This is something I have been dreading (my family say) since it was first mooted. It has been on the cards for a little while: this summer we found that two of Whimbrel’s keel bolts either side of the centre plate box had very minor weeps … bubbles of ferous oxide. It first came to light when some intimate items belonging to the mate were found with ‘iron’ stains on them … now knowing she is but flesh and blood, I looked where I feared!

How the ‘intimates’ ended up on the floor, we’ll not discuss … but clearly what we had to do was discuss the problem…

Making a summer return to one of our favourite ports of call, Faversham, leaving out the little matter of the mate’s spoilt smalls, we asked Alan Staley, an esteemed shipwright, mast maker and boat builder to come and take a look…

The main problem was this: on one side of the centre plate casing, two bolts had their capping wooden plugs partly under the casing side – clearly not a job for me, even though I have replaced several bolts during the past decade.

Alan, after rubbing his chin, looked at the pair of us (me and the mate that is) and said, “… be no problem for us … but when would you like me to do it?” Before either of us could answer, he added with a grin, “knowing you keep the boat in use…”

The mate, surely being flippant, said, firmly, “Yesterday…!”

Well, all of that was several months away now and the time came for Whimbrel’s delivery to Alan’s yard.

I’d booked a crew to take the mate’s place: she was to drive over to Faversham in the car for loading gear and bodies into for the return to Essex. This last Sunday had been planned as departure day … we didn’t go, opting for Monday and Tuesday – Good Decision: we enjoyed glorious weather on Monday with yesterday being grey, dry with a little thin sunshine.

The mate saw us off, her face puckering as I pulled away from the boat’s berth…

The wind was light, supposedly from the north-west, but it seemed more southerly as we carved a diagonal course across to the Medway via the Grain Flats  – my crew commented on never seeing that shore from such a close point! Entering the Medway with the flood still with us we hit 7 knots. Medway

VTS warbled about a ship heading up past ‘the wreck’ bound for Ridham Dock, which is just past the bridge, with an ETA of around 1325. Could we make it? We hit the jackpot because we kept the onward rush and hit the change of tide, keeping the eastward flow that occurs from Long Point during the early ebb. We reached the bridge with the ship … and followed through hard on her heels. Another ship was waiting for her to pass through and clear the channel, so we actually had plenty of time.

In close company … we saved an hour here!

Reaching Elmley Ferry, a soft northerly breeze was felt as it ruffled the water around us. All about us the water seemed to be coated in Brents and shellduck. Along the edge of Elmley Hill there were a throng of oystercatchers awaiting the uncovering of their favoured feeding ground of shell, stone and seaweed that covers the shallows along the shore.

Oystercatchers galore…

Up went the sails. Our speed dropped to a more sedate 4 knots, falling again to a little more than the tide’s ebb speed by the time the scrubbing Dock at Uplees was approaching. The engine was kicked back into life … we wanted to clear the wreck of a trawler that has sunk (and not yet been lifted) immediately to the east of the little trot of moorings here.

Gently through the Swale…

A Medway Ports notice to mariners covers this wreck, but, it appears to sit inside the two yellow wreck buoys marking it. Another yellow bouy is attached to one of the ship’s masts and a withie on the other. BEWARE!!

A vacant buoy was found amongst the myriad of moorings along the Harty Ferry (Oare) shore.

We were blessed with a glorious sunset. The glassy surface took on the profusion of colours in the sky. It was majestic. Along tide line a heron strutted, fishing for supper… Below, the Blakes stove was warming the cabin, in time, sufficiently enough for comfort. We retreated below and tea was taken…

Sunset … then tea was served.

The mate had sent us off with a trial batch of ‘festive’ scones. These contained, cinnamon, nutmeg and chopped ginger with some of the syrup… “Yummy” my crew said, grinning – this was really a mid week treat, for both.

Later the crew was treated to one of Whimbrel’s classic dishes. Chicken cooked in cider, onions, a little garlic and a few carrots. I’d remembered the bay leaf too… As the succulent scents assailed our nostrils we enjoyed a sherry and some mashed sardines in a tangy tomato sauce on biscuits – ah yes, we certainly lived well. The sauce, of our main dish, thickened a little, was heavenly…

An easterly was forecasted, bt we enjoyed a very quiet night, a night in a thousand, perhaps… It was a little chilly out, freezing ashore we heard later, but so dark and the sky was star filled.

A late breakfast, at around 0930 was enjoyed, and after clearing away a sail was decided upon whilst awaiting the tide to toddle up to Faversham… We tacked positively against a growing easterly and the flood tide, out past the Receptive Buoy and further towards Sand End, turning a mile or so past the creek’s spit – to which we soon raced back to. I was handed the tiller, though almost hard on the wind the girl was really sailing herself!

Reaching up the creek – just before the troublesome section…

My crew had only once before entered the creek, motoring some way up and anchoring for tea before making an escape… Sailing in was something new! The engine was needed, however, to help lift us round the confounded undulating east/west leg though. Then the mainsail was stowed and we continued onwards under jib alone, the wind lessening but still ruffling the autumn tinted grasses along the edges… It was along this leg, before the seawage works, a hail came across the saltings from walkers on the wall – a fellow Finesse 24 owner, Grebe, Faversham based. Earlier I’d had a text from Josie’s crew – out walking the dog. Josie (F24, sail number 63) is ‘our’ immediate sister!

The crew watching from a good vantage point…

We reached along past Iron Wharf, where all sail was dispensed with … turning the boat by nosing the bank we were soon in the gloop at the entrance to Alan’s hole.

The mate was there to greet us. Bless her!

An hour after arrival, Whimbrel was high and dry upon the Staley trolley!

Whimbrel on her way out…

The mast was due to come off today and she would be run into the shed. Yesterday I said to one of Alan’s staff, a lady, “This is the first time the boat has been back to a yard since she was launched by Alan Platt nearly 32 years ago…” There were several ‘gob-smacked’ faces around! The lady’s family once owned La Finesse, a Finesse 24, for a number of years – so she and Alan know the boats. Incidentally, La Finesse went to Pembrokeshire and was renamed Enfys…

High and Dry and stripped of her sails!

Oh yes, I added, “You’re not keeping her for long…” I plan to sail her home in February…

My thanks must be added to Richard, the crew, who loved the trip and is so looking forward to the return in February…