It came about by accident in many respects. I’d arranged to take a friend for a sail some time ago, however he dropped out for personal reasons so the mate was back in her rostered place… The trip planned was for a visit to Conyer to enjoy the wonderful wares on offer at the Ship – a place my pal hadn’t been to.

The Pioneer was seen sailing sedately up the London River…

It seemed that it would be nice to have company so my mate suggested putting out a note to local Finesse owners … there were several responses and murmurs of, “… great, I’ll be there…” Ultimately two boats, both from the south Essex shoreline, made the passage. The forecast was good, it being right smack in the middle of a settled spell which seems to have encompassed the whole of September up ’til now in this balmy quarter of England. Highs down here always seem to give some days of ‘grey’ and we had a bit of early greyness which cleared to sunny and some late summer warmth as the afternoon settled in – just the job!

Whimbrel made an excelent passage, alone, across the Thames to Queenborough: the other boat, Mariette, was leaving a little later from her mooring up near the Benfleet barrier. We cut across the running tide, rippling and glistening in the late summer sunshine. It looked full of life, vitality and purpose as Whimbrel shouldered through it towards ‘our’ friendly Medway.

We moored short of the pontoon a few minutes after high water … a quick passage … Max, the harbour boatman, was soon on our case for ‘his’ fee – but he’s a nice, friendly chap!

Mariette, a fine lady, cruises sedately into the West Swale…

Mariette came tramping in some while later having caught the full whack of the Medway’s out going ebb. She came past us under full sail, her speed reducing as the wind was lost with her grinning skipper (mate and crew rolled into one) beaming at us … after tidying up Dick had a little work to do – essential emails, he said. Later he came across in his tender for a small libation and nibbles.

Dick doing foredeck duty … he was mate, cook and bottle washer too!

Supper was had at the Queenborough Yacht Club where good honest fare can be enjoyed at a fair price. The members there are always welcoming – the first essential is to get yourself a beer … then sign in! I had a convivial natter with the club’s commodore, an amiable chap – a real river man: he’d worked it on motor barges and tugs…

It was agreed that we would depart at 0900 on Saturday morning … this was made promptly: Mariette made moves in good time – Dick’s no slouch! My mate sailed us off the mooring under our headsail, rounding up to allow me to hoist our main – slick – and we waited a little while Dick hoisted Mariette’s gaff mainsail – he needed his crew!

Sailing down from Long Point in perfect conditions …

Sailing round the West Swale when the wind in the confines of the land is comfortable is one of life’s pleasures. The boat moves crisply with purpose across flat water. Down east, when a west or east wind is blowing a particularly short steep chop can build up making life interesting and wet! But we didn’t have any of that at a little after low water…

My mate, for once, being sensible infront of the lens…!

The bridge held us up for what I would call a considerable time … both boats sailed up and down, round and past a modern grp vessel with all sails zipped up. Her skipper didn’t seem to be amused: a wave and a smile barely elicited a response…!

And we were followed by Mariette … the other boat shot through between us without a single ounce of friendliness!

Now, it transpired that Dick had not sailed much in the Swale of late for his other boat is 48 feet of grp. His ownership of Mariette is extending his ditch-crawling into areas that he once knew as a child aboard one or other of his father’s craft – most of his memories rest with his father’s Sea King cruiser the family owned – Dick himself had one in his younger days too … he’s gone ‘upmarket’ with a Finesse, surely! Later Dick admitted that it was forty years since he’d last sailed into Conyer, then a different place by far – he was staggered by Swale marina, remembering a shed at a delapidated wharf and only a rickety mooring by the pub at the outer end of Lime Dock…

Anyway, the Swale was quite shallow at low water and the useable width for tacking was insufficient, so at first with a wind that was more of an easterly in that patch we had to motor sail … but this lasted only to around the approach to No. 6 buoy, where jibs were set and we had a duel with the fresh flood … we both won, of course!

Now there is something nice about sailing through this stretch with the banks all showing … the sight of feeding waders can be enjoyed … grebes and cormarants fishing for whatever takes their fancy … and seals too can be seen. We saw one and I expect many more saw us! The alternating light caused by the passage of scattered cloud over the sun kept brushing the sea scape in differing shades. It has a special beauty – a place we love.

Mariette coming into Conyer Creek.

Mariette was taking a little more time to make her boards (no centre plate) and we sailed on towards the Harty shore before running back under jib to canter up the South Deep together … we moored and Mariette came alongside to await the tide … it wasn’t long.

The wind was easterly … ideal for a potter up under jib. But we didn’t: as said Dick hadn’t been this way for years and I felt responsible!! The sky had virtually shed its powder puffs and he shone down as we motored in line up the creek whilst a stream of craft came out. It was idylic. Conyer is idylic…

Some Finesse friends came over from Faversham to say hello … another boat was to have joined us, but couldn’t – shame!

Sunday called for an early start: we departed at 0515… By the time dawn was nearly up we were sailing in a line westwards towards Elmley. My mate put the bacon on … oh yes, the waft of bacon aroama really sets hunger pangs singing. They were comfortably sent packing! Oh yes, that bridge kept us gilling around for another 40 minutes … no trains passed over until just before our lift…

This kinds of captures it … for some reason the camera aperture was delayed and Mariette moved on… It was one of those mornings…

The wind had risen a notch as the morning progressed too and I said to the mate, “As we round Long Point I’ll put a reef in the main…” She looked at me and frowned, before relaxing again! I’m glad we did: we were outsailing Mariette and this didn’t change under shortened sail with just the working jib. A period of tacking ensued to clear the Swale, then out of the Medway’s entrance far enough east to tramp over the Thames … Ah yes.

Hello… Dick was ‘between stay and buoy’ coming out of the entrance.

Mariette bares her bottom to the Thames…

All in all it was a good sail, a little spray flew at times and we bashed into a few rollers along the edge of the deep water channel. Off the pier a few small wavelets slapped under our bottom – these showered as much spray as the ‘deeps’ – typical: a welcome to home waters…

And we saw this on the pier end… A beautiful replica of an 18th Century Russian warship… We dipped our ensign, but the crew missed it!