Some years ago whilst we were stopping at Maylandsea (Blackwater Marina), we met a couple who were aboard a catamaran. They hailed from The Gibraltar Point Sailing Yacht Club, south of Skegness.

‘Tucked just inside Gibraltar Point…’ the chap said, grinning. The club is at the southern foot of the febrile Lincolnshire coast in a narrow twisting mud creek which was once a haven for coastal shipping, with a port at Wainfleet. It’s also the northern point for ‘my’ inshore waters forecasting area – Gibraltar Point to North Foreland, but generally too big for inner Thames use.

It has been a place that I have always wanted to visit…

The ‘port’ of Wainfleet and its haven have long been reduced to a muddy creek through shifting saltings and an ever extending sand bar at Gibraltar Point. The village was given a drainage by-pass too to help prevent flooding.

The couple, let’s call them ‘John and Sandra’, had sailed down round the Norfolk coast to cruise the Thames Estuary waters. They were waiting for a window to start heading back, which we assumed they had achieved in time…

This all took place around a decade ago.

So, back to the present. We were on our way to Kings Lynn whilst on a touring holiday based in Boston (staying at a working windmill). Passing over the Fosdyke Bridge over the River Welland, I spotted sea going craft moored in the fast flowing silt laden river. I pulled into a pub car park which led to parking for mooring holders.

Walking towards a parked vehicle with a couple loading sail bags into back of their car, I stopped to natter …

Sadly, I learnt, the chap had died and the boat sold. The couple I met were still in touch with the lady ‘Sandra’ and promised to pass on the condolences of Whimbrel’s crew – giving our names. I hope they do this: they were a friendly and happy couple.

Later in the week we finally made it to Gibraltar Point and I had a walk around the creek edge looking at some of the moored craft belonging to the local club.

The moorings are fore and aft to the creek bank and without being rude, were of a ‘rickety nature’ in general, some more so than others. Some were clearly more substantial and had the look of ‘owner’ build rather than a common club system. The creek’s width was barely wide enough to turn some of the craft.

It was lovely to visit Gibraltar Point, saddened by the earlier news but pleased to see ‘yachting’ taking place in such a wild and ‘desolate’ yet beautiful place.

Rest in Peace ‘John’…

Yes, we did, but first…

Having had an enforced stay in the depths of lovely Wiltshire on ‘mother watch’ while kid sister was away swanning around the Ionian Sea, sailing, it was good to get back to the marshlands of the Thames estuary.

While I was in Wiltshire, I ‘retrieved’ May Flower’s cabin lamp from my mother’s flat (being sold: sadly she suffered badly during Covid-19 lock-down with what is being called Covid Syndrome and has gone into a lovely care home…). I am currently cleaning and servicing it. It will be presented to a barge trust…

I enjoyed a couple of sails alone in glorious late summer weather, on the cusp of autumn. Instead of heading in one of my favourite directions, up Hadleigh ray and Benfleet Creek, I spent time in the wider yonder.

I have only once gone beyond the Old Salvation Army Wharf since the threat to burn Whimbrel was made by a member of the Benfleet Yacht Club and the subsequent verbal assault experienced over on the River Medway: I have no wish to meet the character again out on the open water.

I was advised by the police to ‘carry on as normal…’ Easy said. The saga remains an Essex Police Matter, so I’ll say no more. However, I miss seeing the colours of autumn coming as those special changes take place along the edges of the salt marshes.

I’ll get back to it.

Whilst out on one of the two sails, I stood by to check if three youngish chaps were alright after their vessel suffered a mast breakage. It was surreal: the mast just tumbled before my eyes.

There were a number of craft closer than myself, but NOT ONE went over to ask if people were okay. I found that very sad, disturbing almost.

Most likely, they weren’t looking around…

The boat was quickly sorted out and after I’d asked if there propulsion was working and prop clear, I left them to it … watching as they motored towards Leigh-on-Sea.

A Cardinal Rule Afloat- you check anyone seen to be in some sort of trouble. Last time, it cost me most of my best 3-ply nylon warps, which still have not been returned by another Benfleet Yacht Club member. That episode was over three months ago now!

So, there appeared on the forecast a weather window, lasting for several days. On Sunday (just gone) I had agreed to visit the Blackwater Sailing Club to meet a chap who had purchased a Finesse 21 which had lain unused for around three seasons. Some advice was needed. That done we readied ourselves for an early start on the Monday morning…

The forecast was good, but a ridge of cloud at the edge of a high pressure was slow moving. It was grey and not entirely inviting, but there were no murmurs of discontent from either of us. It was dry!

We cleared our moorings a little over two hours before highwater and were soon bustling past Canvey Point, River Medway bound.

Tides being neaps, we glided over those last two hours of slack flood as it made its way westwards. We entered the River Medway, passing inside Grain Fort, and on into Queenborough before the turn of the tide. Our passage from moored to moored was barely 2 1/4 hours. In the ‘light-ish’ conditions, we were both pleased with that. It was nice to get a run over, rather than being hard on the wind.

The passage was so serene, I was able to facetime my mother in her care home. She thoroughly enjoyed sailing along with us as we passed Grain Fort. ‘Never been inside that…’ she piped up.

‘You have now,’ I said, laughing!

It was chilly, so soup appeared for lunch and having tidied we rowed ashore to pay our mooring fee and ‘chat the staff up’…

The sun had come out properly as we entered the river too, lighting it up nicely.

Ashore, the first thing we saw was that the Bosun’s store is about to reopen … as a gift/tea shop, as reported widely elsewhere. But, so pleased the old name is being retained.

We set off round the old harbour, passing displays of floral colour. The town really does put on a good show. The harbour was tranquil with the ebbing tide providing a mirror for many reflections.

Our path took us along an old track leading to an old works wharf where the glue factory once polluted the air hereabouts and walked along the seawall top looking alternately out over the drying expanse of food rich mud flats and the growing mass of new housing, inland.

We walked over the bottoms of several spritsail barges. Christobel remembered seeing bits of them on a previous walk, but commented that one in particular was more obvious. Bottom boards and floors in forefront of above picture.

The path took us onto what was the rail line to the Coal Wharf – now derelict round towards Long Point. Frome that a path takes one up onto Rushenden Hill, behind the screen of trees seen from the water.

From the hill, glorious views can be enjoyed towards Kingsferry Bridge and over the marshes beyond the West Swale to Bedlams Bottom and the foot of Stangate Creek. We were not dissapointed!

It was time to wend our way ‘homewards’ – via the Costa Coffee house at the shopping centre, then back along the inland part of Queenborough Creek which is a nature reserve, to the harbour…

An enjoyable two hours.

The sunset came as I finished producing a mild chicken curry dish finished with fresh yogurt, both were spectacular!

Morning came and I was woken by the patter of rain. It didn’t last long, but it was a misty, damp and grey start to the day. The greyness stayed until we were sailing up the Ray Channel in a light breeze.

Christobel took the boat out towards Grain Fort, handing over to get breakfast underway.

Rashers of just crisped bacon slipped into a roll with lashings of ketchup. The end result was yummy indeed!

The sun made several attempt to break through, finally it did and blue expanses spread out around us. The light lit the golden autumnal hue of the saltings. Away on the Leigh Marshes, brent geese called noisily. An occasional tern was heard: most have more than likely gone. Craft wise, the water was quiet, just us, returning home…

Yes, we enjoyed a splendid twenty-four hours, indeed, we did so…

Some weeks ago, I received an email from a lady, Glenna White, asking me if I would like a little pamphlet, Whitewall Barge Yachts, which she had come across in a second hand book shop.

Glenna wasn’t asking for any payment, she just wanted it to go to good home and having found ‘me’ on the world wide web, contacted.

Now, many ‘barge’ people know of the company based at Upnor/Hoo and Whitewall Creek from the years immediately after World War II, as I of course had, but sight of a brochure, no, I hadn’t.

Today after returning from a day out, I found a large package on the door mat. Within, I found the pamphlet along with an original copy of Edgar J. March’s book, Spritsail Barges of the Thames and Medway.

Having written to say a heartfelt thank you, I felt it only right to share my joy. It certainly boosts one’s belief in fellow human beings.

The pamphlet runs you through the basics of what you get for your money in a floating home which you can sail away on. A great many of the barge-yacht conversions on offer after World War II came from this company.

A surprise to me was that the company offered a 45′ (half barge) built and fitted out as a cruising home.

The plan looks remarkably like a design produced by Maurice Griffiths and featured in my book, Swinging the Lamp.

Also within, were details of a 27′ barge-yacht…

Whether or not any of these new build proposals reached fruition, I do not know. If anyone does have knowledge, then i would be delighted to hear from you.

So, thank you again Glenna. Bless you.

Christobel and I were beginning to descend the Caen Locks, a famous flight in the inland waterways world, when I spotted something seemingly out of place.

To sketch out why we were so far from the sea – we were in Devizes on ‘mother watch’ whilst my sister was in Greece for a spot of sailing – for two weeks in fact!

What caught my eye was a river launch, of a definite 1930-40 vintage.

Arriving at the boat’s approaching lock before it, I took the preferred line from the only man then aboard: his two crew were working the locks…

Striking up in conversation, I learnt that the boat was on its way to Tetbury (I think…) and had been bought towards the end of the phase two Covid-19 lock-down somewhere u the Thames.

The boat had been essentially refurbished by the last owner, who, for an unknown reason lost interest. The boat sat in a yard for over two years without a cover, deteriorating…

The name, Mariner III, could well be her original name and she apparently has a pedigree: she was one of a pair of motor launches built for the River Thames Police Unit in 1942. She would have been based at Wapping. This particular boat, and possibly her sister, escorted the Havengore with Sir Winston Churchill’s coffin aboard up the Thames prior to his funeral.

When built the launch had an open cockpit aft of the steering position amidships. The aft cabin was fitted when the boat was converted into a river cruiser. As I said to the owner, who plans to keep the additions, the arrangement was neat and looked as if it could have been as built.

I’m told that when built the boat’s hull would have been finished in black – as were police vehicles in those days. The 30′ 0″ vessel was built by Osborne’s of teak.

I wished the owner well in his venture – an extended Covid-19 lock-down project, apparently – and we carried on for on foot, we were travelling far faster then all the craft coming down the Caen flight…

If anyone has any info on the boat, I’d be pleased to hear from you.

Thank you to the people who alerted me to a couple of mistakes…

It began probably around fifteen years ago when I was writing about the saltings around Saltpan Reach, Stangate Creek and Sharfleet: Burntwick Island was my target.

The book was: Rochester to Richmond, A Thames Estuary sailor’s View.

See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rochester-Richmond-Thames-Estuary-Sailors/dp/1781556202/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&hvadid=80814204471414&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=nick+ardley&qid=1599421560&s=books&sr=1-2&tag=mh0a9-21

Burntwick Island has long been of interest: my father always used to say the buildings left upon it by the military after WW2 … he was a war and a bit out: they date from around 1894.

Whilst looking into these, up popped a man of great ‘importance’ and interest. He was Doctor Sidney Bernard R.N.

He became Surgeon on HMS Eclair, a steam assisted paddle wheel ‘gun boat’. The ship was engaged in the bight of Africa off Sierra Leone and Nigeria on anti slavery duty.

The ship was infected with Yellow Fever. On way back to Portsmouth the ship’s surgeon died in Madeira (a common ship stop=over place) and Sidney was promoted … on return to portsmouth he ship was dispatched to Sheerness and thence to the Stangate Creek Quarantine Station,

A round 50% of the crew eventually died … Sidney who remained with his patients also.

Sidney, for some unknown reason, was buried on Burntwick Island, then a sheep farm. The farm house was in the bight of the island west of the the jetty remains in Sharfleet Creek. There is little left of farm, except for a fragment of its ‘inland’ protective wall.

I had a call from the BBC Southeast office dealing with ‘Inside Out’ back n May/June asking if I was interested in doing something about Sidney Bernard. The presenter has been a ‘fan’ of my books for many years apparently.

So, following the phase 3 opening up of Covid-19 restrictions, we were able to arrange.

I picked the team up in Queenborough and we sailed to Stangate, where the camera man was put ashore. We sailed away and came back … won’t bore anyone with the anchoring/rowing bits! Suffice to say the camera man got wet socks!

After some on board filming and lunch, I took the two into the saltings. Why Sidney was buried in this place is unknown. His family home was in Dublin and there was absolutely no way he could have been taken back: Yellow Fever putrefies the body.

I believe, he asked to be laid to rest here…

BBC Southeast will be broadcasting the piece in the Southeast Magazine Programme following the National News on Wednesday 9th September in the 1830-1900 slot. It is usually a little before ‘half time’…

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000mjqy

There will be a shortened version on the ‘lunch time’ news on Tuesday 8th September.

Please note: I will not disclose where the grave is. A very few, if a mere couple of people know: it should be left alone and allow brave Sidney to continue to rest in peace.

The site has silted by another approximate 100 mm since my previous visit ten years ago.

The camera angles were such as to not give much away…

Please respect Sidney Bernard’s wishes to be buried in this lonely, yet beautiful place.

Our summer has been punctuated by latent strife, bubbling on beneath what has generally been a tranquil, warm and pleasant summer. It boiled over one day sailing into Stangate. But, that’s enough of that…

As the Covid-19 phase three lock-down release approached, I reran Whimbrel’s halyards with new ones prepared during the late winter and early spring, long before a lock-down was thought likely!

The boat was treated to a new length of anchor cable too – covered separately. See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-decides-whimbrel-needs-some-new-chain/

Another necessity before going off overnight was to replace the boat’s mooring warps. I had one good one left after I’d used all the other 3-strand nylon/polyester ones joined into one to make a long tow rope when we came across a Benfleet Yacht Club boat up on Bargander Sand outside Smallgains Creek.

We failed to pull her off, as did the Island Yacht Club’s work boat which came to our assistance. Our warps were accidentally ‘let go’ to the grounded yacht … all attempts to retrieve them have failed. I did hear that the owner was ill, but time has gone on, and what of crew/family responsibilities, let alone thanks and appreciation!

See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-enjoys-a-week-of-glorious-carnival-weather-finding-courtesy-and-cheerfulness/

As you will see the post’s title did not reflect life’s current finale! Renewals cost nearly the same as a our weekly groceries. Hmmmm…

We finally got away for a week a few days after the 4th of July ‘release’ and enjoyed a gorgeous sail round the outside of the Isle of Sheppey to Harty Ferry. Due to wind over the tide bounce, we moved up to Elmley, where all was quiet and tranquil.

Many, poo poo the Swale, but Elmley makes a good anchorage in 3 m to 4 m of water at low tide.

East of the Lillies Cardinal Buoy marking the wide shallow flats running into Elmley ‘hill’ back east towards the port and starboard buoys closer to the old ferry hards is the spot to go. We used it later in the summer too…

We also had a mini Finesse Festival with three Finesse 24s meeting up at Queenborough and a sail up to Chatham for a second night together.

At Chatham, a convivial evening drinks gathering was enjoyed with three couples spread about the deck of Calluna, a ’24’ with cutter rig. The rules requiring at least 1 m+ and preferably 2 metres separation between house-hold bubbles…

Returning downstream, we had a fantastic sail in company. Whimbrel left the other boats outside Stangate, where we went instead of heading ‘home’.

Later, we wended our way into Faversham. There I sought out the Finesse 24, Quo Vadis, which I knew was at Alan Staley’s Yard, being worked on.

The boat has had her keel bolts renewed, some water ingress rot repairs have been made and she’s been fitted with a redesigned deck edge and rubbing band arrangement. Toe rails have been fitted and stanchions removed. A gaff cutter rig is being fitted too, the new rigging ‘chain plates’ can be seen…

She looked lovely, awaiting final hull painting…

Our plans for the summer included a slow sail up the London River to Limehouse – I’ll cover this separately. A booking made a year earlier for a production at The Globe had long gone by the wayside!

On our way back to Chatham for the second time during the summer, we again stopped off at Elmley. We left the dinghy moored on the mainland hard, which provides clean footing to the shore.

At the top of the hard sit a couple of dismantled wooden mine sweepers from WW2 whilst out on the flats another rests, abandoned and gradually rotting.

We enjoyed a lovely circular walk around the bird reserve which enjoys the old brick works area and digging pools.

On the way back down Milton Creek, I, in particular, enjoyed getting close up to old works remains, creek-side derelict wharves and ‘boarding’ an old spritsail barge buried to her decks in cord grass.

While in the anchorage at The Lillies, we witnessed the spritsail barge Dawn coming round from Kingsferry Bridge, under sail, luff up into Milton Creek, reducing sail and work the bends to below the new road bridge, where she anchored. Her boat then took some cargo up to Crown Quay, where the sailing barge Raybel is berthed for a rebuild. Look at the web site.

The Milton Barge Museum has been moved here into a purpose built building, as per the original burnt down by vandals some years ago. The quay has been designated a heritage development/facility.

On passage to Chatham, where we needed to utise the laundry facilities, we were in for a treat as we passed the bawley Doris and the barge-yacht Nancy Grey.

I haven’t been able to have a walk down past the Hoo barge graveyard since being ‘shut out’ of Hoo Marina which no longer takes visitors. The boat yard at hoo will, if able to sit in the mud and also the Hundred of Hoo sailing Club will facilitate the same. So, passing, I focused at full telephoto on my camera and ‘had a look’ …

The recognisable barge is the Ena, the last to be added to the collection here – they act as a breakwater to the yard.

In Chatham we had another return visit to the Old Dockyard and following day a trip to Rochester on one of the hottest days of the year. It rather sapped us a little. A chocolate duck Christobel bought for our ‘baby’ was reduced to a sad congealed blob in its bag!

A quiet afternoon and night was spent anchored north of the old water barge wreck in Stangate (It can become a bit rolly-polly here for some strange reason).

I enjoyed an evening sail in the tender, Twitch, whilst my good shipmate washed up our dinner things.

A night in Queenborough to stock up with essential fresh provisions was needed before our Thames jaunt. We arrived promptly and enjoyed the walk to the new shopping complex outside the little town.

It is a pleasant walk along lengths of the old course of Queenborough Creek, providing exercise to offset, a little, the holiday beer allowance I was then enjoying!

Yes, it was a good start, but the weather had warmed appreciably with the best on the agenda…

Hauling out the chain from the locker when anchoring some while back during the period we were being allowed to go sailing for exercise, under the Covid-19 restrictions, I realised that my ‘rustier’ length of anchor chain had rusted much further since last used!

The chain was purchased without really looking into where chains were made (mostly in China now) and what were the best qualities, in respect to galvanising in particular.

I alighted on Jimmy Green who were one of the few suppliers which give comprehensive information about chain available, its quality and in particular the galvanising.

I then came across EYE Marine based near Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington. I got the same information about galvanising in particular too.

The two companies are linked below:

https://jimmygreen.com/mf-grade-40/79273-8mm-din766-mf-grade-40-calibrated-anchor-chain?search_query=chain&results=272

http://www.mooringequipment.co.uk/

The same quality EYE chain was somewhat cheaper than at Jimmy Green – MF grade 40 hot dipped galvanised, made exclusively by MF Catenificio Frierio, Italy – but carriage was more expensive!

So, I said to Christobel, ‘Do you fancy a day out in Suffolk with a wander round Woodbridge…’

‘Oh yes…’ she said, eyes wide open and full of sparkle!

The deal was done. Chain was ordered while we were away sailing a week or so ago and collected a couple of days ago.

Yesterday it was taken down to Whimbrel’s mooring, laid out and 5 m lengths marked off with paint.

We enjoyed a coffee and cake in a place not used before (probably new since our last visit) and enjoyed a walk about. Some crab and prawns were picked up and we later drove to The Suffolk Food Hall near Bourne Bridge and had a picnic overlooking the River Orwell…

We were surprised at the number of closed/empty shops etc in Woodbridge. The place lacked any buzz, whereas locally in Hadleigh, Essex, a vibrancy has returned.

We wandered down to the waterfront too, of course, talking about when we next sail into this delightful river…

This last week has been a wonderful week to be able to get afloat: the sun has blazed down, largely being too hot and sticky, but it has driven my good ship-mate down to our creek, reading and relaxing, whilst I’ve done a few small jobs. And, more importantly, to wanting to be afloat in the cool.

In the last week we have spent five of the days using Whimbrel for glorious afternoon sailing. The wind has been benign, no more than a good force 4, providing perfect sailing conditions and much cooling as it moved into an easterly flow.

It seems an age now that the Brent geese disappeared. Spring has long gone too and we’re well into the summer period. Sailing though has been limited by the Corona Crisis, but a semblance of normality is slowly returning.

The numbers of people out on the water has been quite large and increased daily. These ranged from motor-cruisers, sailing yachts, sailing dinghies, canoes, paddle boarders, speed boat and jet skis. The whole gamut…

One of the things we noticed was the courtesy displayed by virtually all met. A canoeist commented on this too, as we chatted as we sailed past him.

Some fine ‘old’ ships were seen and appreciated too.

All three of the Finesse 24s are Island Yacht Club boats…

From the Hunter stable – the sweet little Poppy was seen too. She’s owned by a couple who once had a half-share in a Finesse 24. They love this little yacht and make the most of her as often as they can, putting many larger boat owners to ‘shame’ in fun and usage!

It is a great shame that craft like these are no longer built (manufactured).

A largish collection of dinghies were out on each day and a ‘club’ patrol boat puttered around keeping watch.

I was entranced by a youngster casually practising capsize and recovery drills. Perfect each time. Dinghies like the Lazer being sailed weren’t around in my younger days – a humble Mirror was what we (my three siblings and I) were allowed to play with.

Two shots of a capsize drill…

A huge number of paddle boarders and canoeists were out, savouring the calm waters – well there were choppy-ish areas to be found. These pleasure pursuers tend to ‘float’ around the marsh edges, but can often be seen a fair distance out.

One day, the vhf radio on a coaster ‘shouted’ warnings of a canoeist in mid ship channel off Canvey Island. Not sensible and if a large ship had been coming, could be dangerous . Thames VTS were somewhat concerned!

There were a number of ski-craft about, mostly in the allotted areas, this one – below – came through the moorings though, but wash was limited.

Friendly motor-cruisers went by at moderate speeds, fast enough to get places, but slow enough to soak up surroundings and feel the cool air blowing past…

Sailing a little way up past the old abandoned Salvation Army wharf groups of people had settled by the water for afternoon picnics and in one case, a spot of fishing.

Walkers abounded on the wall – a route Christobel and I have taken several times during the initial Covid-19 lock-down period.

On one of the days, midweek, as we were coming round the deep water passage south of Bargander Sand towards our own creek, a yacht was spotted ‘out of channel’. The tides have been mid range and there would have been barely a metre over the shallowest point.

I said to Christobel, ‘look there’s two crew waving with both arms…’ We looked at each other, and i added, ‘I think they’re asking for help!’

I sailed as close as I dared to the yacht, Alian of Beaumaris, with some plate down: we were tacking.

‘Can you help’ a voice called, adding, ‘We’re aground’.

I said I could see that: there isn’t much water in that area. I made them understand that we would stow sail and motor back. That done, I grabbed most of my best 3-strand mooring lines and joined them to make a long tow rope.

The first attempt by crew to secure the tow failed, retrieving and coming back round I called, ‘Make it fast properly please…’

I let Whimbrel take the strain, then gradually opened her up. Nothing. Huge cavitation. The yacht was fast.

Christobel in the mean time had called Thames VTS to inform them of what we were doing. This was belayed when the Island Yacht Club’s work boat, Fairway II, came out (she was in creek working) upon hearing our call.

I later tried calling VTS by phone to up-date them. I got an answer phone and gave up.

Our work boat was finding it difficult to reach the casualty . I way-laid a passing RIB and asked them to pass the tow line, which they did – twice. It was very good of them; the driver said they were low on fuel, being virtually dry (another lesson there).

It didn’t look like the boat was going to come off. The club’s work boat was struggling in the shallow water and had little steerage.

The yacht was pulled to quite an angle, turned through 90 degrees, but move, no!

Time was moving on and we were both watching the clock and I was casting looks back towards Smallgains creek: I could see we hadn’t a lot of time to get back into our mooring.

The wok boat ceased her attempts – dropping our line overboard for yacht to retrieve… They’re mine I shouted into the wind!

We had a bit of a laugh with the crewman later…

Wheeling round and coming as close as we dared, I called out my contact details – they were clearly repeated. I said, ‘send me an email: I want my lines back…’

I also strongly advised them to call the Coast Guard and let them know too.

We made it back into our mooring with little time to spare grounding within ten minutes.

leaving the boat, we heard the tones of Southend’s hover lifeboat roaring to the rescue. The crew were taken off and put ashore on Two Tree Island’s hard.

We enjoyed another fine sail before the end of the week heralded shopping and other chores!

The yacht was still out there, anchored on the shallows, surprisingly afloat (tides have been around 0.3 m above prediction daily this past week) and I was even more confused as to why an attempt to retrieve wasn’t happening. Strange.

I wrote at the beginning about courtesy – after two days ‘we’ have not had a communication from the boat’s owner(s).

I shall wait and see a few days.

Getting them back could otherwise be troublesome.

Around forty metres of 12 mm, 3-strand polyester, isn’t cheap. And then there would be serving and eye splicing to do to.

We’ve often gone to the help of those in trouble upon the water and I’d like to think, we would be treated the same.

We had planned to go out for the day on this coming Saturday or Sunday, but the weather has turned particularly windy. A walk in the wide open Essex country-side beckons…

P.S. Christobel eventually contacted the Benfleet YC to ask about yacht. Later the secretary responded and thanked us for our help towards one of their members and stated that owner wants to return warps in person. When? Not called us yet – 5 days on!

A stalwart of the Finesse Group has had to place his near completed refurbed boat on the market.

See: https://www.apolloduck.co.uk/boat.phtml?id=639051

Sadly, the reason being is due to a move to another country for work.

The boat was purchased by the current owner some years ago from a yard round the Swale in Kent. Following various essential areas of work, she was sailed down ‘west’ to Poole Harbour.

The boat, Tig (of Tollesbury), was used for the rest of the season, before coming ashore for detailed examination of known defects and for rectification works to be put in hand.

The boat has an extensive list of equipment, mostly new.

Her ballast keel has been off and re-seated with new keel bolts. She was essentially taken back to bare wood on outer hull and cabin sides.

The boat dates to c1973, going by her hull/sail number of 21. You’ll note that her cabin windows are of an older shape.

The work entailed to finish her is not extensive. The current owner lists these.

The owner is willing to take offers for he cannot get back to UK to finish her.

Go to the link for details.

My last post, where I talked about the numbers of local yachting folk ignoring the requirement to return to main residence after a day (or a period) on the water, exercising, caused some ‘anger’ to surface out there.

My use of ‘gets angry’ in particular, seemed to be a problem, but I did say quite clearly that I didn’t think staying out at anchor would cause anyone or myself a problem. I simply asked sailors to be mindful of what we are supposed to do – nothing wrong with that, surely?

Caravan owners are having to comply to same rule, those that don’t have been stopped on various roads and sent home … well documented in the news.

But there was a problem. One sailor after commenting on the Medway swale boating Association site also sent me a pretty damning email, to which I did not rise to. I calmly sent my thanks for comments. I have since seen the content of that email on a public site…

It was quite noticeable that the obedient majority, stayed largely eerily silent. Frustrated is the word I should have homed in on …

I am sorry if I upset anyone: respect of each others views is important – my view was vilified, but I will let it rest.

As an aside, I have refrained from comment on my facebook page on more times than I can remember to avoid unnecessary ‘clashes’ during the past few months … perhaps I should have ignored what has been going on!

To better things…

Last weekend marked my 65th birthday – a milestone, or just another one of life’s landmarks. I don’t feel any older, and certainly, according to my dear wife, don’t act it…

At the beginning of the year we planned to be taking my ‘Canadian’ brother, who was coming over for a visit, away with us sailing with a stop-over in Conyer to enjoy the hospitality of The Ship Inn. My brother’s flight has been turned into a ticket for later use … and we didn’t go, obviously.

So, with a weekend of fine weather, we did four hours of planking renewals on our club moorings on the Saturday and on Sunday dropped down to Whimbrel at 0545 to get ready to go as soon as afloat.

As we left the creek, the early morning sun sparkled on a slightly ruffled surface, the day’s warmth was then already making itself felt.

Sails were pulling nicely and the engine was silenced within a few minutes. passing east of the Leigh Middle Buoy a huge ship was seen approaching from the sea. We had been tipped off about about this by our ‘shipping’ son.

Boy was she big! She is in fact the largest vessel currently on the high seas.

We seemed so close, yet were ell clear for the guard boat took little notice of us.

It was n’t long before breakfast appeared – a tasty bacon filled bap. Soon after the West Nore sand swept by to port as we left the deep water and picked up speed over the shallows towards the Grain Flats.

It was just great. The feeling of seeing my (and Christobel’s) beloved river coming into view beyond the old fort and business of Garrison Point. The good mate kept looking at me a smiling broadly, she could see and tell, I was in my happiness place!

Ah, the river looked and felt delightful. I was ‘home’ … it is a place of many and long memories. One of my earliest was ‘helping’ to row with sweeps the spritsail barge May Flower across to the mud edge near Blackstakes … tumbling memories cascade before me, as I write.

In the distance we saw numerous sails of the Lower Halstow YC Red Sands Tower race coming down Stangate Creek on the first of the flood. Well done all for the turn out. You were a splendid sight.

Passing Stangate Creek, I looked the other way … before taking quick peek. A veritable forest! Good luck to them all, I thought.

How far would we get. Gillingham Reach would have been nice… We’d cut by close under Sharp Ness and were making well towards the Bulwark wreck buoys. Here the wind suddenly went fickle and way was virtually lost.

We turned. We’d made it thus far, pointless flogging the ebb for little gain. The sky was filled with summery puff ball clouds, blotting the sun, briefly, from time to time. Oh it was just wonderful. It was easy pleasant sailing. We’ve had tastes, getting out on the tide, but a longer trip is different.

Going out of the harbour we had a chat to an ‘old boy’ who knew my parents in ‘May Flower’ days. It was a few years ago now he made himself known, however, we’ve still to meet either at Queenborough or at the Medway YC. He railed against not being ‘allowed to saty out and said, bluntly, he wasn’t prepared to do so.

We briefly discussed the approaching 4th of July review: caravan friends have reported to me that this is the date the Caravan Club expects a ‘release’… This will of course include yacht folk.

We had a good look at the first of two mighty deep sea drilling rigs which arrived some time earlier this spring. The next is due soon. Both are ‘out of work’ and will be resting while demand for new petroleum reserves is low!

See: http://msba.org.uk/?p=5749

I commented to my mate about the Grain Edge Buoy: Peel Portds have instigated a review into whether this boy should be updated with an easterly cardinal – my choice (lit) – or retained as a grenn conical.

See: http://msba.org.uk/?p=5801#comment-204020

For decades I have sailed close to it and rarely round it – usually when tacking northward. I hope it is replaced and positioned just east of the 2 metre tongue a little north of current buoy.

It was wonderful sailing, fast, but not furious. The gaunt and guano streaked rusted masts of the Richard Montgomery rushed up, we headed to the north. Once clear we turned ‘west’ towards the Nore. Chrsitobel took over here for a longish spell…

She said afterwards, ‘I loved that bit … Whimbrel did too … you could feel her lifting her skirts and dance along.’

Yes, indeed.

The Ministry of defence has recently issued a call for interested companies to tender for the removal of the Richard Montgomery’s masts. Latest survey results show a decided decline in the old ship’s structure. The masts will be exerting weight and stress forces on these rusting structures.

The underwater sonar pictures of the wreck are interesting indeed. Sobering: a slight change in the natural balance of flows here and the ship could end up sliding into the Medway’s channel…

See: https://www.peelports.com/media/5513/ntom-no-29-of-2020-approaches-to-sheerness-grain-edge-buoy-consultation.pdf

Around six hours after leaving our mooring we were coming up the Ray Channel. A small group of common seals were basking in the warmth upon the yellow sun drenched sands as we came in.

Some distance beyond the seal, we fetched up to the edge and touched on … dropping anchor and stowing sails. After our lunch, I dropped overboard for a little swim! The mate went below for a nap…

A sailing friend walked down from his own boat, ‘parked’ in the shallows further west. He wanted to wish me a personal ‘happy birthday’ – thank you very much Robert.

During the middle of the afternoon we departed for a waiting spot outside Smallgains Creek and tidied ship.

On the way up a little converted sailing canoe swept past with two crew keeping her up. She has been fitted with outriggers. She was a pretty sight indeed.

And then, as the afternoon wore away into early evening, the anchor was hauled and we pottered into our creek under power.

25 nautical miles.

A grand day.

Since the first easing of our Government’s Covid-19 restrictions, us sailors, boater, canoeists, paddle boarders, dinghy sailors and motor boaters etc, have been able to fulfil a long desired dream of time out on the water, in England – the devolved administrations are acting a little differently, as are some English regions.

However, the requirement to return to main home and not to a 2nd home or caravan and that includes pleasure craft, remains in force. The requirement is unambiguous and straightforward.

I have been asked by numerous members at my own sailing club about whether or not one can go out overnight and became, quite frankly, pretty fed up with answering the same question, when the writing is as clear as can be. I have also seen pictures of moored craft at night in Stangate Creek across the Thames inside the River Medway – made me angry: I too would like to potter off for a few days – harmless to me and others, but…

Out for a sail on the tide the other day, I was passed by a yacht returning up the Ray – it must have been: it could not have got away from its mooring before I left my creek…

The boat will remain nameless … when pictured, I was homing in on a tern sitting on the red buoy before becoming aware of the craft’s approach.

Passing, I challenged the helm … unrepentant as hell … it made us both quite cross: we’ve endeavoured to be as strict as we can in adhering to requirements. With a boat sitting ready, it has been hard!

I wrote to the Port of London Authority to give their verdict on requirements.

This was the response I have received and although this is the port of London’s view it is the view of all known marine organisations and harbour authorities:

Thank you for your email of 27 May 2020.

I have discussed your query with colleagues – we agree that your interpretation of the current government covid / coronavirus guidelines is correct.

If we take those government guidelines as the starting point, then it may be helpful if I quote these verbatim:

·       “You should stay at home as much as possible”

·       “Leaving your home – the place you live – to stay at another home is not allowed”

·       “Day trips to outdoor open space, in a private vehicle, are permitted”

·       “Leaving your home – the place you live – to stay at another home for a holiday or other purpose is not allowed. This includes visiting second homes”.

My source is this government website – dated 22 May 2020:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

The RYA is also publishing information on the government guidelines. See: https://www.rya.org.uk/newsevents/news/Pages/coronavirus-advice-and-information-for-recreational-boaters.aspx

Kind regards

Martin Garside

Port of London Authority

Thank you, thank you, Martin: I was beginning to think it was me!

We had a glorious sail, meeting up with some friends who had just been able get their lovely little yacht, Poppy, launched that morning.

Poppy’s crew took a number of lovely shots as we briefly sailed in close quarters… We were out for a further 3/4 of an hour before sailing into our creek, under head sail, and berthing without resort to power. Lovely!

I have since also accessed the Royal Yachting Association guidance for recreational sailors/boaters etc.

As you will see it is as clear as it can possibly be, vis, picture of a house, GO HOME!

So, fellow sailors, forget ‘Cummings’ and others, do your bit properly and don’t be part of a set-back, please…

Warning: Dated, Wednesday 24 June 2020

Today, from a reliable source within the yachting literati, I received news that I have been accused of informing the police about a certain sailor being away from home. This was after the person(s) concerned received a visit from the police.

The person concerned stated that I have mentioned their name(s) in this post.

I wish to state publicly that I have not and would not contact the police on this matter.

I deliberately did not name any boater in my post.

I have also been told that there is a desire to burn my books from that person and others!

I have also been informed that a person has stated that given the opportunity they will burn Whimbrel.

Currently I am treating this threat lightly, however, if further reports reach me I will not hesitate to contact the police.

A fellow sailor today called to me that they have been hearing many stories relating to me and this post. He said people are ‘so sad’.

This is a sad reflection on the so called ‘caring society’ that we live in.

Guilt is caustic, I do hope those that feel this way reflect.

A fellow owner of a Finesse contacted to say that, reluctantly, he had decided to put his Finesse 21, Ivy May, up for sale. He has owned her for a dozen years or so.

SORRY SHE’S SOLD!

When the chap bought Ivy May, he wasn’t even married, but now, with two growing boys who take up all the space, a larger boat was needed.

I have known, Tim, the owner of Ivy May for a number of years meeting here and there at rallies or just out. He is a keen, enthusiastic, almost ‘boyish’ sailor with guts and experience. He has made it to a rally ‘up the coast’ from the Lower Thames more than once in conditions that put others off. He trusts the boat. And that is something about a Finesse – she will look after you.

The boat was originally rigged as a Bermudian cutter and was in need of quite a major overhaul when Tim found her in 2004 at the Iron Wharf Boatyard in Faversham.

The refit took until the spring of 2006 to complete, and she looked stunning upon her re-launching.

It wasn’t long before Tim decided that a gaff rig was what he wanted and a new set of spars and sails were ordered.

As with most Finesse yachts that come on the market, there will be an inevitable job list, as with all boats. But, on a wooden wonder, your efforts will be duly rewarded.

What I would say to a prospective purchaser is go and take a look. This boat has been used for sailing, not sitting around. Some things that I know of need attention – Tim knows of these too, obviously!

In the main, some deck edges need attention: the decks and cabin tops are marine ply covered with glass cloth and epoxy. Sometimes an insert is needed, more often than not a simple epoxy repair will suffice and paint. The main cabin hatch needs a new top or complete renewal.

For details, see: https://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boat/finesse-21/636594

Go on, you know you’d love her at first sight … she sits in her berth at Oare Creek, near Faversham, ready for that magical test sail…

Contacts for Tim.

Email: mulcahy321@btinternet.com

Tel: 07944 208069

Information given is best that I am aware and prospective buyers are advised to make own judgement.

SORRY SOLD!

I have known Nancy Grey and her sister Dione for most of my life from around 11 years old. Both are barge-yachts, built by Shuttlewood of Paglesham on the River Roach. The build shed still exists, but little takes place there these days. The yard was being used to build/fit out house barges for the River Thames some years ago and one still sits awaiting completion.

The Dione is owned in Kent and is berthed in Shoregate Dock off Milfordhope Creek – one of the Medway’s many creeks. Her owner also has the Thames spritsail barge Ethel Maud, which is nearing a complete rebuild in the dock.

But this is about the Nancy Grey. Years ago I received an email from a chap sailing in the water around Thailand – he’d been a previous owner of ‘Nancy‘ – the chap had just finished reading one of my earlier books and wanted to say ‘thank you…’ That was Paul Lester, father of Toby, owner of the spritsail barge Ironsides and manager of the Iron Wharf Boatyard.

Some time after returning from his trip abroad, Paul Lester decided to buy Nancy Grey, a boat he’d owned before, from Nick Hann, a Leigh-on-Sea man. Nick had decided to go for a steel barge-yacht which had become available – the Calluna. She is roomier and has a shower in the toilet compartment which enticed Nick’s wife afloat more often!

Nick had owned Nancy Grey for many years and in his time the vessel received a bit of a make-over – something all of her owners have had to do to some extent or other.

During this particular refit Nick told me that he also built a new hatch which gave better ‘standing room’ or sort of, beneath! She’s a bit low below…

Some frames were renewed to… All spars were completely stripped and re-preserved.

Nick Hann raced Nancy grey to some noyable wins around the lower Thames and on the Swale. In his hands she became a bit of a flyer, however, these little ships were noted for their speed.

If you take a good look at many of today’s yachts, you’ll see hard chines and very flat bottoms. They’re so barge-like. The pedigree rests with these humble ditch-crawlers of a bygone age.

I heard from a fellow Finesse fiend, Tim Mulcahy, very recently telling me he was thinking of selling his Finesse 21, Ivy May, and purchase a larger vessel. His boys are growing … and Tim needs space for his new lady.

Shortly after this conversation, Tim messaged me, ‘…Breaking news, Nancy Grey has new owner and is staying in Faversham…’

Tim had jumped!

I shall bring news of Ivy May, a delightful gaff rigged Finesse 21 soon.

I wish Tim well. He has a lot to live up to in the care of this piece of yachting history…

One of the first things I did when ‘locked down’ was to collect the cockpit floor boards for repainting. I also fitted a new lifting latch to one of them.

If I was not going to be allowed to go sailing, I needed something other than the comforts of good wife, home, and walking to keep me sane!

Those finished, I fetched home the compass: the light had been a bit ‘dodgy’ for a season or more … time to look into it. I thought I had cracked it by finding a faulty connection inside the plug.

Upon visiting the boat to check moorings and bilges etc IAW guide lines, I tested the repair. No good. Back home I discovered that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the led light and its wires. By fiddling about light (as on boat) worked, but a touch and it went off.

A new plug and socket unit were sourced and one was found on Amazon for princely sum of £1.70 inc postage, cheaper than from actual supplier. Amazing!

I had to make a new wood socket housing…

I have to say, the internet and the ability to order just about anything needed has been an absolute boon during this time: I’ve had, as you’ll see, epoxy, one use brushes, a jig saw, paints and more…

Then the big one…

Some four years ago I bought what was stated to be a wood seat and lid for the loo on Whimbrel. It became apparent in a year that the ‘wood’ from which the parts were manufactured probably did originally grow as a tree or two but had morphed into compressed cardboard type stuff.

Great! The ‘damp’ soon found a way in. I did a epoxy and paint repair or two, but a return to a plastic lid seemed likely.

But, with loads of time on my hands and plenty of plywood of same thickness, I had a challenge!

I will tell the story in pictures…

At this point the good mate of Whimbrel beagan to take more interest in the project: she said, sanded, ‘they felt as smooth as a baby’s bottom.’

Yes, well!

On a visit to Whimbrel to check moorings and bilges, I dry assembled the parts to obtain pre-drilled hinge screw holes and I also drilled the holes for cleaned up seat buffers. Epoxy was brushed into these.

I used a ‘bathroom’ sealant to bed all the bits and pieces ensuring screw holes received some too.

On another boat visit … I fitted loo seat and lid.

All in all, the cost was the grand sum of £88. The effort was free of charge, time was of no essence, and to be frank, I’m quite proud of the finished product!

It looks good and as one of my regular crew said, ‘A throne fit for a king…’

The boat still sits awaiting the call of the sea…

Yes, it is hard to accept that sailing is a feature of my life that is on hold currently. Even Christobel has a hankering to just get out there and feel the soft breeze caressing her cheeks.

We know that along the tide lines, the saltings will be awash with an early greening. The first spikes of glasswort will be rising above the mud’s surface. Sea plantains and asters will be showing new leaf growth and the cord grass clumps will be sending forth their fresh shoots too…

Alas, whilst all of this is happening, Whimbrel rests in her berth waiting for her crew to board. The sounds of a sail bag being thrown up on deck, the hanking on, running of sheets, the removal of covers are becoming but a distant memory for her, as it is for us…

Around her, in the creek, Brent geese sally back and forth feasting on weed as tide allows. Waders feed, take off and alight again in their constant search for food. Familiar cries ring out. But I am reminded of the fact that for this year, I am unlikely to see the arrival of the first flush of common terns, or the departure in staggered drifts of the Brent that have kept us company for so many long autumn, winter and spring months. (I really question why they have to go!). Life goes on in this world. This is a world that knows not what the human inhabitant is suffering, the pain of many families before it will eventually come to an end…

But, as I say, life goes on.

Upon the boat being lifted back into the water I began a search for ‘plain’ galvanised mild steel bolts to replace the ones I last purchased. The bolt shown is a 4.6 MW which is a low carbon steel (standard bolt), whereas the 8.8 MW now often sold is a medium carbon steel and has around 3 x the proof strength – something not needed for a simple pivot. The carbon content, I believe is such in the higher tensile steel to cause fairly rapid degradation in sea water.

I emailed a well known marine fastenings supplier and they now only sell the ‘8.8s’ and when I sent a picture of each bolt all I got was a deafening silence. Thanks guys!

The search goes on…

With all the time in the world to do what little that can be done whilst ‘cocooned’ at home keeping off the streets and out of the way of other people, Christobel and I have extended the lengths of our ‘exercise’ period, on the one outing a day for this purpose as designated by the powers to be…

On domestic days, two for cleaning and shopping, we walk for an hour on a regular woodland route, but on the other days we have a route of anything between five to eight plus miles which has and continues to be enjoyed.

What has been noticeable is that the sky has become clear overhead of aircraft cruising towards London (Heathrow) or for destinations across the Atlantic, leaving a taste of a blueness before the time of aircraft!

We were on one of our longer strolls and were sitting on a convenient bench overlooking the moorings of the Benfleet Motor Boat Club, opposite the Benfleet Yacht Club, ruminating and sipping some cocoa whilst munching on a square of apple cake each.

Leaning back, my mind began to wander down the creek towards Whimbrel. The tide was at a point where I’d have been slipping into the mooring after a pleasant sail on the tide. There was a soft breeze. The sun was shinning and a fairly cloud free sky majestically surrounded us.

Apparently, I began babbling away to my good Mate, Christobel, reminiscing about a ‘trip’ for it wasn’t any one particular trip, but was surely a mix of many.

It was still early on the tide … the mud banks usually covered were still above the tide level. I remarked about ‘butting’ into one many years ago on a cold January day. I removed my life jacket, trousers and tops and ‘popped’ overboard and pushed the bow clear, clambering aboard as Christobel sailed clear, in the right direction along the channel … it can be seen mid/right in picture below. There were no saltings then!

I remembered too, sailing up here with a friend, a fellow prostate cancer sufferer , who had confessed to never having sailed up this stretch of water. It was his second outing of last autumn and only his third sail of the year for reasons unimportant to this tale. He was revelling in a comfortable sail westwards towards the Benfleet Creek Barrier.

The sun had shone that day, and later in the walk, the same sun was seen sparkling across the waters sailed that day with the friend aboard. My Mate and I both sighed. both feeling some pain, as we gazed for a little while, wishing…

Later after my friend and I had sailed back down Benfleet Creek and reached the regions of the entrance to our own creek, the sun was on the wain and rapidly heading into a clear early winter sky. It made for a spectacular sail in towards Whimbrel’s mooring.

I apparently reminisced too about an early morning sail with Christobel on a cold and almost frosty morning. Ah, what a girl she is…

I clearly remember, smell even, the waft of sizzling bacon … the bacon was under the grill before departure, ready by time we were sailing outward. Bliss!

‘Yes…’ Christobel piped as I awoke from my reverie, ‘the things I do for you…’

‘For you too…’ I added grinning at her!

The image below is one for the ‘for ever’ box. The boat is comfortable in her mooring, the sails are stowed, bagged and covered. The mugs have been washed and we’re walking slowly away as the tide quietly gurgles through the moorings on a gathering ebb, contented and full of sailing happiness … with added memories for ‘darker’ days…

Following on from my last post: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-and-mate-prepare-for-whimbrels-lift-out/ The plan to lift Whimbrel was put into operation some days before the Corona Virus (Covid 19) restrictions began to be applied. We had, however, been carrying out our own ‘isolating’ procedures for quite some time as certain people were deemed more vulnerable, however it transpired that my prostate cancer treatment is not a cause for concern in regard to any added risk. Which was welcome news.

So, on the appointed day the boat came ashore. The centre plate lift wire and its pin were renewed before Whimbrel was bedded down in a spot clear of other craft for the ‘slurry’ blast of her bottom.

I had agreed the job with Willpine Blasting Ltd, based on Canvey Island, many weeks previously.

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

The company specialises in marine work and have operated in my locality for a number of years. Background experience was gained with Blythe Boats, once based at the Dauntless Yard, Canvey Island.

A test patch was carried out in the first instance … with a water blast loaded with sand.

The work then got underway with the ‘crew’ taking turns each side … the woodwork has not seen the light of day since 1983!

Thank you to the two Willpine boys for your attention to our clinker-built vessel’s bottom.

The initial coatings went on in the autumn of 1983 – she has never been cleaned back to bare wood since then. The blast cleaned off the surface soft wood tissue to good clean timber.

As the boat was out and her bottom needed to be painted, for protection alone, we got on with it – having moved a 42nd wedding anniversary holiday to the autumn – weather and time seemed to be on our hands, or was it!

So, after leaving her to dry for two days with a warming sun and an easterly breeze coming across the saltings, she was ready for a prompt start.

First off, Christobel got beneath and checked along the lands for any paint left by ‘the blasters’ and then hard sanded to best of her ability – quite frankly, I just left her to get on with it: other things needed doing! In our elevated position above – the boat had dried quickly, but I was already beginning to worry though!

I spent the first day dealing with renewing the centre plate pivot pin which was found to be badly wasted – only two years old. I have been doing annually for some years, but moved to two. I have a feeling that my box of bolts purchased as ‘Mild Steel’ are probably builders High Tensile Bolts which are higher in carbon and a ‘label’ seems to indicate this. I remember specifically asking what sort of bolts the supplier had. A different supplier will be sought!

Part way into the job, restrictions on movement and work came in, and unless absolutely necessary ‘we’ were being advised not to do it. After a day off, we decided that the job needed to be finished at least: the boat was sitting in a temporary position. Our plan was to be back in the water within a week or so. I knew that being moved, at least, was going to be a priority for the boat’s safety, in the event of a complete lock-down situation.

The need to be moved was borne out by the requirement for her side chocks to be hardened each day during strong northerly and north-easterly winds over the weekend we were ready to go back in.

However, by the end of a long hard first day, Christobel had applied two coats to the bottom whilst I ‘prated’ around the topsides and transom making preps for full coatings. The topsides were hard sanded with a power sander. A number of fastener tops needed attention with cleaning off, sealing, priming and undercoating several times. With the weather the touch-up paint coats were drying in next to no time.

Note: The topsides were last fully painted in spring of 2016.

The next day, the day we had hoped to avoid, we had a day off … letting paint dry.

Back on the job, I ‘cut’ in the approximate top of the bottom red coat for Christobel to get weaving. Bless her, she carried out a check for any hollows in the primer coats and applied stripe coats where needed. Then onward with the antifouling. What a girl eh!

By the time I had stripe coated the ‘repaired’ areas around the topsides, the first coat of antifouling was nearing completion on the boat’s port side. Before long calls for more paint made me stand back and admire the Mate’s work…

In gloriously warmish sunshine the topsides were given a finer grade sand, wiped down and given a full coat. Whimbrel was looking better by the hour.

In the light of a peach of a spring sky, the sides glowed!

On the third day, Christobel was back underneath doing the last antifouling coat, before carrying out a check and stripe coating ‘hollows’…

Meanwhile, I varnished the transom and got on with sorting out the boot top coating. I’ve used a hard racing boot top coating rather than the ‘normal’ stuff which washes off too easily making a mess of the paint lines and look of the boat afloat.

It was with a sigh of relief that I reached the end of cutting in the boot top. Due to stripping back the upper part of this by hand scraping and hard sanding and blast removal below, the line was largely lost. We laughed about the re-appearance of the builder’s original scribe markings, long deemed of little use as Whimbrel has gained added weight with her cruising use! I must say though, it wasn’t so far out…

Two shots of the finished job.

Looking as pretty as she could be, Whimbrel awaited permission to go back afloat.

There are jobs around the decks that need doing. Relatively small sections of weather damaged varnish and a coat of fresh paint on cabin tops (after a hard sand), in the main.

But, alas, these will have to wait.

Info: Willpine Blasting Ltd, Canvey Isalnd, Essex. Tel: 07816 493063

Email: cj.marine@hotmail.co.uk

Notwithstanding the onset of the serious health problems associated with the Corvid 19 (Corona virus) that has spread from China to virtually every country around the world since being ‘admitted to’ during December 2019, the weather has conspired to limit the opportunities for sailing too.

Our Government (British) is systematically closing down ‘life’ as we have all known it. People over 70 years of age are advised to self-isolate. Ill people have to isolate for seven days and if another person or persons live in household, this is 14 days for them. Everyone else to quote, ‘maintain a level of social distancing…’ which is at least two metres – which I call the spittle distance – essentially avoid all contact…

This does not seem yet to limit activities around the waterfront, provided care is taken … so, as planned, Whimbrel should be lifted from the water this weekend for a bottom paint clean off ready for my good mate and the boat’s keen bottom manager to get at it.

I have the top sides to deal with…

Since Christobel and I enjoyed a sail on a lovely February day, I have enjoyed little sailing indeed. But, with my youngest brother crewing as temporary mate I enjoyed a magical window of opportunity when the wind died to a force 5 and less for two complete days.

We departed early on a Friday (two weeks ago now) and returned on the Saturday lunchtime tide. We enjoyed a sublime sail acroiss the river after departing a few minutes before high water. being ‘late’ I swung further east round the Grain Flats, but the wind was sufficient for a close reach deep into Blakstakes area along the shore of Deadman’s Island and just making Strangate.

Inside the River Medway, we encountered a pretty ferocious ebb even though the tides were neaps. As our overnight stop was planned for Queenborough we ended up enjoying a spin up Stangate and a tack back out – all helpful in keeping warm!

Thereafter we made ‘passage’ for Kingsferry Bridge approaches before working back to Queenborough. The temporary mate was soon away in Twitch for a spin round the harbour … would you believe it the wind died to such a low level he had to ship his oars and row home!

The bird-life both in Stangate and around the Swale were stupendous, a wonder. We also saw a seal basking along the Greenborough Marsh mud shore.

We had a fabulous thirty hours! And, in an opposite to Emma’s infamous act of stupidity in the clever Jane Austin novel, it was a trip well done, well done indeed … it was an amazing couple of days.

Over the last month or two, I have been collecting together the necessary paints and preparatory equipment such as sanding papers in readiness. The pile on our ‘shed’ floor has grown … new centre plate lifting wire pin is ready, wire is aboard and the ‘blast man’ is booked.

Roll on the weekend … hopefully I’ll get just a little sail before, but time is running out.

Let’s hope we’re not ultimately trapped ashore…

Hey ho!

We couldn’t make the last exhibition due to circumstances beyond our control, but this year when the invitation arrived it was ‘fixed’ into out diary!

The Wapping Group of maritime artists is a small select band of around thirty artists who are elected into the group as and when places become available – this has always been the case since the beginning when moves were made to form just before the outbreak of World War II, delayed until around 1948. They always have a waiting list, but these days there are a few what are termed ‘candidates’.

Karl Terry’s work caught my eye with a view across the moorings of the Belton Way Small Boat Club down by the cockle sheds in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, close to home. The boat in the bottom right is either a Finesse 21, or Lady Beatrice, a 21 foot gaff cutter once owned by Laurie Harbottell who designed and built her for his own use. The hull design became the forerunner of the Finesse 21 built by Alan Platt.

I continued to wend my way round, slowly, looking and drinking in the painted views. Many of the works were of familiar places.

Wandering on I passed a picture I really liked! Moving on, there were more views of interest and familiarity. The boat yard at Hoo popped up, wit the bow of the spritsail barge Marjorie and a concrete lighter!

I soon came across an artist we know well (he lives close by) and one of his works was a 40th wedding anniversary present from my dear mate…

We both love Alan’s works in watercolour – they are evocative and sometimes ‘hazy’ allowing the eye to wander and find those little details deftly captured…

Some of the works seemed to have a little too much ‘pink’, ‘yellow’ and ‘orange’ in them, but they seemed to be getting hard looks from many of the punters around.

And this was the picture that we took a fancy to … St Paul’s seems to float over Queenhithe on the other side of the river. The cranes adds a ‘time and place’ aspect: I believe this is part of the Thames Tunnel works currently ongoing…

All in all we enjoyed the experience. and it is always a joy to view the type of art one appreciates with understanding.

The pictures are on view at The Mall Gallery, just beyond Trafalgar Square until Sunday 15th March.

The winter this year seems to have dragged on and on with incessant winds that have reduced my ability to get afloat to just two occasions so far! Statistically, this is very unusual. Running my fingers back over the pages of Whimbrel’s logs I see that usually I get out at least four to six times during the each month of January and February.

Fortunately, in my area (south Essex) we haven’t had anywhere near the rainfall that has affected many other parts of the country. Sadly, many have been flooded out of their homes – but we won’t delve into the reasons why, lay blame or become political (boring): the weather has brought much devastation.

During dry times I have been busy aboard Whimbrel re-seating various components around her decks, stanchion bases, pushpit bases and the fuel filler cap. Two of the pulpits bases require like-treatment.

Christobel and I have been able to keep up our walking too – in fact the weather has only prevented us getting out once since the New Year! We have enjoyed some fantastic walks in wild windy weather, but dry…

But during January, I was becoming troubled … I had become aware of changes to my body. What wa happening? Was it a problem? Would it continue after treatment? Questions … worry. Loss of sleep. I had to do something.

When I last saw my oncologist, I told him about some soreness being experienced around my chest/breast. This is a well known side effect to the course of treatment I was placed on. For me though it took nearly 18 months to make itself felt.

For previous story runs, see: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawlers-year-afloat-with-family-and-friends-meeting-people-and-talking-about-prostate-cancer-get-tested-save-a-life/

Then, what I thought was just a ‘funny little thing’ became, to me, a noticeable lump.

Heck, I thought, I’m going through a sex change … I was worried. I told Christobel (we have no bars) and I then emailed my contact nurse practitioner at Southend Hospital. I was ‘sent’ towards my GP in the first instance with a note saying ‘you’ll probably need a uss…’ (Ultra sound scan)

I became dead scared…

I popped into our surgery and asked for an appointment – none for weeks. Come in first thing tomorrow and ask … I was also in for a blood pressure check. Disaster. Now been put on a 10 day monitoring regime to return next week!

So, on Friday, I was waiting outside the Doc’s at 0740 … saw a triage nurse and was booked in for 1030.

Christobel came with me to the surgery … I was feeling troubled indeed.

The doctor listened to what the problem was, checked my notes (I noticed he even had the paper file with prostate treatment letters from hospital open…) and did an inspection.

He said, ‘I think it is a gynaecomastia – a hardening of the male breast tissue…’ he explained. ‘But … its been found there’s a link between breast cancer and prostate cancer …’ Now I was really worried.

I was told that a letter of referral would ‘go off that day to Southend Hospital’s breast unit … be a maximum of two weeks, but should hear sometime next week … if two weeks comes round and no letter get back up to the surgery…’

On Saturday, after returning from enjoying ourselves on a club work party, a brown envelope lay beneath our letter box. I tore it open. An appointment for Tuesday following had been made! Christobel looked at me and grimaced…

My thoughts were racing out of control … a head-splitting fear of becoming a cross between Poseidon and Aphrodite was growing … a hermaphrodite … and with the doctor talking about more cancer possibilities … I’d reached a limit.

I have to admit, I had a few glasses over the weekend…

By noon on Monday, I was so tired, I was sent to bed, something I’d not had to do for some while. Monday night I was awake at 0215 … still awake at 0430, so got up and had some tea, laid the breakfast table and tried to read. When Christobel came to, I got a rocketing for not waking her!

Yesterday (appointment day) dragged … but after our morning walk I busied myself fitting the doors and finishing the roof to a new utility shed we’ve purchased.

Showered and refreshed, I had lunch ready for when my good mate returned from a chin-wag with friends. Then we were off … Christobel gently soothing me…

A little before my appointment time we wafted into, what the paperwork described aptly, as a ‘women centred clinic’ dealing with the female breast … yes, it was definitely a feminine place, in feel and looks! I was the only man and many heads turned as I stood at the admissions desk. My colour rose. A kindly lady looked at me asked for name, ‘ah yes…’ she said, shuffling a ‘pack’ of papers.

I was given a clipboard and a pen – another load of questions – and began filling the many boxes. A big chunk had been scored out: I was clearly a man and hadn’t dealt with childbirth…

Some while later I was called through and taken to a consulting room and asked to strip off, up top, and put on a gown – of a feminine pinkish colour … more bad feelings were rising within me! The nurse said the doctor would be through shortly. Christobel accompanied me, doing as told and looking at her, I grimaced.

The consultation was something most women are familiar with … it was clear he was satisfied that this wasn’t another cancer.

I had a heart racing moment for the chap didn’t seem to have taken on board my prostate treatment – I spoke up as Christobel chirped, ‘he’s on prostate cancer hormone therapy…’

The specialist said, ‘Yes, yes…’ but he wanted me to have a mammogram as well as an ultra sound scan for an internal look.

The consultant’s nurse turned before leaving the room and said, ‘Put the gown back on, or your shirt if you like…’ It was a relief: I wasn’t looking forward to wandering around in the fetchingly female hue…

I found out talking to the kindly desk ladies while waiting, for I was too pent up to read much (as Christobel was doing, until her book ran out of pages…), that apparently they’re seeing many men in the clinic … I didn’t ask the question, but thought, why not have some ‘manly’ or gender neutral gowns available…

The mammogram came first … the radiographer had some difficulty in getting enough to squeeze between the plates … the left was worse and she ‘grabbed’ and pulled ‘me’ in! Actually it was all done with gentleness … then came an additional squeeze as the machine did its stuff…

Then there was a long break before being called for my scan … it was during this the consultant asked questions about how long I’d been on the bicalutamide and tamoxifen medication and for how long it was to continue.

A ‘nod’ was the only response, other than the breast specialist would answer all questions…

We were soon on our way!

Interestingly, tamoxifen has been found to be an effective treatment for not only female breast cancer, its main use, but also for men who suffer from male breast tenderness or hard tissue. I have asked the question of my treatment team nurse practitioner if my once a week tamoxifen tablet is as a counter to the probable side effects of the daily bicalutamide… I await with interest any response! (See below)

See link below for hormone treatment side effects. Different ones will affect different people, and possibly, some could have all to contend with!

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/prostate-cancer/treatment/hormone-therapy/about-hormone-therapy

NHS Prostate treatment procedures and side effects: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/treatment/

It was a great relief to be told by the breast specialist I saw that the hard tissue will disperse over a period of time once the hormone treatment is finished…

As I shook his hand and turned to go, I almost quipped, ‘Don’t fancy being a cross between a Greek God and Goddess…’

Post Script: My contact nurse practitioner has since confirmed that the tamoxifen is indeed given purely to make it more difficult for the bicalutamide to try and make changes to the male body … and hoped that I was feeling more comfortable in myself … wonderful!

A friend made a post on Facebook and alerted me to the immanent launch of this new Falmouth Pilot Cutter which has been under construction for the past two years at the Rhoda Mary Shipyard in Truro. The project has been led by shipwright Luke Powell, who has an amazing team working around him.

I made a visit to the yard whilst Christobel and I were holidaying just outside Truro in the autumn of 2019 and have been following her progress since.

See: http://nickardley.com/ditch-crawler-visits-the-rhoda-mary-shipyard-in-truro/

This is the yard to which one of the east coast’s larger smacks has gone to – the Stormy Petrel – as a yard project under the ownership of Luke’s partner. The Stormy Petrel is a much loved vessel loved, known by many an ‘east-coaster’. She is due to be fully restored.

See: https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/840/stormy-petrel

The vessel, the Pellew, is on the verge of her launching.

See: https://workingsail.co.uk/pellew

There isn’t much to say other than I wish her a successful launching and first season, which begins with her first sail programmed fro early May.

What next for the yard … the Rhoda Mary perhaps…

See: http://www.rhoda-mary.co.uk/

Whatever it is, one can only wish them all the very best…