As a distraction we jumped on a train last week and went to Barking … mad? No, we’d enjoyed a talk at the Essex Record Office History Group earlier this autumn and placed ‘a must do’ in the diary. The talk was about Eastbury Manor which is situated in the centre of Barking a little to the east of the church and abbey remains which are nearer the mainline station.

The visit certainly had a ‘nautical’ interest…

Eastbury Manor was built in the mid 1500’s after Henry VIII pulled down the abbey and confiscated all abbey lands. The land was broken up and sold off … Eastbury Manor became the centre of several farms with lands extending down to the Thames along Barking and Halfway Reaches. The manor enjoyed close access to a waterway which ran into Barking Creek (River Roding), this was Mayes Brook – it has been rerouted over the centuries, but comes out more or less in same place through a sluice. The waterway here to the east was a large shallow lagoon called the Rant. Its ‘basin’ is probably the same which filled during the infamous ‘Dagenham Breach’ in 1707. A pool still remains by the Ford Works here on the river’s shores.

Map of area – section from NT display.

Produce was shipped out via the waterway passing the manor close by. This was rerouted at some point during remodeling of the manors grounds, removing a convoluted loop. It is reputed that some of the infamous men involved with ‘The Guy Fawkes’ plot came here by water. One of the men’s sister was married to a ‘Lord’ who was apparently tipped off by someone still unknown and had the under-crofts of the Houses of Parliament inspected.. I was interested for it was up the creek we sailed in Whimbrel a few seasons ago when I was writing ‘Rochester to Richmond‘…

A straight on view of the manor house.

The house now sits in the midst of a ‘council’ estate and is completely hemmed in … this happened between the two world conflicts during the 1920s. The house was one of the earliest purchases by the organisation which ultimately became the National Trust. But, the house was let out for other purposes including use as a museum. The Trust has at long last realised that it isn’t only the large estates outside conurbations that need to be ‘visit friendly’. They’ve also done this with a house in Rainham.

One of the upper rooms.

The ‘painted room’ a rarity…

Much of the house isn’t furnished other than sparingly, yet, some of the rooms have survived as 1600s artifacts whilst others are as found and date from a refurbishment soon after 1900, when only part of the house was used as such. the building was largely a ‘barn’ for a long time! Also, it was once owned by the Whitbread family and used for compressed animal feeds used by shipping – for a period up to around 1800. The ‘beer’ family – I couldn’t find out.

There is a lot to see and take in. It is very much a worthwhile exercise…

Leaving the manor we headed back towards the town centre and the old dock area. An old tide mill building still stands at the inner end of the dock. Its driving wheel is lang gone. It was until recently a card factory, but is up for sale.

The mill building…

At this top end there are two runs of water from the river inland – there would have been a sluice… Between the two river runs is an island. The road along here has street lamps of some note. The tops are made of fretwork with different designs. There is NO information, but from what we could deduce they depict Barking through time. Around a viewing/seating area on the island are some railing too of interest. The back supports have the names of vessels in a fretwork design. One caught my eye: it is a barge name – the Magnet … probably a coaster of more recent times, but who knows!

P.S. The Magnet’s remains are just above Rochester M2/Rail bridges immediately downstream of a wharf on the ‘south’ side.

 

Note the lamp posts…

Vessel names in fret work supports…

Looking down the dock, which is currently largely clear of vessels (N.B. Google earth shows it to be full of ‘live-aboards’) except for a brace below a ‘waste’ wharf and a sunken something in the middle of the basin, and a number down the ‘town’ side.

The basin.

Across the road from a huge open space – Abbey Fields – abutting the basin are a mix of flats and offices. Our ‘boy’ worked here some years ago when with the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation! But what caught my eye was a ‘dinghy’ embalmed in a piece of ‘ice’ – the adjacent building is called The Ice House! Clearly this was a place for the importation of ice long ago…

What a waste of a dinghy, was my reaction…

An ice embalmed dinghy … and bench!

Time soon traveled on and at this late time of the year, dusk comes early. It hadn’t been much of a bright day in any case, so we began to wend our way homewards, looking at the church and abbey footings on the way.

St Margaret’s Church. It was closed unfortunately – we missed it by five minutes… Didn’t check web site!

Amazingly, the abbey’s footings have survived. The ‘ground’ would have been more or less the floor of the under-crofts.

On some plaques fixed to the abbey gate house, still standing, was a piece of interesting information – Captain Cook married his wife here in 1762. His wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of the Bell Inn, Wapping owned by Samuel Batts and one of Cook’s benefactors. Cook had moved from the mercantile marine to the Royal Navy in 1755 at Wapping. Amazing how the ‘sea’ connections pop up!

Of the visit, we both thought the lack of information around the dock basin and mill area to be sad. So many places have such boards sited to give just that little bit of information which you can later chew over and investigate further if so desirous. And, for me, I thought the dock to be a much wasted asset, however, since the building of a relatively low level bridge over the creek a little below the docks sluices and gates, masted craft cannot access unless mast can be lowered … how often is this seen these days? Lots!

Now, if you’d like to go, the manor is on the National Trust list – so, enjoy…

‘My’ section from Streetmap.com of the area covered.

P.S. It wasn’t a day for sailing, never mind that the tides were early morning and late afternoon/evening, so I wasn’t missing out!

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

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

Refastening the forward keel runner. 

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

Preparing to refasten the aft section.

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

Job nearing completion…

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

The washed sail…

Sail dried and folded awaiting an airing afloat…

 

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

Spars prepped for varnishing…

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essex Fire Brigade in training…

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

Bird Island

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

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

Benfleet Creek’s wreck…

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

A shadow upon the land…

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

A welcome mug of tea after making my turn…

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

Towards the setting sun…

Away over Two Tree Island…

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

I watched enthralled by it all…

A waft of waders…

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

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

Approaching the mooring…

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

The moon reflected amongst stands of cord grass… 

The next afternoon …

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

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

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

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

I nipped forward to take this gorgeous shot…

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

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

In memory of lost sailors…

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

Bright ‘eyes’ in Leigh…

The setting sun…

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

The estuary sky…

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

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

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

Well inside…

Closing Whimbrel’s mooring…

… slipping in…

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

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

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

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

 

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

best wishes,

Nick

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

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

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

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

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

I wish I’d dreamt of asking earlier…

Whimbrel snapped recently by Dick Smith, up Benfleet Creek…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The starboard bow of the  Vigilant looking all but completed…

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

Here are some pictures.

Port bow, looking down side.

Port side of the Vigilant.

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

A gaze down the starboard side of the Vigilant.

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

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

Starboard aft quarter…

Vigilant’s transom…

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

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

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

Vigilant’s information board.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Agnes…

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

View from the bow.

Her ‘stern sheets’…

Deck view…

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

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

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

A look aft before stepping aboard…

A look forward too…

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

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

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

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

Looking through forward cabin area into fo’c’sle 

 

Intermediate space between fore and  main areas with mast step.

 

Main cabin with some battens setting out ‘furniture’…

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

General view looking aft.

General view looking forward.

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

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

A less ‘yachty’ hatchway…

The rudder trunk…

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

The aft end of the Pellew.

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

Mast and another spar in final shaping.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stormy Petrel reefed down and going well…

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

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

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

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

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

and,  http://www.rhoda-mary.co.uk/

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

 

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

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

Damaged dodgers … boat looked sad too!

 

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

A common sight with a rolled head sail…

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

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

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

 

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

This year it was very different at the 2018 festival.

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

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

Bow of Finesse 21 Ivy May and Finesse 24 Whimbrel

But first…

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

Passing inside Grain Fort…

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

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

I popped off in the dinghy whilst cooking supper …

 

A glorious sky over Greenborough…

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

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

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

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

Tacking out of Stangate…

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

 

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

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

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

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

Walkway piling…

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

The bawley, Doris.

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

Soothsayer berthing alongside another majestic vessel. the Amaris.

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

 

Afternoon tea Aboard Whimbrel.

Domesticity aboard Amaris…

The ex Knights tug Kent.

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

Visitors boarding Doris on the Saturday.

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

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

And another…

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

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

Doris’s mast base with a network of rope…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Food for thought!

 

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

Bonito when I came across her in Woodbridge.

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

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

Planking ends in way of the stem – work needed.

 

 

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

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

 

The forward cockpit bulkhead.

Looking into the main cabin…

The forward cabin….

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

‘Hello Nick, 

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

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

It’s on gumtree for £750 or offers,

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

Kind regards,

Suzie and Nick‘

Contact is Suzanne Morris at: suzannemorris@btinternet.com

Contact telephone number: 07769 535262

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

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

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

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

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

See:

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

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

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

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

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

Go on…

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

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

 

 

Visit the Queenborough Harbour Trust sites for details of activities.

 

Between coming home from our summer cruising and the beginning of September, I took my oldest brother (‘home’ from Canada for a few weeks) and my sister away for a flying trip up to Pin Mill and back – but that’s another story.

So, after we had seen ‘big bro’ off to the airport, my wife and I went away for a few days together – we often do this at this time of the year – the ‘going back to school’ period –  and it is a great to be away, especially for the Mate: she was a school teacher, in her past life! We departed from our moorings on Canvey Island with a light easterly breeze and soon found we needed some assistance from our diesel out in the Thames fairway to ‘crack’ the last of the flood. Once heading in a southerly direction round and across the Grain flats, Whimbrel’s sails were spread and we wafted over the young ebb on a gathering sea breeze.

Running into the Medway over a rippled sparkling surface…

Christobel, having had a trick at the helm, left me to it, feeding me tea as and when, reading and completing the Times ‘junior’ crossword. Her forte is the word square!

Relaxed sailing…

With such a nice breeze on a sunny afternoon I thought about running on up to Upnor, but we decided to continue to plan and anchor somewhere in Stangate. Ultimately we dropped the hook in Funton Creek – a nice little spot.

During the latter part of the afternoon I pottered off in the dinghy for a walk along the tidal shore of Chetney Island. I’d spotted bricks and some crumbling brickwork from the boat, albeit seen before, and wanted an updated look. The island was briefly used as a quarantine station in the late 1800s, however, it proved to be as uneffective as ‘marooning people aboard ships: it was damp and the air was alive with mosquitoes! The expensive buildings were abandoned within a year. Whether or not these remains are part of the hospital, I currently do not know.

Loose bricks and masonry chunks on Chetney’s beach.

I have heard through a contact that a survey of the island was due to be carried out to record what was left behind after the debacle … it’ll filter my way at some point, surely! Whilst walking the tide line I came across a chunk of ‘barge’. It had clearly come from the aft end of the spritsail barge Westmoreland which has resided in a lighter up Lower Halstow Creek for a few years. The lighter sank last year and the barge’s aft end ‘floated away’ leaving a trail of debris scattered around the neighbourhood. Her transom and stern frame are out there somewhere…

Section of covering board and transom knee from starboard quarter of the Westmoreland.

It was a glorious evening in the creek. The mud flats and shell ‘humps’ that fill over half of the creek at low water were alive with waders and serenaded our pre-supper tipples … later serenading us to sleep.

The sunset seemed to mark a weather change…

We awoke to a grey day with little in the way of a breeze. It wasn’t cold, but a decided chill was apparent for the first time for many weeks. Various little jobs were attended to as well as periods of reading. I also had a sail up into Bedlams Bottom until I ran out of water. It is surprising how far one can get even towards low water.

Another boat had been in the anchorage when we’d arrived and she quietly left during the morning. At the foot of Stangate a flotilla of craft arrived one by one and all moored to one anchored yacht. It was a group from the Gillingham Cruising Club. It was some raft up … but after lunch time, as the tide began to seriously make, all departed … a ‘boys’ day out!

Whimbrel from the dinghy on that grey day…

Later in the afternoon it brightened and as we’d planned to move anchorage to Sharfleet, we did this via a sail up into Lower Halstow. After grounding on the last leg towards the dock we turned and sailed away … fetching up along the mud edge under the southern shore of Burntwick Island- in the bay. A big yacht followed us in. The helm seemingly glared as ‘he’ passed, did a couple of circuits, before motoring away. ‘What was that all about?’ I said to my Mate. I was left wondering if we’d just anchored in ‘their’ charted spot…

On the way into Lower Halstow, I took a few pictures of the Westmoreland, now dried out again after around six months of twice daily soakings. Her hull is now mud coloured… What’s to happen to her: perhaps it is time to lay her to rest as no funding has been found to support a rebuild – the last of the specifically built brickies…

The sad looking Westmoreland in her floating dock…

And into Lower Halstow…

We ‘enjoyed’ a dose of rain overnight and it was still drizzling when we needed to set off for home. So, for only the second time this ‘summer’ we donned oilies, however it soon brightened into a reasonably pleasant day.

Christobel mans the helm whilst I make coffee…

Whilst waiting for the tide and clearing the boat up, a sailing canoe came wafting up the Ray in the stiffish breeze manned by two chaps. One was sitting out and moving to the gusts … and they reminded me of the joys of mid-week sailing as a member of the retired community. We had seen several dozed craft over our few days – it was great. So many people say, ‘Oh the weather was bad … we’ve had bags of wind this year…’ (have we??) or, ‘… I couldn’t be bothered…’ I wonder sometimes…

A sailing canoe reveling in the conditions…

Our next sail was to be a group sail of three Finesse 24’s from the Island Yacht Club. Unfortunately, one skipper got himself a very nasty chest infection resulting in a course of antibiotics, so the group was reduced to two boat – no matter we were intent on a good time, weather permitting. It had been windy leading up to the weekend and another period showed late on the Sunday … we had to be home for Sunday as Christobel was due for a visit to our local eye hospital for a cataract to be removed, so all plans revolved round that need.

Being able to break clear of our moorings earlier than the other boat, we waited awhile and departed virtually together. There was a bit of a breeze, probably more than stated, but Whimbrel reveled under working sail. The other Finesse 24 was Calluna of Dorset. The cutter rigged Calluna only set her staysail forward too and we roped across the Thames more or less keeping station. For some reason, after hardening to sail directly across the Grain flats inside the Grain Tower, Calluna fell astern … even though we as usual had out dinghy, Twitch, pacifically trundling along astern.

Calluna sets sail astern of Whimbrel…

Over ‘The Grain’ towards Queenborough with a bone in her teeth…

It was a grand sail and had we left when first afloat we’d have arrived on high water, however the tide was still flowing south as we moored to an arranged mooring buoy. No sooner had we got our fenders out and Calluna slipped alongside … just in time to share our pot of tea. Calluna’s mate quickly dished out some delightful tea bread, homemade of course!

Tea finished, drinks were served aboard Whimbrel, and with offerings from our friends we had a happy 3/4 of an hour … the boatman came twice for us. I think it had something to do with my mate: she’d dished him up a scone stuffed with berry jam when dealing with fees … he said he’d only come to check and natter and sit against too ladies. Hmmmmmm!

 

Finesse…

Eventually we went ashore … with me looking fondly back… Picture – Rob Hardy

Now, some while ago Christobel and I had a dire meal at the Flying Dutchman, however, it was decided amongst us that we would try again for their fish and chips have been good. In the event only one of us had the fried variety – we had skate – another had a ‘burger’ disk. All was good, but I remain unconvinced.

P.S. I have to say (Paul, out in New Zealand) I did ‘force’ (it was no effort) all and sundry into the Admiral’s Arm where a good pint was enjoyed, well two actually. Yes, and a pickled egg dropped into a bag of crisps…

Following our relatively early return to the boats, we all sat around Whimbrel’s cockpit drinking coffee and sipping some sloe gin which had a lovely bouquet, courtesy of Calluna’s crew.

Sunrise on Saturday…

The forecast for Sunday had had winds of force 6+, but initially the strong stuff was for Sunday evening, nicely placed for our trip, however the period moved into Sunday morning so it was decided to head home whilst it remained good. Shame: Conyer had been the plan… I think my companion sailors were a little disappointing, as I was … but a hospital appointment can’t be missed!

On the Saturday morning while Whimbrel was being tidied after breakfast, I slipped away for a turn around the harbour in Twitch. It provided an enjoyable interlude before preparing for our departures. The wind direction across the boats dictated that we slipped first. We dropped off and I soon had the mainsail hoisted, then Genoa – we were away. Calluna soon followed.

Two fair ladies resting in Queenborough…

The breeze was quite light initially, but soon began to increase – again beyond the stated forecast – and Whimbrel had about as much sail pressure as was needed. We hit 7 knots closing Southend Pier…

The buoy known as ‘Leigh’ at the entrance to the Ray Channel was moved about 200 metres to the east recently – this has caused a few boats to run aground when they thought their ‘normal’ approach was still good. We had to slip in a couple of tacks (before tacking all way up to Smallgains Creek) to get through the narrow bit. This, incidentally is by a non-existent buoy marked on my GPS! The channel is out exactly the width of the blue shown, being to the north. There is a hump of sand which has a sharp rise from several metres and can be clearly seen if sailing close … ah the joys eh!

Tacking up the Ray Channel, on a good fetch at the point photographed … beyond seal

We anchored off our creek and had a light snack for a good breakfast had been enjoyed that morning. Soon after berthing Calluna came in too, nosing into her berth … a short but lovely little outing. It was good to get out with fellow Finesse owners. Thanks Rob & Barbara, from us both. We missed you Gypsy! Next June we will have another go at getting two owners who have never been to Conyer.

A view looking into ‘wooden boat corner’ from the edge of what was named as ‘Canvey Heights’ some years ago when a ‘tip’ was made into a park space.

The two jaunts were full of contrast and it is that recipe which makes up the magical joys of estuary sailing…

Some time back in July we arrived home from sailing and The Mate wheeled the dinghy trolley down the hard as I drew up in the tender. We duly floated and pulled the tender onto its trolley and set off, laughing about something or other, up the slipway. We hadn’t gone far when all of a sudden the trolley tube broke in half on one side … we managed to keep it all together for the final run into our club’s dinghy pound. It had lasted a jolly long time!

Knowing that we were planning to go back out sailing in a few days I came down the next day and made a temporary repair to a broken join with a length of tubing – it is still in use after around five outings now … there is a reason for this, as you will glean…

Some years ago I purchased a shiny new trolley made of tubular steel. It was anodised. The u-frame lasted around 18 months! Fortunately I had kept an older trolley, why I don’t really know, but its galvanised u-frame was fit for further use and I was able to fit that to the newer wheel and axle unit.

In all that tubular u-frame lasted from 1980.

Into the future…

Dinghy trolley as advertised on the Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies web site…

I had immediately looked on line at what was available on the market and placed my bets on a unit that looked robust, but more importantly, was constructed of galvanised steel. I ordered one direct from the manufacturers: Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies Ltd.

It cost a total of £169.99, delivered.

I was feeling quite chuffed!

Then, a saga then began to unfold…

First of all, the trolley failed to arrive on the date on the delivery information I received from the company concerned with that side of things. I spent much time in trying to contact them too. It required log ins to do with the order – info I was not party to. It was impossible … I tried telephoning the manufacturer, Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies, to no avail.

I had had a whole day utterly wasted. I was not amused.

After leaving telephone messages and also emailing numerous times in all, with a threat to cancel the order, I finally received a terse message from the proprietor, Mr Phil Beardmore, saying there had been problems. A new delivery date appeared in my email.

The new delivery date was a couple of days before we were due to go sailing … I was up to eyeballs (with The Mate) dealing with hospital appointments with specialists during this period too and just did not need the hassle.

I contacted Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies Ltd yet again to say that we would be going away and asked that they inform the delivery firm that the package could be left down the side of the property. Our son was briefed and he was ‘programmed’ to remove it to a place of safety.

We went away. There was and has been NO further communication from Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies Ltd.

I have kept the paper trail…

My paper trail…

The package duly arrived on a day after we had departed…

Upon returning home from a three week period away from home I unwrapped the package. There was a problem!

This is what is advertised by Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies Ltd…

Picture Anglesey Welding web site advertising.

This is what I got…

The dinghy trolley laid out for fitting together…

I  sent yet another email to Anglesey Welding and Marine Supplies Ltd.

I went ahead and put the trolley together, expecting to receive a set of wheels.

 

Preparing to fit the ‘last’ piece…

Oh dear something seems to be amiss with the trolley…

Finally after another three weeks, I lost faith in the supplier: there was still no response.

I went on line and quickly found that wheels were obtainable from various suppliers – a popular item I expect. I decided to order these from Castors-online, P&L Industrial Equipment Ltd, Manchester, M11 3ER. The wheels I found were costed at £13.70 excluding VAT, for a pair.

The post, packing and delivery amounted to the cost of one wheel, but I have a date for my wheels to be delivered!

See: https://www.castors-online.co.uk/acatalog/Boat-Launching-Trolley-Wheel-GB260.html

My wheel order…

So, Mr Phil Beardmore at Anglesey Welding, I hope you are very proud of this little tale: to me it has been an utter pain, at a time I just didn’t need it.

Thanks.

And more on this … I was contacted by two people. One had problems with the wheels sent, some while ago. Another chap has contacted – he’d read this after ordering a trailer and has now also had an incomplete delivery…

The word needs to be spread!

This summer I had promised my sister and two friends a ‘Rochester to Richmond’ style trip looking at the Medway and Thames. Of course, we wouldn’t actually have been sailing to Richmond! But, my life went into a state of flux ending with a bit of a shock. I was diagnosed with prostate cancer – see earlier blog – so the planned trip was sadly cancelled at very short notice.

Along the way a huge amount of stuff went by the board as I shuttled back and forth to my local hospital accompanied by my dear wife. I have now worked through the first wave of  emotions to the news, but still have my moments of anxiety. I have begun hormone therapy which will run for around two years. The first phase of around six months leads into a second phase of ‘radio’  treatment.

Things eventually settled down  towards the end of July with no appointments until early November! So, we went away on our travels. We hadn’t actually planned an ‘up the coast’ trip, apart from a later trip planned for when my ‘Canadian’ brother was due over in late August. Firstly we had a gentle potter on the Swale visiting Conyer and Faversham – gradually soothing our souls…

After leaving the eastern end of the Swale following the traditional regatta and barge match weekend, we sailed to Queenborough to be ready for our Thames foray. (See earlier blog)

Sunrise at Queenborough on the morning of departure…

The timing of the tides meant and early-ish start if we wanted to use the flood, which like the ebb is something one does not fight on the Thames above Sea Reach. It meant bacon butties for breakfast, of course, which my good Mate is a dab hand at. The wind was of an easterly nature, making life ‘easy’ and we enjoyed a simple sail up to Gravesend, picking up a Gravesend Sailing Club mooring after chatting to a member aboard his vessel.

Passing along the inner end of Sea Reach, the area of land ‘let back’ to the sea looked as intended, a vast mud flat. This was a mitigation exercise paid for by the massive port complex on the old Shell site further upstream and across the river. (See: Rochester to Richmond.) The old sea wall bases have been largely left intact, possibly to act as a silt trap to encourage mud build up. It is likely that part of the area will eventually begin to build as a salt marsh. As has been found on the River Medway, even after nearly 100 years the re-flooded islands in that river have not yet reached a full ‘natural’ state. I wonder how many yachting folk look at these changes and ponder…

Later, during the afternoon, the Mate fell asleep! But, during that time a chap (Keith?) ranged alongside in his tender. He was away for a few days afloat, alone, and he wanted to have a natter about, boats, books and this web site. Always nice to receive some appreciation verbally. Anyway, we chatted awhile. The chap hadn’t wanted to come aboard and disturb the Mate … I hope his sailing has continued to be enjoyable.

We had hoped to go ashore to visit the club in the evening, but all was dark and quiet, it was a weekday…

Departing from Gravesend.

After an unusually quiet night on the river here we set off for the relatively short trip to Erith. The radio crackled with ship movements and as we were in a wind shadow passing the old Jetty, hanging off Tilbury Ness, our diesel was pressed into service for a few minutes until clear of the wide open lock, into which a ship was about to enter… We weren’t spoken to, but we heard a mention! It was a pleasant quiet sail, almost a drift with the fast flowing tide, but this left us, well me mainly, bags of time to feast upon the shore-line views. I must add though, my Mate is always attentive within the Medway and Thames: they offer so much to see.

Nearing the top end of Long Reach the Mate was below making some coffee, so I began to slip across the stream and entered Dartford Creek. My plan was to go up to the Crayford confluence before turning and heading out. Approaching the barrier we heard bells ringing. The lights weren’t on, nor could we see any visible signs of human life. Not wanting to become ‘trapped’ we turned about and puttered out with some mechanical assistance. I grinned at my crew and said, ‘…another time…’ as we made our way round Crayford Ness, stowing sail for the wind died!

Dartford Creek Barrier…

Speaking to a Erith YC member and mooring to a vacant buoy. As I coiled and hung the main sheet, watching as our ‘friend’ headed for the shore after completing his task, whatever it was, I was brought up short: upstream a tier of two large dumb barges seemed to be exceedingly close to the yacht moorings. To my amazement I then realised that the barges were adrift, carrying with them their mooring buoy. They were drifting quite slowly.

I immediately called VTS on channel 14, nil response, I tried again, and again there was nil response. I would have thought the brevity in my voice would have done something! I gave up and called on channel 68 (Gravesend). They responded. I passed the news, stating that the barges were ‘in’ the moorings. Initially I was asked if I was mistaken and if the barges had just swung on the tide. I’m familiar with this section of the river … the barge moorings are normally at least a quarter of a mile away … I repeated, adding that a yacht was being pushed aside. This time notice was taken…

Initially the Mate was below clearing up after our passage, but I called her on deck to stand-by to let go. We watched… As the barges swung on the tide we appeared to be next in line. The chap we’d spoken to earlier had come back out calling people up on his phone. I passed the info that VTS were appraised … and he motored around watching his own vessel! We dropped off and I appraised VTS on channel 14 (I gave two situation reports until they said they had ‘them’ on camera and a tug was on its way).

I filmed the episode … I sent a copy to the Erith club’s secretary – a costly business: it used up my laptop ‘telephone’ stick, something we hadn’t expected. We had to buy lots more to get back on line!

Two ‘GPS’ dumb barges in the Erith YC moorings…

Ultimately, the barges ‘stopped’, resting against a mooring buoy which threatened to go under the barge hulls, whilst ‘forward’ the buoy and barges bows nestled into a rather nice looking yacht! Everything ‘hung’…

A tug appeared and ‘rammed’ alongside the outer barge. The momentum set off the drift again… The nestled yacht’s fore stay banana-ed. I thought the rig was going to give. Tug lines were thrown, dropped and re-thrown … and suddenly the barges began to move away, against the ebb. Many people collectively breathed a sigh of relief!

Then the RNLI turned up as we were re-mooring … asking if we were alright!

I think the barges came to a stop because the ground chain of the buoys mooring was dragged up the slope of the river bed sufficiently to take way off. This would have been temporary: soon after the ebb sets in here the flows become rather rapid – who knows what could have happened. My thoughts lay with ‘the coming night’ we would have bee asleep and oblivious…

After the excitement, we went ashore and borrowed a trailer to move the dinghy off the slip – usual procedure here. A lady who had rushed down to go out to her boat gave us a lift into Erith, which was very nice. The rear Commodore also lent us his security gate fob to get back in – he said, ‘I won’t need it till four … the wife won’t let me back in…’! We assured him we would be back by around two! Nice friendly people.

We bought some bits ‘n’ bobs, had coffee and  did our own tourist trail, visiting the town, promenade and the fabulous brick towered Christ Church standing above the London-Kent rail line.

The inside of Erith’s C of E church (Christ Church) which is brick built.

The William Cory Promenade and hard where a Pilgrim Ferry once ran to Rainham – probably shingle then!

The Erith YC was once based at the vacated site of the Royal Corinthian Club which had decamped to The Isle of Grain at Port Victoria. Its club-house sat opposite the entrance to Stangate Creek. A base was also soon established at Burnham and too, later, ‘down south’ at Cowes… The exact spot is between the promenade and a large Morrisons Food Store located downstream on the waterfront. The hard makes a useful landing for stores … a dinghy would need tending though!

I loved these old dinghies at the Erith YC. They are Hamble Stars …  see the club’s web site for details.

Again, we departed early – before breakfast even. It was a little dismal and over-cast at first, but soon cleared for another fine day – one of many enjoyed during this year’s wonderful summer (down in the ‘south-eastern’ quarter any way…). We’d soon rounded Jenningtree Pt and Cross Ness, tacking on long and short boards beneath an increasingly blue sky and hot sun. Entering Barking Reach, ‘London’ opens up before ones eyes in a spectacular fashion with the ‘Isle of Dogs display’. The sun shone on this new part of the ‘city’ peopled by thousands of banking employees. The futuristic buildings belonging to the waste treatment concerns stood in splendour before Cross Ness, as a prelude, dealing with much of London’s waste. I like those buildings for they marry functionality with ascetics.

Approaching Barking Creek, the Mate turned to me and said, ‘We going in…?’ I laughed not feeling it a serious question, but the tide was at the right level!

The Isle of Dogs modern ‘city’ stands proudly far beyond Barking Reach…

With the sluicing tide, we made excellent progress and were soon sailing out of Gallions Reach, round the point into Woolwich Reach. The modern flats of Thamesmead had been away to the south for a little while, devoid of ‘life’ except for a trail of ‘bouncing bunnies’ (joggers) making use of the riverside pathway. Modern Woolwich was met and passed too. And on Barking Marsh flats were rising in a mass. The same was seen below Barking Creek too, where a new ‘town’ was in build. London’s housing needs must be met and these developments sit smack in the middle of the ‘Prescott’ principle of using disused industrial land (brown field sites) for such projects. The lower Barking lot is around the old power station and the upstream lot on what was a huge gas works – grazing marsh before that, when still part of Kent!

On the radio the Mate listened to some chatter about ‘the red sailed boat tacking up river towards the barrier…’ – that was us. Shortly after that, we’d shed sail and begun to motor towards our allotted  span to pass through. We’d soon moored on the inside at the Greenwich Yacht Club.

I have always, apart from once, emailed the yacht club if we’ve wanted to berth, I have to say, however, not a single response has been received! But, we seemed to be expected… While I dealt with formalities – payment and entry fob –  my Mate got our bacon under the grill. It was barely 0900!

A piece of beach art by the Greenwich YC

Later, we’d found our way to a bus stand after a coffee, before popping into Greenwich proper. On the way back we searched out a fragment of ‘old’ amongst all that is now new on the Greenwich peninsular. A little row of properties in Ceylon Place still exists along with a pub. The pub was once the preserve of steel workers, engine makers and shipbuilders amongst others and its lane led down to where a barge yard sat in Bugsby’s Hole – roughly at the upper end of the yacht club’s moorings…

Ceylon place – 1801 – a delightful row of houses and a pub.

London’s changing skyline at sunset…

The next morning we set sail in light conditions – too light to sail properly and eventually, going down Blackwall Reach, the engine was fired up and I stowed sail. A light drizzle had set in too, even though it was hot!

Calling up Limehouse the Mate was asked if we’d booked! ‘Yes…’ she said. We were told to standby and potter up and down. This went on for around an hour whilst they summoned up sufficient staff to deal with the bridge and locks … we had our booking confirmed (nice!) but ‘it’ hadn’t been transmitted to the ‘lock diary’ … word of warning. It is best, apparently, to call up the lock/habour office on the telephone and give an arrival time, rather than more vague information…

Chandlers at Putney…

Whilst in Limehouse we enjoyed a walk from Putney to Chiswick Bridge enjoying the old water-side towns en-route. We saw lots of rowers … old wharves with rail lines still in place and defunct brewaries. We had an afternoon at the Theatre ‘with Noel Coward’, a delightful ‘supper’ at The Savoy Grill (a present from my Mate as part of our ruby anniversary… x). We completed a walk previously started, working our way around the ‘Temples’ and the old fleet street paper areas. We also came across two exhibitions about London Life – one was a display in St Paul’s Yard, which was very good. The other was up in Clerkenwell at The City of London Archives – another good display.

Putney rowers…

Barge wharves at Mortlake – crane rails still in place still

 

A picture of a picture at the archives exhibition we visited. The barge is the Spencer (ex Kent) Registered in London, but built as a few were in Sweden (Engleskavaret) in 1900. She was an Everard barge from 1906 and was broken up at Greenhithe in December 1924. Probably she’d been damaged… (Info – Sailing Barge Compendium – Society for Sailing Barge Research)

 

Whimbrel’s rudder makes a resting place for a hen coot in Limehouse Basin…

We saw family members too, enjoying a supper at The Grapes, but all too soon, it seemed, it was time to leave … departing for Greenhithe.

A little bit of riverside industry to do with vessel maintenance in Greenwich. The big ex Everard, Will was in dock.

At Greenhithe we went ashore for a walk along the ‘village’ High Street, savouring the quaintness and quiet that abounds. Some fresh stores were obtained too – enough to get us home. We hadn’t shopped in Limehouse as they would have needed to be got the day before we departed … we left at 0800!

Off Greenhithe

Leaving Greenhithe we were intending to sail for Upnor! But, the forecast was updated with lots of heavy downpours for Kent/Essex and strong winds. We stopped for a ‘lazy’ day reading, cocooned in the cabin! But, in the evening all was well and out came the Gravesend Rowing Club with 4-oar skiffs and sculls, doubles, 4’s and an eight were seen…

Two pictures from Gravesend…

 

Our last sunset on the Thames…

Our last Thames morning was delightful. The previous day’s front had cleared away elsewhere … we’d had little in the way of ‘ripples’ for weeks it seemed and knew our garden would have enjoyed the rain! In a westerly we ran away from Gravesend, reached down Lower Hope before enjoying a long run down to the Jenkin Swatch, crossed the grain shallows and sailed onto a buoy in Queenborough…

Beware the big ones … the wash is ferocious…

And, into the friendly Medway…

Our last supper aboard before heading home…

Our cruise was done – we needed to be home for various appointments (non-health). We’d had a grand time, one of the best…

 

This blog is dedicated to Jon from Sidney, British Columbia, Canada, for an act of kindness … Jon sails the waters ‘over there’ but they tend to be a little rockier around the shores…

We spent a few days in Faversham at the Iron Wharf yard enjoying the town and its surrounds. We certainly didn’t enjoy the heat and would have been better off ‘out’… Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time.

Sailing into Faversham is always an exhilarating experience in respect to the change seen from a sea environment being left behind to floating in a rural idyll. On the way sea lavender was seen in bloom across areas of saltings. Cattle munched along the wall edges and bird life lifted and floated along the tide edge hunting for food. To cap it all, we managed to sail most of the way in, resorting to engine only on the last leg – helmed by my good wife, Whimbrel’s good mate.

But having arrived, we had to leave too…

Leaving Faversham astern…

Again, after the first leg, we were able to set the sails and sail out. And the wind was strong enough to make good headway – a sea breeze had set in during the early afternoon. Walkers stood and gazed, perhaps taking a breather, or…

Going down past Nagden Cottages..

The last leg, the creek’s entrance reach, had to be done with a few tacks. A motoring boat came out of Oare Creek astern of us … ‘he’ hung on our port quarter … I indicated to him to go by … he frowned and went onto the other quarter before doing a ‘loop the loop’. Eventually after we’d completed our first tack he went by. Hmm, nothing so strange as folks – probably thought I was a ‘nutter’ sailing out…

Out in the Swale barges, smacks, traditional gaffers and various yacht types were gathering. This continued during the afternoon. A big exodus followed the next morning: tides suited an early departure and return after the racing. During the evening after supper – poached salmon and lemon with a salad – I pottered off in the dinghy to ‘survey’ the assembled craft at closer quarters, saying a few words to known faces as well as those not…

Guess what … the wind died and I had to row some distance back to the mother ship, watched by the mate!

Phew, I reached home…

Sitting over a coffee, we watched as the sun set in a gloriously, silky chiffon pink, silhouetting the spritsail barge Orinoco and the steamer VIC96, I think!

Sunset in the East Swale.

Being the ‘designated light man’ I was pushed from the bunk and toddled of to fetch down our riding light. Boats were stirring all around the ‘harbour’. I put a kettle on … whilst enjoying our morning cuppa we were ‘mobbed’ by a friendly vessel – Ivy May, a Finesse 21 – a few quick fire questions and I found that the shindig was starting early … too late for a leisurely breakfast.

 

Ivy May…

We were soon washed, dressed and on our way … breakfast came later in the form of some fruit and cereal, but we’d a locker full of picnic goodies for a lunch later.

By the time we reached the start line at the Sand End buoy, the staysail class of barges were away. I believe two were classed as ‘coasters’, the others unrestricted staysail (means they can fly whatever…). This group consisted of Niagara, Reperter, and the Orinoco, Lady of the Lea and Pudge. The classing of barges today mystifies me … we were always in the rear and only ever came third from last at our best … today, that would probably have given us a trophy. Bah!!

Heading down towards the start were a number of spectator craft mixing with the barges, I gradually worked over to the north of the channel to hug the shallows and keep clear – not easy whilst trying not to interfere’ with maneuvering barges. There were three bowsprit spritsails – EDME, Marjorie and the Dawn, which I’d not seen sailing for two years. She looked splendid.

Dawn in Silhouette…

Dawn is unique among the large barges in the fleet today: she is tiller steered. The little Cygnet is too, but she is a half-size barge.

The tiller-steered Dawn goes by…

All of a sudden, it was the start. For once, the EDME did not have it all her way for Dawn stormed across some barge lengths ahead. It was to no avail though. We both watched, entranced, by the sheer power of the ‘little’ EDME as she cruised past, as if a runner passing a pedestrian walker… It was a subliminal moment!

The Dawn being overhauled…

Then it was time for the smacks followed by the gaffers and traditional yachts – the organisers have been trying to get me to enter with Whimbrel or the dinghy – more of the latter later!

Two ‘smacks’ (ex fishing craft) jousting closely before the start.

CK476 – needs a lecture…

This one ‘annoyed’ me: astern, I heard a shout. It came again with a gesticulation … ‘Get out f the … way…’ After looking around, I decided to move to starboard, a little. They were marginally faster than us, at the time. I glared as they passed … racing does not exonerate them from the rule of the road. Ahead was a rather larger yacht, not racing, I believe: I’d not noticed a ‘board’ as they went by us earlier. They were shouted at too … loudly. The yacht went one way, then the other, then back again. Another shout ensued with much crew gesticulation … and the smack went past. Hmm.

There follows a series of pictures of passing craft. We sailed out to close by the Ham Gat and turned back towards the inner waters, not intending to ‘do the course’.

A ‘new’ steel schooner is in this mix…

The Johanna, a ‘Dutch-man’…

 

The Albatros, a ‘dutch-barge’ – she has an official type name, but I’m not an expert…

What is lovely about this Kent sail Association event is the wide mix of vessel types that pitch up and are allowed to race in their own classes. Steam yachts have visited in the past too. The little ‘puffer’ went out after the fleet, chasing. And, in and around the anchorage were a number of dutch-barge yachts and floating homes out for a good weekend. It really does give flavour…

Reaching the inner end of the East Swale’s entrance off Harty ferry, we spotted the dinghy fleet in action sailing an in-shore course. We followed …

Toby, owner/skipper of the spritsail barge Ironsides with son Kit as crew, sailing the barge boat. Ironsides is their sailing home…

Alan Stalley of Faversham builders and yacht repairers at Chambers Wharf sailing a Faversham 9’6″ dinghy – the same as our Twitch…

Then, in the far distance, I spotted the triangle of a topsail over the land horizon … it was time to high-tail it back to the line, set at off Faversham spit. The EDME came in first in the bowsprit class by a very long way indeed. She was followed by the Niagara, some distance behind, but not massive, in the unrestricted staysail class flying a huge spinnaker. An ‘interloper’ was spotted … a barge cruising with a charter party was on her way in too.

EDME winning by a wide margin over her sisters…

EDME reducing sail before going to anchor…

The interloper was the delightful looking Edith May which operates from her berth in Lower Halstow old brick dock at the foot of Stangate Creek. She’s not raced much this year, sadly…

The Edith May ‘crosses’ the line … I’d have given her a gun!

The Dawn pips the Marjorie by a whisker…

These first few barges were soon followed by the fleeter footed smacks. I often wonder what long ago fishermen would think of ‘their’ craft rigged out as gentlemen’s yachts … but at lest they still sailing and people have the will and expertise to restore and sail them The same it should be said about the barge fleet – although a few of these have been helped greatly by the lottery heritage fund.

The first smack…

Splashes of colour abounded as boats came home flying an assorted mix of sail. Some even sported ‘water-sails’ rigged beneath the mainsail booms. What a spectacle.

A modern gaffer…

I just loved the name of this next one – Rosebud, It has certain connotations, surely!

A friend of mine, and of many surely, was sailing in the event – my mooring neighbour, Dick Durham aboard Betty II. I spotted the game little ship dating to 1922 approaching the line while stuffing a piece of bread and pate into my mouth … you didn’t need to know that, but hey!

Betty II crosses the line with her crew looking relaxed.

Owner, Dick Durham, gives an order – or did he spot a mermaid…

The Albatros finishing…

I didn’t await all finishers, I’d had my fun, as to had the mate, and her book … so we ‘retired’ to another anchorage off the Ferry Boat Inn at Harty to sit out the afternoon. And, at last my mate said, I finished the Conrad I have been reading – Chance. A strange novel…

‘We’ were even treated as the day wore on, in its sultry and hot manner, to a floor show by some of the Medway’s hovercraft fleet … strangely several of them got ‘stuck’ in the mud. Eventually freeing themselves by ‘rocking’ back and forth.

Hover bover…

Yes, this event organised so brilliantly by the Kent Sail Association is a worthwhile date for anyone’s calendar. I thoroughly  enjoyed seeing vessels often seen, and most of all, the many not so often seen. Look out for it in the spring next year and write the date in your diary, smart phone, filo-fax or whatever you use…

One last word:

Brilliant!

A boating acquaintance of mine has decided to hang up his sailing boots and walk a landward path now…

The chaps boat, Frith, a rather tasty Finesse 24 has bee kept at Burnham Marina for a number of years. She is remarkably well kept, although she has been in regular use, she hasn’t been sailed greatly in recent years, largely due to illness.

The boat is advertised on Clarke & Carters web site, see:

http://clarkeandcarter.co.uk/boats-for-sale/1988-finesse-24-burnham-on-crouch-united-kingdom-6779810/

She is a fine boat indeed and looks as if she has just left the builders yard.

I would seriously recommend her to anyone interested.

Frith at Burnham in 2015.

Another Finesse 24 has recently changed hands too. This is Andantino, which I wrote a piece about in the late spring. She has been purchased by a Benfleet YC chap. The club is based on Canvey Island, just over the bridge from Benfleet, Essex. I understand he is hard at work getting the boat ready to go back into the water…

It is pleasing when these classics find new friends to look after and cherish them: they’ll give good service for ones efforts…

It has been a topsy-turvy year to date.

It began full of hopes and dreams of a long and fruitful continuing enjoyment of all the good things in life, far into the future.

We began with a sparkling early morning sail in January, together.

A happy-go-lucky me taken by The Mate … whilst cooking up bacon rolls.

It continued with intermittent days out in London to visit exhibitions, go to the theatre and enjoy our other joint pastime – walking.

Christobel studiously studying a picture at The Tate…

Out walking – looking towards Canewdon Hill and church…

Then, along came an invitation to attend our surgery for a health check – BUT they were only interested in any possible cardiac problems. I asked about having a PSA test for the level of protein specific antigen in the blood, which is ‘leached’ by the prostate gland – I was asked if I had a problem?

So, I was told NO, not entitled. We don’t go down this line. Do you have any symptoms?

No I didn’t…

Eventually, as I was about to bang the desk, the nurse went off to ask a doctor. Nurse was told to add to blood test list as was having one anyway…

It came back at 12.6…

We then went away on our 40th wedding anniversary jaunts to a ‘secret location’ first and then a few days later to Amsterdam for a few ‘puffs’ – well no actually, for the museums etc…

In my mind was a remark from ‘my’ doctor that the level was above normal, but there was nothing to worry about. Hmmmmm!

A present from my dear Christobel … xx

Flowers at our ‘secret’ hotel… And some books, Christobel’s gift was on her finger…

Soon after our return, I received an appointment letter to attend Southend Hospital … this was very quickly cancelled by the surgery (we believe) and I was sent for a further test. It came back at 13.6…

At this point I began to look into ‘The Prostate’ with some interest.

It was a steep and frightening learning curve. Worry levels rose, as did blood pressure.

I eventually saw a specialist during early June, by the 13th I’d had a MRI scan and by the following weekend went into hospital for a biopsy on the Saturday morning. I won’t go into details, other than to say a special needle is inserted through the ‘underneath’ soft tissue bit and nibbles of what is there are removed for testing.

Post Biopsy – on Father’s day…

Christobel did wonders to nurse me and keep me in a good frame of mind for I was just a little fragile and frightened, as she was herself.

Waiting for Skippy…

We had a walk around a section of the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation – then changed for a jaunt into Maldon … after my soreness had dissipated. While I had a mosey through the yards and a look at the Blue Mermaid which I found was progressing nicely, Christobel found a convenient perch to read! The Blue Mermaid is the new sailing barge owned by the Sea-change Trust.

Things were moving fast…

I was soon back at the hospital to see a specialist … cancer was confirmed. Suspected T2/T3 – not good, but containable to point of eradication.

This felt like a very dark day and I will not beat about the bush, I broke down, utterly … a weekend away sailing soothed me, especially after a couple of pints in the Admiral’s Arm in Queenborough with crisps and pickled eggs. We obviously had proper food as well!

There followed a bone scan to check if any cells had floated free and found a new home… This came back as Clear! Phew!

We left the hospital with a list of appointments – specialist nurse, oncologist and surgeon ‘chats’ …

Last Friday I saw the nurse (with Christobel: this is something that affects both…) and she painted the picture in graphic and to the point terms. There would be problems and side affects.

My demeanour was dropping, it was becoming too much. It hurt. The way ahead was cloudy and becoming pointless…

On Saturday evening we had a family (3) BBQ with lots of jollity and bonhomie … cheering me up somewhat.

On Sunday I slipped away for a sail – The Mate rested: we’d helped out at our ‘village’ summer fayre for 8 hours on Saturday and it had taken its toll…

Whimbrel cracking along last Sunday…

I say ‘…last Sunday…’ in a way which makes it seem such a long time ago. In many respects it is for yesterday, Tuesday, we had over two hours with a nurse for pee flow test (good) spending most of the time with the Oncologist’s registrar, the surgeon and then to the oncologist.

I was at first numbed: the detail given was vast. Almost too much, but even I could see the main problem.

My cancer was given a T3a score with a Gleeson level of ‘8’. It has broken out from the prostate, but not yet gone far. It has grabbed one set of nerves (there are two bundles to control the manly function…).

The surgeon was blunt. One set would go. The other, well, something called ‘nerve saving’ prostate removal by robotic assistance at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, would be done. A rapid check is made on removal in area of nerves for cancer tissues is made and if good, then other ones are kept…

If I travel the treatment route, the Oncologist would feed me hormone tablets for around six months, treat with Brachytherapy  – essentially a number of needles down which iridium would be injected into ‘bad’ areas. This would be followed by 6-8 weeks of radio therapy…

Both would do the job. Both have ramifications, but for quality of life, the treatment is, I feel, the likely course I take. This was intimated, as best, but not stated!

The main problem is that some of the cancer has been found to be vigorous and is probably unpredictable. My bone scan is clear.

The future … I’m trying to be upbeat. It is difficult. I know several people who have had treatment or removals.

I’ve received protestations about ‘the best way’ – useful for outcome and well being boost, but doesn’t help greatly for, as the surgeon and oncologist and indeed the specialist nurse have said, all cases are different and treatment options are tailored to the individual…

It has to be right for me, for Christobel, and for our lives…

All at Southend Hospital that I have had dealings with display the utmost care in the way they explain the problem and for the way they have ‘handled’ me. They have display the same attitude to Christobel too. It is quite touching…

I’ve told my story to the health practitioners at Southend Hospital and they are ‘gobsmacked’ by the attitude of surgeries that sit within their own fold, as it were…

So, any men out there who haven’t had a PSA test, bloody well pull you fingers out and get it done. Do not take ‘NO’ for an answer – it is your right. It’ll probably save your life. Wives, partners, tell them. Withhold ‘favours’ until they do so…

I’m not joking. It is serious. 

Remember, I had absolutely no symptoms. I only get up once in the night and often don’t need to. If you pee more than a few times, it is likely there is a problem, or enlargement, and it should be looked into… Enlargement is a natural aging phenomena. 

There is a wealth of places to go for information, but do look here: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/diagnosis/

I was advised to stay off ‘American’ sites. Use NHS and Macmillan Cancer. Macmillan are linked on the NHS site.

And, whatever, keep smiling…

Nearly two years ago I found I needed a replacement loo seat for the RM69 toilet fitted to Whimbrel. I was offered a wood seat which I purchased. This was fitted in the spring of 2017.

The RM range of marine toilets were originally manufactured by a Dutch company, however, this folded a little while ago and E. C. Smith took over the range. Good news for boaters, one would think…

This year I also needed some other spares, so since I had been dealing directly with E. C. Smith for a great number of years, with various receipts going back twenty years or so for the toilet alone, I duly emailed the company. I did not get a response from repeated emails (on record) or even a telephone call…

Eventually, after contacting a marine outlet store I found that E. C. Smith no longer dealt with the general public. And boy, doesn’t that make life difficult: marine shops rarely have what you need in way of spares … however, the one contacted advised me that they could order the parts (at an inflated price) of course.

I had a spare seal and part that I actually needed, so that job was done. I was planning to do more – but have deferred this until I actually get the seal needed. On a whim I’ve decided to reseal the base – not leaking, but know it has been in use for years, decades even, so feel inclined to stymie this.

Whilst getting down close to the loo lids some while back I noticed two things:

1. the hinges were shedding shards of ‘chromium’ and crud.
2. the seat had begun to split … it isn’t made of wood, it is manufactured from compressed paper – probably ‘MDF’. I felt incensed, however it has gone out of any guarantee now.

The hinges…

Close up of one…

The hinges appear to be manufactured from some grunge alloy designed to shed its ultra-thin layer of chromium in such a way as to create a hazard to the cleaner … often me and, yes, I have been ‘cut’.

My faith in E. C. Smith is destroyed.

Will I use them again? Not bloody likely.

The hinges have been replaced with a pair of solid brass units purchased from, Black Country Metal Works Ltd. They can be found online.

New solid brass hinges.

The seat, I have begun sealing the edges and will coat with some epoxy, rub smooth and repaint.

Seat edge – sorry about ‘poor’ focus!

How long the seat and lid units last is a matter of conjecture: not long I believe!

The future – probably a new loo, which I am quite sure will be generally unfit for the marine environment. We’ll cross that bridge when needed…

I have had a couple of Francis B. Cooke’s books for some while, but found his writing somewhat dry and belittling, condescending even, especially in the way he ‘treated’ women…

Perchance, for part of her Ruby Wedding Anniversary present to me, my good mate and dear wife presented me with: Small Yacht Cruising, Weekend Yachting and, Coastwise Cruising. This last is a fictitious cruise from the Thames (Erith) to Lowestoft, which in many respects mimics without all the ‘map’ detail an earlier book, London to Lowestoft (Also on my shelves…).

A selection of Cooke…

I have another, In Tidal Waters, ordered and on its way … this, I have read is more in the vein of Maurice Griffith’s books – or should that be the other way round for Tidal waters came in 1919.

There is a lot of good sense in much that I have read, up till now, with ‘hints’ galore. If you were a gaff sailor they would be of special use perhaps, but dated in these modern times, however, seamanship does not date – one is always learning!

There is, however, a propensity to repeat things already said. Today, writers have the joys of a computer screen and it is easy to cut stuff out etc.

Francis Cooke began sailing, I believe, at around the age of 7 in 1879. He apparently had his last sail aged 101 and died aged 102. His long term moorings were at North Fambridge on the River Crouch. It was from here he sailed last on his beloved Iolanthe. Cooke was a founding member of the East Coast Mutual Yacht Insurance Association – which is still in operation today.

Francis Cooke did not have any love for the Medway or Swale (I’d like a long chat about this) and left the Thames early in his sailing life for the Crouch, N. Fambridge to be precise. The Thames got ‘too busy’ and it was industrialised. The Medway and Swale were similar, but still had places to sail into, as they have now. he ‘hated’ the way spritsail barges came through moorings to get to quays long used for trade and yet were becoming surrounded by yacht moorings. He literally had not a good word for the ‘humble’ fisherman and his gnarled worked out smack or bawley…

Of boats, he despised the barge-yacht, didn’t care a jot for the centre-boarder and extolled the virtue of a draft around 4′ 6″ – he’d have loved many of the grp wonders around today, surely. I got the impression, because there isn’t a mention of him, that Cooke and Griffiths didn’t see eye to eye … I have mentioned this to a yachting journalist: MG in one of his books (Possibly, Magic of…)mentions a book by a ‘someone’ who he couldn’t remember, about something – a detail about the Southend shore and sketch maps – and a bell has rung in my top hamper. I believe the ‘who’ was Cooke!

Don’t quote me…

For me, the most basic of sailing joys was missing from his life – a Mate. His wife. It was pointedly clear as I read that ‘women’ didn’t figure in his idea of boating. There were certain references to making the cabin arrangements suitable for ladies, should they be carried. Most of his sailing was either carried out alone – which he extolled – with a pal, or sometimes his son (in his younger days). Never, it seems, his wife! I found this extremely sad.

One passage summed up this male domination theme. He commented on the lamentable action of a wife putting petrol in a kettle to boil for tea. The boat blew up. The container was the same as used for water and ‘hubby’ hadn’t marked them…

In Tidal Waters, first published 1919.

Some of the bits one reads mimic a little what was written by Cooke in his book, In Tidal Waters. In this book too, due to the fact that many of the yarns were originally written for the magazine market, a repetition of some details occurs – especially in relation to boat details. This can be ignored!

One has to read these books with the knowledge that Cooke was a Victorian Gentleman who happened to be long lived – into the age of rockets and nuclear fusion and moon landings. But, normally, time changes life perspectives – maybe a later book will include the ‘modern age’ of yachting for he wrote into the early 1960s.

My grandfather who sailed in the early 1930s would have known (of) Cooke, my father too, probably, and they may have even met on the water or at some anchorage.

Another of his ‘ways’ was the hating of solitude at anchor. He disliked the call of the curlew preferring the buzz of a lively harbour shore – especially if there was a golf course handy. I felt that Francis B. Cooke would love todays modern marinas…

If you can find these books, read them for they’re useful, as said, and they certainly tell you what it was like…

 

The annual Finesse Rally which was started by a local group of like-minded souls with me as their ‘appointed’ head has, I am pleased to say, continued to thrive.

Last year’s event at Brightlingsea was somewhat marred by inclement weather preceding and during the Saturday of the event. It being, in the main, rather blowy! Only four vessels mad it to the venue. Others made stalwart efforts to get there and decided that enough was enough – trying to bash round The Naze at the northern end of the wallet channel. Two crews in the event sailed up the Stour and berthed at Mistley … later arriving by taxi! Others arrived by vehicle too.

So, it was with a little trepidation that the organiser began arranging the 2018 event. A large number of vessels were initially booked and as time passed by, numbers fell. However, on the day we had a fleet of seven plus an associate – a past Finesse owner with his current craft and crew. This is always nice to see…

Beyond the sailing barge Margery the Finesse 24 Pippit spotted clearing Sheerness Harbour, Chatham bound…

 Whimbrel departed in company with two Island YC sisters, Gypsy and Calluna – all ’24s’. The wind was a little fitful, but I am pleased to say that other than the deep water channel transit little diesel was used!

The organiser and most of the group sailed directly for Chatham whilst Whimbrel stopped over in Queenborough to meet any who were late getting down the coast or round the Swale.

Finesse 21 Ivy May, a gaff cutter, reaching through Queenborough Harbour.

During the afternoon I was able to spot some of the fleet ‘marching’ towards Chatham. Thames spritsail barges were coming into Queenborough too: the 2018 barge match on the R. Medway was starting outside Queenborough and finishing there too. Sadly only seven turned up…

The Mate and I had a delightful amble around Queenborough and its historic creek, enjoying a coffee at a new café next to the Admiral’s Arm (where we later repaired…)

Whilst ashore in the evening I spotted a Finesse 24 in the distance and sure enough she soon pitched up in the harbour. The crew of the boat, Sandpiper, were soon ashore getting some food inside them before joining us at the Admiral’s Arm… We had earlier bumped into Dick Durham who had moored on the buoy next to us. We also met his crew ‘Glum’ who is far from a nick-name that is decades old! Cheers boys…

Whimbrel on the Medway – Lucy Vinten-Mattich

The next morning, early, at 063 we cast off Chatham bound, followed out of the harbour by our new found friends aboard Sandpiper… I took ‘them’ across Queenborough Spit, but they strayed too far in and ploughed a furrow with their centre plate. Their first Medway lesson!

Sandpiper from Whimbrel off Oakham Ness.

In good time both boats arrived off the lock and we were soon ‘in’. Wow, wasn’t it nice to be met by a band of Finesse sailors, calling their good wishes, etc, etc, from the dock wall…

Whimbrel and Sandpiper locking into Chatham… Picture: Rob Hardy

Once berthed we did the rounds and the Mate had a scamper ashore to the Marks & Spencer outlet store, coming back a little disappointed!

Here are some of the boats…

Awel-O-Wynt a Finesse 21.

Finesse 24 Gypsy.

I spy Pippit, another ’24’…

We had an intimate and enjoyable buffet in the evening, being joined by other owners and also a Sea King owner who ‘graduated’ from a Finesse 21. Here, again, I must give my thanks and for all the others, to the two ladies who organised the buffet. Well Done.

Some of the evening’s revellers…

Sadly, all too soon, Sunday dawned and movements were soon noted as early breakfasts were enjoyed before departure preparations… Upon Whimbrel leaving the dockside, only two boats remained plus our friends aboard the mono-hull Ocean Magic.

We sailed away down river in company, again, with Calluna and Gypsy, the later returning home directly, whilst we enjoyed another night out…

Whimbrel from Calluna…

It was a good rally. Those who attended enjoyed themselves. New owners were astounded by the bonhomie and advice that abounded. A new organiser (s) were duly ‘elected’. Well done you two!

But, I was a little disheartened by the large number of boats that could have attended. The shores in my own locality are ‘littered’ with 21s and 24s. I fear that interest is not high, however, without some commitment, this little group could unravel…

I hope not!