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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Two shots of a capsize drill…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I shall wait and see a few days.

Getting them back could otherwise be troublesome.

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

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

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

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