Ah yes … we left Pin Mill in an absolute calm. There was the faintest of something or other stirring the bobs on several spritsail barges sleeping on the hard, but nothing like we needed to make it to the Deben bar a little after low water.

Pin Mill reflecting…

Our mooring was close to another classic, a fellow Finesse 24, Pippit. It was nice to be in anchorage with a sister … I saw a lovely varnished Finesse 21 in West Mersea a few days ago. The Deben, I knew held several of the fleet within her bosom and I was looking forward to meeting old friends.

Pippit.

Our passage up was largely assisted by the ‘iron topsail’ until the sweep of the river’s eager flow grabbed us. The bar was quiet, the shingle undisturbed, and one of the crew having only just awoken(!) exclaimed in ecstasy as we slipped in, the sun sparkling on the ripples and colouring the myriad of tide washed stones…

Waldringfield was our night time destination … we had all day! Where to I enquired of my brother. “To the top…” he said, eyes lighting up…  So, we went.

Kiboko off Robertsons yard.

By then a fickle north easterly had become more of an easterly with enough pressure to sail with absolute confidence: tacking was needed at times during the sail. We reached a little below Wilford Bridge at Melton some two hours before high water … then proceeded to reach and tack out! For a short period dark clouds shrouded us as jumpers were donned again … the breeze up the top comes in strange directions at times and this tested the helm from time to time. Just short of Waldringfield sails were dumped and we puttered along searching out a free buoy.

Tacking down past a delightful beach under the woods surrounding Sutton Hoo…

A buoy was found off the delightful sailing club where a couple of friendly members pointed me in the direction f the water tap. The buoys are not free’ though: a nominal ‘charge’ – a voluntary donation for the Life Boat Institution (a noble cause) – of £10.

Both us ‘boys’ enjoyed a an hour each sailing around the anchorage in the lug sailed tender during the late afternoon…

After a supper of a delightful fish stew cooked by my brothers partner we repaired ashore for a short walk … to the Maybush Inn for a jar.

Day one done. Grand.