My latest book, Swinging the Lamp – Thames estuary Tidal Tales, has now been released by the publisher, Fonthill Media. It is better late than never, why the delay, I cannot fathom!

Display board for Swinging the Lamp…

The Book Inn, The Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. Tel: 01702 716614, is hosting a launch event for the book on Saturday 2nd July. This will take place during the afternoon, 1200 to 1400. Note time correction…

If you would like to attend to obtain a book it might be advisable to call Paula on the above number to allow the shop to gauge supplies. I would of course be delighted to see any reader for a chat and to sign books…

This has been a long time in the gestation, but, boy am I happy it is now done!

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.

Some while ago I took my old safety rail wires into Boatacs in Chalkwell for renewal. I had a surveyor coming and knowing that latest wisdom was for non-plastic covering, got ahead of myself.

Boatacs had the wires made up for the next morning and were fitted same day. This meant I could ‘safely’ continuing to use Whimbrel until she was due to be lifted out for her survey.

Of course this was some time ago now, but thank you Philip Green…

Contact Boatacs at: phil.boatacs@virgin.net for your needs.

Later on while sailing over the early May Bank Holiday our Blakes heater burner pricker assembly fell to bits inside… It had done its job warming the mate’s toes so we weren’t troubled on our weekend cruise.

Upon investigation I was pleasantly surprised to find that the parts for all Blakes heaters, and cookers incidentally, are still available. I alighted on a firm, family run, who were past Blakes employees. This is Taylors Central, based in the depths of the New Forest in Hampshire.

A new burner assembly was purchased … also a new (second hand) stainless steel cover to replace our stupidly chosen brass one which is impossible to keep clean. The Mate has spent many an hour wasting her time and efforts upon it. Now all is sparkling and shiny…

See: www.taylorscentral.net

email: mail@taylorscentral.net

Thank you guys…

Finally, I fitted a new Whale Flipper fresh water pump in the galley area not so long ago and it’s ‘failed’. These pumps usually last years, a decade at least, and failure for ones I’ve had to renew is due to bushing/handle wear and tap assembly sealing when put together renewal becomes an attractive and sensible option!

Some time after first fitting it I found wetness around the base – it wasn’t the usual culprit, the operating lever o-seal. Upon removing the pump assembly, I found that the base seal had been incorrectly fitted. I turned it over for it looked okay. This last weekend water was again found to be running out of the base. A problem clearly exists – a crack perhaps.

I went into Marine Store in Maldon and explained about my need for a new pump, which wasn’t in stock, but was elsewhere. Amazingly, the salesman at the desk offered to exchange my duff one for a new one as an exchange. This is even though I’ve not got the receipt!

See: http://boatchandlersguide.com/Maldon/MarineStore-Chandlery-1173.asp

Its not much for them: they’ll not be out f pocket, its just a little effort and here is one happy sailor… My sincere thanks  Marine Store. My belief in the general goodness of mankind is fully restored…

Aha, there is more to this: when I got home from a weekend sail there was a message telling me that a rigging screw was in and that the pump wasn’t available but could be ordered. Now I thought I’d ordered one! So I called back leaving a message saying I needed a pump. 

I drove to Maldon and was told pump not ordered and that ‘manager’ wasn’t going to do an exchange – now he clearly offered this, which I accepted. He was conspicuous by his absence with staff telling me he hadn’t stated anything about an exchange (I have a witness). I should have walked out. However, knowing it was needed I reordered a pump.

The receipt and label are stowed in my boat file and when, as it will, the pump starts to leak round pump lever, I will take it back: it has a 5 year guarantee…

Moral – always keep receipts even for cheapish items and NEVER trust a marine store operative. I’ll be doing my best to shop elsewhere from now on.

Some while ago I had a walk through Old Leigh nosing about boatyards and associated areas where boat bits ‘congregate’. A reader, a fellow Finesse fan, has sent me a fulsome email expanding on a few things adding colour and detail. I have appended this to the original.

See:  http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-takes-a-palm-sunday-wander-through-old-leigh/

Many thanks Norman.

Norman owns the SK23 included in the blog.

A fascinating story … and it is grand that an old yacht will live on, rejuvenated and loved.

I take a friend sailing twice a year for a long weekend – this began over a decade ago – long before the much trumpeted RYA take a friend scheme. But this year’s spring cruise coincided with a visit from my ‘Canadian’ brother. So, I ended up with two Graham’s… And yes, they played up a little, at times, having ‘committee’ discussions about who was being asked to do what. But, boy they were a good crew!

We departed on a dull Friday with an expectation of a little sunshine late in the afternoon. It tried. Sun block was forgotten. Passing a mirror later we all noticed that the sun had done its deed. We were red! Anyway, we took the outside passage to the East Swale enjoying a romp touching 6 1/2 knots at times in a bit of a sloppy sea on the Cant.

The two Graham’s…

Sailing into the Swale we passed dozens of seals upon the Horse Sand. We also met with the Mirosa undertaking a spot of day chartering. Sailing wise it was a cracking day. Later, a good friend – owner of Finesse 24 Mariette, a sweet gaffer – came sailing in aboard his other little toy, a super pallet, named Ocean Magic. We later enjoyed a beer and natter aboard on our way ashore to the Ferry Inn.

Seals galore…

Now, if you’ve not experienced the Ferry Inn recently, boy has it changed. Definitely a ‘gastro-pub’ making use of own grown veg and meat from the family farm. Cider comes from a Sheppey producer with Kent wines. The beers are similarly local. I had a sirloin to die for – it cut like butter and oozed flavour. The crew had a delicious looking chicken dish… One major problem – the hard is rather tired and in need of much loving care and attention… A bonus for us was the skipper of the Mirosa, Peter, hauling our dinghy anchor up the hard saving one of my crew a long trek – thanks Peter!

Starting around mid morning we were on a shorter passage to Queenborough on Saturday. We tacked with the flood to Grovehurst Jetty where a ship was leaving. I quickly decided to chase her to the bridge, saving ourselves waiting time! Down genoa and on diesel… On the way we had spied seals and crested grebe.

Crew preparing bacon sandwiches soon after departure…

For my brother this trip was a bit of a return to childhood: he’d not seen the East Swale since probably around 1965 on a trip round the outside on the May Flower. He warbled more than me, at times, in a Newfie lilt…

Queenborough was sort of busy. The sun came out during the morning which I thought would have enticed more craft out, alas no. The Medway, normally a sea of sail, was a blank canvas.

Showers were enjoyed at the Queenborough YC which always has a friendly welcome for all (£2.00 each – they need the money). The club has stopped doing food, unfortunately. We were told the two pubs had improved … I’d used the Flying D last summer – yes it’s changed hands, but I’ve yet to fully appreciate huge change. Its okay … a run out to the Ferry Inn would be a good learning experience. We were fed and watered in a satisfactory manner. What was noticeable was that although a good number of visitors were present afloat, the numbers ashore was strikingly low…

Sunday dawned glorious. I planned a treat for my crew – a sail amongst the Medway’s islands.

Departing from Queenborough under sail…

After tacking out of the West Swale and cutting across the nose of Swale Ness, pointing out where skeletal remains exist, we made for Stangate. An excursion into Pyefleet was made to show my brother the creek (and waste time) was made before returning to sail down Stangate to Slaughterhouse Point where my brother was amazed at the serious shoreline wastage that’s occurred since sailing past aboard the Edith May some years ago.

We slipped into Milfordhope Creek, old childhood romping grounds, and headed towards the entrance to Shoregate Dock. On the way memories of stray way walks out to Milfordhope Island and dinghy sailing were run through – and our last sail on May Flower in 1974 – but the narrow channel which is the Shoregate Cut was upon us. We went through around 2 1/2 hours before high water without touching, much to my crews amazement.

Approaching Shoregate Dock.

Rounding Bayford Point at the confluence of Half Acre, Bartlett and Otterham creeks we headed with a continuing friendly air from ‘up our chuff’ towards Horrid Hill – a place of cement, once!On the way a series of hovercraft whizzed across the water spouting water spray and issuing extreme noise – I’m sure, hopefully, the drivers enjoyed themselves!

Medway hovercraft.

Now, Horrid Hill is an isthmus of tangled scrub with ‘courting benches’ where often a couple can be caught ‘canoodling’ in what they believe to be a level of privacy… It always brings a smile to my Mate’s face and romance in her look-.

Horrid Hill.

Passing between Horrid Hill and Nor Marsh Island we chatted about the plethora of ‘concrete’ bases and rubble piles scattered across the flooded land. I know there used to be a farm. But some works seem to be more recent – WW2 anti-aircraft or search light bases perhaps.

Crossing the Medway’s channel in Pinup Reach we sailed on into Hoo Middle Creek and worked through. A chap on a craft I didn’t catch the name of hailed me … thank you for your kind words sir … Perhaps we’ll meet some time!

In Hoo Middle Creek…

Hoo’s pretty barge fleet… A champion amongst them too.

Hoo Marina’s latest building plot… A room with a view!

Clearing Hoo Creek we found ourselves in the midst of a mass of dinghies taking part in a short course racing session – there was nothing for it but to carry on, avoiding the path of the flying fleet! On the Hoo shore the remains of the Rhoda Mary still remain glued to the mud – what the vessel’s trust are doing, I know not, but they ‘borrowed’ some of my families 1951 pictures, so I hope something. There are plans to rebuild her in Cornwall…

Next, Rochester, ‘cos neither of the crew had sailed that way.

The ‘Pool’ of Rochester.

The picturesque old naval yard at Chatham.

A mooring was found at the Medway YC – the boatman waved my protestations to pay aside and said, ‘You’re all right here…’

We had a shock ashore – after supping a jar at the clearly closing club – we found no place to feed us! Back aboard I rustled up a pasta dish washed down with some fine red… The crew said, ‘…its the finest supper we’ve had on the trip…’ Good boys!

And so it was time on Monday to head home. Departure was fixed for 0600. We left at 0608! A steady motor-sail took us down into Saltpan and having breakfasted on bacon rolls we set the ‘genny’ and away we went.

Romping out of the Medway, home bound…

Yes, it was a grand little cruise. Many enjoyable miles were sailed. many a joke shred and just a few jars quaffed…

Yes, it has happened. The new spritsail barge ordered by the Sea-change Sailing Trust from C. Toms of Polruan, Fowey, slipped into the water yesterday afternoon (Sunday 29 May 2016) and boy does she look handsome! The barge is a direct copy, with all welded construction as her namesake launched by Horlocks of Mistley in 1930. She has been named Blue Mermaid.

On Saturday I had a lovely chat with the yard owner/manager at C. Toms in Polruan. This is very much a family firm and all are friendly and approachable.

Here are a couple of views of her awaiting launch…

A bow view on the ways…

A view down the hatches … a pure swept hold.

Leaving the yard I spotted my good Mate on a bench on the town wharf deep in conversation with a lady – who apparently hailed from Essex and had sailed on the Thalatta as a school girl.

Mate with her friend…

Sunday dawned fine and calm. A deep blue sky coloured the Fowey waterway. This was a good day for the making of history.

At the yard I chatted with members of the Bird family – a Capt Bird was skipper on the original Blue Mermaid sunk in July 1941 near the West Hook Middle Buoy (Before it was deleted in recent changes…). This for me was also a personal journey: my childhood home, the May Flower, was sailing , tack for tack, with the Blue Mermaid when she evaporated in front of them… Incidentally, the PLA have dived on the wreck and are working on bringing a fragment up for a memento for the Sea-change Sailing Trust.

The barge was blessed after a number of speeches including a formal welcome from the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall to all those who weren’t Cornish(!) and especially those from Essex!!

The blessing…

On her way…

Afloat…

Flying the Cornish and Essex flags with a Sea-change banner between.

The Blue Mermaid sitting serenely alongside the yards pontoon – doesn’t she look gorgeous…

My last glimpse as I worked my way up the steep pathways of Polruan to the car park with my Mate.

The barge is to closed up and towed by Thames Towage to Maldon. There is to be a special reception for her on 7 July at the Hythe.

Two things that were clearly obvious: the yard’s proud delight in building this vessel and the Trust’s deep satisfaction in the achievement. She will allow all year round work with clients. Currently they could utilise two vessels…

I believe she will cause a few ripples amongst the barging fraternity…

In the June edition of Yachting Monthly there is a superb article about rubbish.

The rubbish in question is the type which finds its way into the sea. Most comes off the land now, however, seafarers are responsible for a proportion of it all, which is very unfortunate indeed. I have been banging the drum about this for some little while – being an ex professional seafarer I fully realise what used to go on…

That is as it may be and times have changed, dramatically. Recently, a ‘ship’ was fined £311,000 by authorities in the Caribbean for discharging gash overboard. Ask yourself, do I throw anything overboard that contravenes current legislation, or in fact the moral code? If so, you could have been at the sharp end of that fine. Where would the family live once the home has been sold to pay up … then there are the costs… This is a serious matter.

A boat flying plastic in the Ray off Two Tree Island in Essex… Note how it is shredded. Those particles end up in the bellies of tiny creatures, then the next ones up the chain, then the next and so on, until it ends up in the fish you eat…

Plastic of various sorts are the biggest problem. This includes facial scrubs greatly used by many lady crew members: they contain micro pellets of plastic – recycled largely which is incredible. The products used to use ground nut kernels!

The YM article goes into the number of years that various plastics take to break down in the sea. A carrier bag takes around 20-50 years and at the worst, the estimate is 500-1000 years for drinks bottles. How many times have you seen one of these scooting across the water around you. Take a walk along a sea wall and wherever there is a ‘bay’ you’ll find a plethora of rubbish, sometimes knee deep. One such collecting point is tucked in past Cliffe Fort along the lower Thames.

This picture is from the River Orwell up in so called caring Suffolk. There were a line of these craft with varying degrees of bag remnants left flying. Yes, I know why its done, but it isn’t acceptable. Fines should be levied: it is an act of blatant environmental vandalism…

The other day I was leaving my boat in Smallgains Creek and was gob-smacked to find black oil floating along my recently applied anti-fouling. Eventually after searching for the source I spotted a couple of object leaching oil drifting towards the mooring. The, amazingly, an object was seen ejecting, as if by magic, from a covered over cockpit of a motor boat. Then a body was seen hands at work stripping something off. That object(s) also ended up overboard. I was incensed!

Finding a ‘hook’ I managed to capture four lots of floating contaminant. I know there must have been more, or actual oil was ditched, for most of the oiled surface had dispersed on the ebb. There were 3 or 4 ‘clumps’ of oil absorbent mops and a plastic glove. The other of a pair, sank? missed it? Don’t know…

I took the collection round to the culprit … I’ll not say who or what boat, however, suffice to say that I pointed out the error of the chap’s ways and that a heavy fine could be involved …

I put it in the hands of my club’s commodore.

The Island Yacht Club does a regular litter pick around its marshland borders, so we aren’t all like this chap, fortunately. Other clubs also do likewise and the Benfleet clubs do a walk down ‘their’ creek too, rubbish picking…

Rubbish. Bin it, take it ashore, home, anywhere, but not in the sea…

The Faversham Festival for traditional craft is approaching well, it’ll soon be upon us.

The event is taking place over the weekend of 23rd and 24th July. Events are open between 1000 – 1800.

Various craft can be viewed and visited.

Those wishing to book berths for their craft need to contact www.faversham.org

Berthing is usually pre-planned and allotted, therefore booking is essential.

I’m unable to attend this year, however if you have a Finesse 24, do contact organisers. There is likely to be a Finesse 21 taking part.

Various activities take place on dry land as well as upon the water when the tide is in. Last year two craft owners enjoyed ‘mud swimming’ which bemused some watchers!

The pubs host numerous musicians…

It’s fun. Go, take a look if you’re not afloat…

The good ship is still propped up ashore looking ‘spick and span’ for this year’s rally. We still have a bit of her decks to finish, but the camera couldn’t see that!

The Skipper hard at work…

The finished result with lines cut in!

Anyway, we left off doing ‘bat work’ for the weekend. On Saturday we were on fatigues down at the club – jetty repairing and other stuff as well as part of two launching teams getting a number of craft back into the water.

A local walk to see how ‘our’ bluebells were getting on was the order of the day, today. The Essex Wildlife Trust were having their local jamboree in the grounds of our church (St Michael’s – Daws Heath) so we knew a roll, coffee and cake would sustain us towards the end!

The Mate in a sea of bluebells, a flower she has a particular love for…

The woods locally, Pound Wood in particular, are mostly managed by the EWLT and they as an organisation own large tracts of it, thus preserving them. The woods are largely coppices and they are worked to manage growth and habitat. We purchase our logs from them annually for those cold night open fires, ah yes…

My favourite woodland bridge…

Generally as we walk, or resting upon a convenient log or bench, I muse upon the way many trees have that natural curve to branches – perfect for a bow knee or thwart knee.

It is great to be out in such a landscape, a place we can often enjoy to ourselves meeting few other human souls – today was a little different. There were ‘hordes’ some walking others sitting upon benches on a slowly towed trailer! Walk I wanted to shout, but for many of those it is the only time they’re able to view the sights we take for granted. EWLT has done a huge amount locally to build pathways suitable for wheel chairs and the such – often greatly used by fast moving off road cycles…

I was hoping to find the Wildlife Trust ‘honey lady’ but, alas, I couldn’t find her: the local honey is sublime! The Yard Arm Community Players were in attendance by the ‘tea hut’ (Village Hall) and serenaded us whilst enjoying a roll and cake. Well, ‘relentless sailor’ I might be, but I appreciate life in general and the joys it can bring…

The band leader, a ‘mad’ Aussie!

We had been getting on with the spring maintenance for several weeks, interspersed with sailing on the tide and our over joy, walking. But this year we decided the top sides needed a little attention – mainly because a number of fastening heads had ‘popped’ spoiling the finish!

So, booking a lift out at my club, the good little ship wandered ashore in a pair of slings. A check was made on the centre plate wire bond before settling onto chocks. That achieved my good Mate was let loose with a pressure washer, a new tool which she’d had a go with on our drive, thoroughly enjoying the experience. Strange girl!

Whimbrel in the slings.

Centre plate wire bond…

Ah yes, my Mate gets to play with her new toy…

Another Finesse 24 was lifted the same day, Gypsy, my mooring neighbour. We joined another, Calluna of Dorset, which came out for the winter: her owner has been hard at it bringing his boat back up to a good standard. It is a long time since the Island Yacht Club had two or more Finesse class vessels in the club, let alone two sitting beside each other!

Gypsy and Whimbrel out of their natural element…

Calluna’s owner hard at it applying varnish to his sheer strake.

I had been informed by my insurer that the Lloyds syndicate had asked for a survey to be carried out prior to any renewal in 2017. As the boat was coming out, I booked Alan Staley of Faversham to come over and deal with the need. His final comment made as Gypsy’s owner pulled his cutlass bearing out, was exceedingly nice. ‘A very fine vessel you have…’ Referring to Whimbrel, of course!

Over four glorious days which would have been grand for sailing we knuckled down to some ‘good’ grafting. The Mate has, almost single handedly, dealt with the underwater paintwork, whilst I prepared the topsides and checked rudder fastenings etc.

A game ol’ gel getting down to business…

Topsides prepared ready for stripe coating then a final all over coat…

While all of this has been going on, on our own vessel, another, a big Seaking  32 has been stripped of her paintwork. On Sunday a ‘family’ of two youngish ladies and their menfolk sanded her clean. It was ‘exciting’ to see what were, compared to most around the yard, essentially the future of boating getting down to pure graft.

The Seaking 32 stripped bare.

Up the creek at the Dauntless Boatyard, Mariette has been buffed up and returned to the water under the care of two ex Finesse owners who are ‘borrowing’ Mariette while her owner concentrates on another project (A sailing pallet!). The owner will be using his beloved Finesse during the season too!

Mariette has had a kiss and a cuddle. She’s now back afloat and has been seen sailing by…

Oh yes, those rudder strap fastenings. I check these on a rotational basis.

The one sat below has been replaced for it was suffering from crevice corrosion.

We’re having a day off tomorrow: I’ve and interview to do over in Maldon and also, the final pdf copy (Galley Copy) of Swinging the Lamp landed on my ‘desk’ and it needs dealing with, yesterday!

At last a publication date looms ever closer.

I received this email from a Finesse group member living ‘up north’ who has, for personal reasons, got to sell his beloved craft. This is always a sad event and we will all have to at some point (as my family keep telling me!) in our lives. I can only wish them well…

Hi nick,
Find attached details of finesse 21 that we spoke about recently. Any help would be appreciated. Needs a good home!!!

FOR SALE
Finesse 21 Sail boat, No.79. Believed to be one of the last 21’s built by Alan Platt in Benfleet, Essex in 1995!

(There is a number 80 in this class)

She is currently lying on Ullswater in the Lake District. She is in excellent condition with an inboard Diesel engine. Full electrics, good battery.

All rigging in good order with Tan sails. Main sail slab reefing, roller furling jib. Bilge pump, compass,sounder, auto helm. Manual windlass. 2 ring gas cooker and grill. Fitted with sea toilet. All bunk/seating upholstery in excellent condition.

Included in the price is strong, four wheeled, purpose built trailer. £5500 ONO

For further info e-mail: graham.sowden53@gmail.com or call 07785550322.

A view looking into fo’c’s’le.

A port view inside cabin.

View across top of centre plate box/table top.

The foredeck area.

Boat on trailer – she looks like a baby Whimbrel with her colour scheme. Lovely!

She looks gorgeous and ready to begin a new life ditch-crawling. Can’t you feel the soft summer breeze wafting across the cockpit, sailing serenely round the sweet Swale…