Like during the autumn and early winter before the turn of the year, the early days of January 2026 were again filled with wind, and, it had nothing to do with an over indulgence of brussels sprouts either, so we missed getting out afloat as the old year faded, and again as the New Year opened, which for us is most unusual…

January threw gale after gale at the UK with three of them becoming named storms, so the open fire at home provided some solace!

Our comforting and romantic open fire at home…

However, the weather Gods opened a door and we grabbed it! We took breakfast with us as high water was around noon. There was a stiff-ish south-westerly forecasted but as we have found at Maylandsea it is often much lighter and we cleared the mooring under power with sails set. There was enough breeze as we cleared to get two to three knots over the tide, which was nice. Often I will patiently creep away feeling good about the lack of engine noise!

A cracking first sail of 2026.

We saw just another couple of boats moving in the distance on such a glorious day – sadly for many, the holiday period had come to an end and work commitments held sway. Retirement has advantages!

We made a number of long and shorts up towards Heybridge’s Mill Beach before turning for home with a glorious run over the still flooding tide to Lawling Creek. Whimbrel revelled in the sailing conditions.

Along the tide ravaged saltings of Northey Island’s eastern shore some work has been ongoing for a while with a firm from Maldon ‘doing things’ – now I have been aware of sea wall works along the shore opposite Heybridge, but what was happening in this long flooded area of the island I had not heard.

I now know: during this last week the goings on have been reported by the BBC’s esteemed Breakfast programme on Radio 4. And, amazingly, BBC television London Tonight reported it too> I will report further on this in good time.

Works taking place in the eastern saltings gap 0n Northey Island.

On our return passage I noticed the abundant birdlife around the remains of the sandy spit that sits at the end of a ribbon of saltings making up Mundon Stone Point – a spit that is best to give a wide berth: I have seen a boat fetch up onto it some while ago.

Oddly, the marina cafe was closed so NO hot bowl of soup, so we went home!

Classic Boat sends me access to parts of its online service following my taking part in the voting for a recent restoration/build project … and this month an interesting resume of the restoration project that brough the famous J-Class yacht Shamrock V back to life. It is great that there are people out there with money as well as the commitment to these old yachts – Shamrock V is ninety-five.

Marine Industry News reported that a man in charge of a speed boat that ploughed down a kayak with a teenager aboard has been charged, found guilty, fined and given a suspended sentence at Swansea Crown Court.

This case is one of the first under the new legislation (everything that floats is a ship!) empowering port authorities and police to take cases to court under marine powers, in the same fashion as for a big ship – it covers us all… Legislation toughens up on ‘drink-sailing’ something which as an ex professional seafarer I have never allowed aboard Whimbrel.

Maybe, as the word spreads, there’ll be a little more respect shown by the minority of speed boats/jet ski owners who continually flout normal maritime rules and behaviour.

The teenager’s kayak was virtually chopped in half. Fortunately the lad had superficial injuries – he was in a ‘convoy, of a number of kayaks in Milford Haven waters.

In my home waters Kayaks and wild swimmers can abound at the same time. Most have a constant stream of chatter between them so one is oft alerted by voices first.

Our second foray out was in far lighter conditions. In fact it was all but a calm within the moorings, however we got clear with the engine then the Genoa took over, hoisting the main as we cleared the hammer heads.

Dabbling Duck in the calm of the rising tide.

The yard’s wonderful manager who we’d seen heading ashore with her collie type dog spotted us during her walk down Lawlings eastern sea wall – a couple of pictures arrived in my email box later that day. One is below. At the time we were just about making a knot over the tide.

Whimbrel photographed creeping out against the flood in Lawling Creek by manager of Blackwater Marina, Beccs Polden.

There was time to mooch around the decks looking at areas of ‘budding’ maintenance and look up at the rig, checking. And too, with the peacefulness of the conditions appreciate the flocks of waders, brent, lapwings and a few Canada Geese in flight honking across the water.

The Mate at the helm…

Once nearly clear of the creek the breeze hardened to what it was meant to be and we finally made it to the Marconi Buoy off Stansgate Point before turning for home. Three hours is long enough for a sail, especially in winter…

The Mate at her berthing station as we lined up to enter our row…

The wind was southerly – not a conducive direction to enter under sail: there is no tacking room (!) but has enough width for comfortable turning. And, as readers are aware, I will sail in if safe to do so!

Another item of news that caught my eye was a piece about Dusseldorf Boat – the German equivalent to Southampton – in that it has been stated that the market is upbeat about an upturn in sales interest from a greater footfall recorded. My thoughts turned to the innumerable craft sitting about in marinas gathering verdigris and algae through a lack of use or care. ‘Back on track…’ is the watch phrase. Right Ho!

Locally wandering around my yard, as I do for it is always interesting to see what is happening and say hello to people, I had a look at the Thames sailing barge Cabby in her floating dock where her starboard side planking renewal is progressing nicely. I was told that she’ll be afloat again by May when rerigging will begin – well that’s the plan!

New wood going aboard – picture taken before end of 2025.

Tim, the shipwright, told me some while ago that back in the mid 1980s he looked at the May Flower before she was moved from Upchurch to Strood, saying that although she was taking in water, was deemed fit for the tow … he said little had been done to her for some years. That of course was something I had already ascertained. My 2007 published book tells the tale of her (my childhood home) and is still in print.

Tim has worked on Cabby a few times in his barge repairing career – he has told me that this will be the last time!

During the month’s final week, it was with great sadness that I learnt about the loss of the Finesse 24 Kiboko in the entrance to the R. Deben, apparently in the run in along the beach. She was under tow at the time. A picture has appeared on the East Coast Pilot Facebook page and is reproduced here.

Picture from East Coast Pilot Facebook page – Kiboko’s starboard bow planking to keel plate.

To be clear, the boat was not ‘rotten’ by the look of the large section planking and I know that her internals had been completely refurbished and her outer upper works were to be stripped this winter. I have been able to ascertain that the boat sprang a leak though, causing batteries to be wetted – a number of boats have these stowed in under bunk compartment aft end of main cabin right ‘in the bilges’… Whimbrel’s battery is still in cockpit locker where it has never suffered a wetting.

Food for thought.

Well, towards January’s last gasp it was clear that there would be no further outings and I resigned myself to that fact. Instead, a ‘shop outing’ was planned!