battens setting out ‘furniture’…

At this point I returned to the deck and took a closer look… The finish to bulwark capping, hatches and other areas essentially completed was seen to be superb. This is clearly not just a re-creation, but a work of art.

General view looking aft.

General view looking forward.

One of the cabin tops nearing completion awaiting its ‘furniture’…

This hatchway seemed to hint at the ability to load stuff through … I wasn’t able to ask about this! It clearly looks as if a ‘lid’ is to be fitted.

A less ‘yachty’ hatchway…

The rudder trunk…

I had to drag myself back to ground level, so mesmerised was I by what was being seen. I had a wander around the hull past the work bench areas with their ready to hand stacks of =off-cuts ready for that little job as things progress to a finishing stage.

The aft end of the Pellew.

Work bench area … not sure what the ladies on the team think about the calendar!

Mast and another spar in final shaping.

Rough-cut pieces ready for final shaping to make up gaff and boom jaws.

Further view of the mast. It is of massive section.

Reluctantly I made my way to the car and my waiting wife. She was fine: she’d brought a book along, knowing what I intended! As I drove out of the yard gates, I cast a wistful look out of the side window, picturing the Pellew afloat, mast at a cocky angle, sails bent on ready for her first passage…

Before my visit I had become aware that Luke Powell and his partner Joanna had purchased a ‘famous’ east coast boat, the Whitstable smack Stormy Petrel which had for many years – around sixty – been owned by Dick Norris. Dick had, as we all will, got old and had reluctantly sold his beloved vessel. Stormy Petrel was once owned by the renowned bargeman and sailor, Bob Roberts. Bob had her during the latter part of the 1940s selling her in the 1950s. Stormy Petrel transported family and belongings to Pin Mill when Bob decamped ‘north’.

So, this famed little ship will ‘go west’, perhaps never to return.

Some years ago I met the ‘Petrel‘ tacking in a stiff breeze up Pinup Reach just below Gillingham where Dick Norris had kept her for probably all his ownership. Dick knew my parents well from the 1950s onward, meeting out on the water – the May Flower and Stormy Petrel – both things of a past age.

Stormy Petrel reefed down and going well…

Stormy Petrel tacking … note the long foot to the foresail.

The Stormy Petrel is currently at Faversham at Chamber’s Wharf near Alan Staley’s yard.

In brief, Luke Powell has had an interesting life. Born in Suffolk he ended up in the Greek Isles before eventually pitching up in Faversham (Kent), worked on Thames spritsail barges before he trained as a shipwright.

Look after this piece of Kentish history in Cornwall, Luke: we’ll all miss her up here…

For more info see: http://thefalmouthpilotcutter.co.uk/the-rhoda-mary-ship-yard/

and,  http://www.rhoda-mary.co.uk/

From time to time holidays are taken without Whimbrel being the link-pin of our lives … we went to Cornwall and have now returned, refreshed and ready for autumn … winter and the freshness of the 2019 spring…

Now down in Cornwall, on a ‘no-boats’ holiday, it is exceedingly difficult not to stumble upon a stretch of the sea in one’s travels. The place ‘reeks’ of traditional craft – almost as much as Essex and Kent. But one of the things I noticed was the varying way in which owner’s of craft appeared to ‘bother’ about their charges. This is often seen in the way things are done, or not done…

Cover and sail security seems to be a common thread among boat owners – they are either well looked after or not. Dodgers too! Roller head sails are another matter of concern to most, to others, left to chance, it seems. Whatever the season, these all need attention, but if winterising, then greater attention surely is needed.

All looks well here … but a closer look at the ‘tarpaulins’ on the lugger would suggest covers need seeing to or renewing…

Whilst winding along a cliff-side road near Truro, I spotted a number of craft laid bow to the beach through the trees. Some were in a ‘dilapidated’ state … another had a cover full of water and looked to have been that way for some time. Not good!

Can’t work out why this picture capsized … hasn’t spilt the water though!

Below is a vessel with a well fitting cover ensuring rain water is put where it belongs – in the sea!

Above are serried ranks of dinghies at a coastal sailing club – a common sight anywhere within the United Kingdom of GB & NI, but what I noticed were craft with newer well fitted covers and others clearly on the way out as it were. Dinghies cost a lot of money, a cover is expensive too, but it is designed to protect the investment…

The other thing I noted was a number of craft with loose or torn dodgers – in winter these should either be removed or the securing examined and defects rectified. Dodgers cost money too!

Damaged dodgers … boat looked sad too!

I seem to remember that this sad sight was seen in Porthleven, but it is a common sight. Many owners ensure that the sheets roll round the sail at least once and a little. Many others also secure with a lashing for safe measure. Others leave a bit of the sail ‘set’ … this is not good! Clearly this sail was either left incorrectly rolled or had too few turns on the furling drum to ensure fully rolled. Insurance companies consider a rolled head sail as being ‘set’ and will not insure…

A common sight with a rolled head sail…

Have a look round your own locality and see for yourselves how things are done – rightly or wrongly!

It was an enjoyable spin around Cornwall with my wife, Christobel. We had a marvelous time … but it was nice to get home … drop down to out little mud creek and check our Whimbrel out! I look forward to a sail this week.

And, as most of you are aware, Whimbrel’s head sails are hanked…

The Queenborough Harbour Trust began putting on a traditional boat festival some seasons ago. Last year (2017) there was on the whole a very successful event, albeit that a ‘raft’ of yachts did not pitch up. My understanding was that some 2, 500 people visited over the weekend. enjoying  host of yachts, the spritsail barge Cambria and a number of little tugs including the Kent, a relic of Knights once majestic fleet. These latter vessels I do not consider to be ‘traditional’ in the yachting sense, however they deserve their place.

This year it was very different at the 2018 festival.

As a forerunner to the festival, in a way, I’d read on the Medway and Swale Boating Asssociation web site a paper written by the current chair, Brian Corbett, about the Medway & Swale basin holding a large part of the national reserve of maritime heritage afloat and much more along its shores…

http://msba.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/RIVER-MEDWAY-WORLD-HERITAGE-CENTRE.pdf

Bow of Finesse 21 Ivy May and Finesse 24 Whimbrel

But first…

We set off from our moorings on Canvey Island, Essex, in Whimbrel on Thursday on a glorious early afternoon to ensure we were across the Thames as the forecast for Friday was a little confusing. The weather was absolutely benign with a reasonable westerly blowing down the estuary. It was a ‘get over there run’ with a little engine power to break the back of the spring tide in Sea Reach. Engine silenced, we whooshed past Grain Fort some twenty minutes before high water, crossing on the inside…

Passing inside Grain Fort…

A deep tack took us to Swale Ness and after a very short length of time it was obvious that to make our ‘westing’ the diesel would be needed: it doesn’t do one’s soul good when the next tack begins to track you down from whence you’ve just come … reaching Tailness the engine was once again silenced and we forged over the ebb to anchor down the west shore along Greenborough Marsh.

The late afternoon gave way to a night to remember – we were one of around five craft anchored there.

I popped off in the dinghy whilst cooking supper …

A glorious sky over Greenborough…

Supper over, I again pottered off for a little sail in the Twitch the tender, while Christobel cleared away. After a short but enjoyable potter listening to the goings on along the mud edges I returned to light the riding light and let the world know where we were should it come crashing up Stangate!

The soft glow of the cabin’s oil lamps flickered across the barely ruffled surface…

During the late evening numerous stars shone down upon us and across the sky and from around five hot air balloons, orange glows which every now and then flickered out, passed over adding to the enchantment. And, along the mud edge waders squabbled over territory before the a quiet descended…

The morning was rather different. The boat was rocking and rolling to a northerly induced wind over tide popple. With breakfast over we decided to set off early for Queenborough.

Tacking out of Stangate…

Near Blackstakes with deck awash at times we hit a bit of a wave … Christobel said it was the first time she’d had spray this summer…

It hit me too, which is most unusual: I usually duck behind her…

Then, passing Queenborough Spit we dumped the jib and sailed on under mainsail until well inside the harbour. A cheerful call back from ‘Sheppey One’ told us to pick up one of two buoys, which we duly did. The weather changed as we sailed in from the spit buoy. The sky, so grey and threatening, had broken and a ‘summer’ blue returned and with it heat!

With bags of time on our hands we went off ashore and enjoyed a walk out to the Morrison’s complex beyond Rushenden. It is a pleasant walk if you take the first right hand turn after the rail bridge, opposite the CoOp … and follow the pathway along the old creek. There is a pub up there and other outlets…

At Queenborough changes are afoot. On the way in I’d seen that the old commercial mooring buoys had gone and new trots were in the process of being laid. Alongside the walkway to the All Tide Landing, a floating crane barge was sat upon the mud flats. Men were busy dropping in piles and connecting securing brackets. A recent ‘notice’ had told of this. Finger pontoons are due to be fitted too on the flats on the northern side.

Walkway piling…

Returning to Whimbrel we watched as the ‘first’ of the weekends craft arrived.

The bawley, Doris.

Soothsayer, a Hilliard  30′ aft cockpit 8 tonner TM, sloop.

Soothsayer berthing alongside another majestic vessel. the Amaris.

The Amaris is a one off built at Sutton Boat Builders at Great Wakering in Essex. She was designed by A. P. Bayzand of Wooton, Isle of Wight. She measures 32′ by 9′ 6″ with a draft of 3′ 6″ and 6′ 6″ with her centre plate down. She’s a ’10-tonner’ in Thames measure parlance. Her owner is a proud man indeed … sadly his wife is not a sailor, something all too common. However, she had dispatched owner and crew (a Finesse 24 owner) away with a ‘freezer’ full of pre-cooked grub. The boat had sailed round from Pagglesham that morning…

Afternoon tea Aboard Whimbrel.

Domesticity aboard Amaris…

The ex Knights tug Kent.

View across Soothsayer taking in Doris and the little river tug Sir Hendrix.

Visitors boarding Doris on the Saturday.

The little clinker yacht Hjordis sat all alone on the inside of an empty pontoon.

One view over the main-stay of the traditional fleet…

And another…

The parsimonious numbers of visiting human beings – at one stage there seemed to be more dogs than the former – left plenty of time to wander aboard other vessels. The visitor numbers were well down on the event of last year … I wondered if ‘they’ had got wind of the fact that many of the owners who initially said that they would attend, hadn’t. The turn out was VERY POOR.

There was a busy-ish period for a little while after I’d way-laid punters on the pontoon who didn’t seem to know that ‘we’ were open … being, actually, the traditional fleet. A total of six.

Doris’s mast base with a network of rope…

Doris’s owner in deep conversation with the proud owners of Soothsayer which berths at Hundred of Hoo YC.

Sunday came round and as soon as the boat alongside us departed we were away too. A couple of sailing/boating acquaintances came aboard during the last part of the event … one leaving almost as we let go! It was nice to see them. Both agreed that it was a poor do…

Whimbrel sailing into Smallgains Creek on the eastern end of Canvey Island. We ‘dumped’ sail as our mooring reared up and slid in home…

Right: here is the moan. But firstly, I should say that we enjoyed meeting some new people, however, both of us felt that we’d ‘thrown’ an opportunity to sail round to Conyer for an overnight stay and visit to The Ship…

I felt especially saddened for the people at The Queenborough Harbour Trust. I told a member of the MSBA that if yacht owners don’t support these events then they won’t happen. And, especially in light of the recent paper published on the MSBA web site in which the proposed purpose is to activate the authorities to recognise the extent of the maritime heritage that floats on these waters, let alone that which is still evident along its edges. And to provide facilities and events ?? to assist in the maintenance of this heritage.

Now, if I was a local authority ‘big-wig’ looking out at the collection of vessels at Queenborough – less than on a normal yachting weekend – I’d say, ‘Stuff you. You can’t even support what’s on now…’

Food for thought!

Many years ago the then owner of a Finesse 27, Bonito, contacted and asked for some advice about selling his vessel … I can’t remember what I said, but the but appeared on the east coast from its old home down near Southampton. I came across her in a yard in Woodbridge and had a look around her on the outside. Some work was in hand and much more needed to be attended to.

Bonito when I came across her in Woodbridge.

The current owners have made contact … been here before … and have asked for advice, etc. The upshot is that the boat is again on the market for a bargain price – the catch is that she needs various bits of work before she can go back into the water.

I have not looked at the boat to see how she currently is so any interested person must make contact with the owners – I take no responsibility for any of the information given. The photographs below are those sent by owner’s partner.

Planking ends in way of the stem – work needed.

There are some scuffed planks, damage and other possible defects at aft end at transom. Varnish work would need to be entirely stripped off…

The following pictures ‘refused’ to be turned or stay turned when transferred…

The forward cockpit bulkhead.

Looking into the main cabin…

The forward cabin….

Between the two cabins is situated, to starboard I believe, the loo compartment and to port is a locker space. The owner’s partner (another Nick) sent me the following details…

‘Hello Nick, 

Here are some photos of Bonito, as you can see it’s quite grim, for someone who appreciates these boats to see. some rot at the front, bit at the back, inside needs doing, my partner is quite capable of doing all this but he is self employed and always has a long list of jobs to do,or else it’s the wrong weather and has numerous other boats to do.

It is advertised on Gumtree, it’s starting to cost too much keeping it in the boatyard and is even thinking of just taking the engine out etc and would have to be cut up if doesn’t sell on soon, which obviously is a travesty with it being of the rare length.

It’s on gumtree for £750 or offers,

We would be happy for you to advertise as you please on the places you mentioned, 

Kind regards,

Suzie and Nick‘

Contact is Suzanne Morris at: suzannemorris@btinternet.com

Contact telephone number: 07769 535262

The Finesse 27 is a rarity: there are as far as is known only two examples, although Shirley Platt believes they did in fact build three of them. Tugela, sail number 101, was the first. She is currently berthed up on the Ore at Orford (or was…). The Finesse 28, re-drawn by Maurice Griffiths followed, neither were built in any great number. There are around five ’28ss’ so this vessel is a rare bird.

It would be a shame to see her go. She is not old, dating from around 1980.

She is unique amongst the larger Finesse class of having a centre plate that fits within a keel slot. The hauling wire came up through into a steel tube bolted to the keel plate top and the winch arranged above the waterline just inside the cabin doors.

If anyone takes this vessel on, do please make contact through this site.

There is an active list of like minded owners which I currently maintain and we meet once a year for a rally on the east coast. Brightlingsea has been proposed for the 2019 venue.

See:

http://www.finesse-owners-association.co.uk/

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/finesseowners

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1518607771700636/

Note: the facebook group is a closed group and you will need to ‘apply’ to become a member. You will be asked what your interest is…

I understand that the boat is on an auction site too…

Go on…

Queenborough Harbour Trust is holding its traditional boat festival next weekend – Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th September – with many of the craft congregating on the Friday. Whimbrel is due to be there and with current weather predictions, will be.

Two pictures from a past event as vessels began to arrive. Many are berthed on the pontoon and can be visited. Others are moored close by and a motor boat will be taking people round the harbour to view these…

Visit the Queenborough Harbour Trust sites for details of activities.