On Monday, last, the 31st January 2022, the family laid our mother to rest. As reported in an earlier post, she died on Boxing Day 2021 with our sister holding her hand.

Our mother was born on 14th December 1931 into a world far removed from the world we now live in.

She met our father through sailing…

The pair bought the spritsail barge May Flower from Green Brothers of Maldon and sailed her to Leigh-on-Sea with a bunch of club sailors in 1950.

They married a year later…

The barge was supposed to have been a fifteen year project … it lasted for 31 years!

The barge was soon to take most of her time – never mind household chores and a growing brood of children, the barge was all consuming.

Water had to be collected by barge boat for fifteen years too…

Our parents carried out many extensive structural renewals during the 1950s and early 1960s. Mother also stitched up a new mainsail in 1960/61 too…

The press got hold of the affair!

Weekends were spent dropping down river to Queenborough, Stangate and often a stop-over at Hoo if tide or wind not conducive for a return to Whitewall Creek.

After stitching up a new mainsail and the fitting of a new mainmast and sprit, our parents went racing alongside the professional sailormen in the annual Thames and Medway barge matches.

When the trading matches finished in 1963, both were heavily involved with a new Medway Match Committee, with a new beginning in 1965. Mother designed the programmes and drew a course map – the design is still in use!

The family’s last sail on the May Flower came in 1974. Our father had gone blind by then and Graham, my eldest brother, sailed as skipper.

A house was found a few years later and by 1980 the barge was sold.

Mother never let go of the water though!

Our parents had a little 10′ dinghy for a number of years. Both came sailing on our first boat, Blue Tail, a Yachting World Peoples Boat, and later on Whimbrel our Finesse 24. Mother continued with this joy regularly over the years.

Sailing was a life-long passion. Our mother also sailed with my sister on her Topper and Mirror dinghies, with her youngest on his Albacore and over in Canada with our eldest sibling in his home rigged dory!

Our father died way back in 1994 leaving our mother to enjoy a third of her life doing just what she wanted to do…

She studied for a fine art degree before having to cease due to ill health. During this period she painted, sketched and illustrated. Those that know my books will be aware of the latter.

Her art and family took precedence!

For our mother’s 80th birthday, we secretly booked the spritsail barge Edith May for a whole day trip. All her children and most of her grandchildren were aboard.

As we were thirteen, I went third hand!

A move to inland Devizes did not stop her ‘frolics’ upon the water: she went on canal boats on little trips!

As a finale to her life, that bob dressed her coffin with a simple floral cross.

It was a touching tribute.

We had a crematory service first before a celebration of her life at St Johns Devizes, attended by many of her family and friends, past and present.

As a final tribute, I add the concluding lines from the eulogy we put together, written up and given by me…

‘Finally, after a series of falls during the Covid pandemic of 2020, she moved to the Merlin Court Care Home. There, the staff caringly looked after and nursed her during her last sixteen months. To them, the family offer huge gratitude.

Last autumn, after a lapse of a year from touching her pencils or paints, mother took part in an art session, painting a delightful array of flowers.

It was wonderful…

A last hurrah…

So, sail on mother. Wander the eternal shorelines and wooded glades. Sit, ponder, and sketch, for ever…

God Bless.’

During this last week, I received a note through the post with unknown handwriting.

It was from the sister of Pat O’Driscoll. The sister had opened the post of Pat’s on the run up to Christmas and probably is still doing so: Pat, bless her, died on 28th November. It would have been about the time I sent my Christmas card to her…

I have know Pat for many years but have not met since I was a teenager (she told me) when she was just out of serving as a barge mate on motor barges.

I am sure there will be an extensive tribute to Pat O’Driscoll in the months ahead. To me she was special. Her knowledge and power of recall on past times afloat during that interim period when cut down spritsail barges operated as motorised barges up and down the coasts on the usual historical runs. Pat freely gave me so much information and her letters are on file still. She also sent many pictures, asking only for a credit.

One of my favourites is the ‘washing line’ one above, but here, below, is another.

The last cargo run for the Edith May.

I shall miss her regular cards at Christmas and sending our news. She always wanted to know about my mother, well, maybe you’re both reminiscing up there…

Rest in Peace Pat. Bless you…

Postscript.

Since writing this piece, members of Pat’s family have been in touch, more from Pat’s youngest sister, Anne, and also from a great niece.

Anne Bannon wrote:

‘…difficult to know whom to contact when she died as her correspondents had fallen off somewhat. I had her heavily annotated address book and cards to go by and of course I knew a lot of names but it was pity that a lot of people were left out.   Please apologise to any you know who should have been told but weren’t.’

Yes, my family also found heavily annotated addresses… 

Anne also wrote:

‘…loved Paddy’s line of washing, it was so typical of her.  At home we called her ‘Dame Washalot’ after the character in the Enid Blyton, Faraway Tree book.’

And mentioning the great niece:

‘Imo (Imogen) said some time ago she was getting in touch with people re Paddy after seeing a conversation on fb (facebook) wondering what had happened to her.  Sadly as well as still sorting out Paddy’s affairs we have had another very sudden bereavement so I  didn’t follow it up as I would normally.  I haven’t been taking so much notice of other things just now.  I’m glad to have seen your post.’

Thank you Anne and Imogen for taking the time to write.

I never knowingly met Pat in person, but may have as a youngster, but as said she was so free with her flow of information to any question – much in the same fashion as her old shipmate, Barry Pearce. I will miss the sending of the annual Christmas card with a note on how things were…

A little while ago, before the end of last year (2021) there was much in the media about safety around the coasts and within harbours and rivers. It was the irresponsible behaviour of watercraft owners in particular which was homed in on.

The hiatus caused by irresponsible ‘new’ owners of Personal Watercraft during the Covid-19 Pandemic has brought water safety and regulation of to the notice of the media – even the Times – and more importantly to harbour authorities.

Then, amazingly, it has been found that many authorities do not have any powers of note to deal with irresponsible and dangerous use. So, the DfT opened the subject for debate and what regulation was needed.

I picked up on some of this in a post in December 2021. See below:

Ditch-crawler picks up on PLA drive for river safety…

The shipping and boating industries online news bulletin carried an article during November of 2021, .

I read of the Royal Yachting Association’s response to a Department of Transport (DfT) consultation paper on whether ‘Recreational watercraft should be subject to same safety obligations that exist for ship operators.’

For clarity, all leisure craft owners are subject to these regulations currently, as some have found to their cost. It is why we should all carry full comprehensive insurance. Most yacht clubs require it. What marinas require I am not aware.

However, it became apparent the Personal Watercraft (PWC) have never been included in the current legislation, making it difficult to ‘nail the blighters’ except in some cases – the Port of London Authority for instance – who have successfully prosecuted PWC owners.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) whilst broadly in favour of the DfT’s outline changes are wary of the encroachment of over regulation, quote, ‘the possible unintended consequences … could lead to unnecessary regulation across the leisure and recreational boating sector’.

The RYA also believe that the proposed definition of ‘watercraft’ is too broad and needs to be specific.

My thoughts are, why not a list of vessel types perhaps…

I am sure at some point the DfT will push out their finalised proposals to lay before Parliament : it will require a change in the relevant part of the Merchant Shipping Acts!

The problem is not limited to PWC’s for during August 2020 an incident in the Solent was recently passing through the court system.

A RIB being driven around on a ‘Thrills’ trip hit a navigational buoy whilst passing at speed to give the passengers a kick. One of the passengers was killed when the RIB collided with the buoy – I expect it was ‘rolling’ in the tide, something all small craft sailors are aware of when passing close to a buoy.

The RIB was operated, the news item stated, by Seadog RIB Charter Ltd. The driver has been charged with gross negligence…

Food for thought in all that we do afloat.

I was walking across the yard of the Island Yacht Club some time last year when a hail arrested my steps towards the jetties and Whimbrel.

I toddled over and was met by a grinning chap who proceeded to furnish me with a flourish of praise and thanks.

What for you might ask. Well, he had just completed rereading all of my currently published books through again as a form of lockdown therapy…

‘When’s the next one coming,’ he added without a pause.

At the time I prevaricated and mentioned doing ‘some bits and pieces…’

Then, during the year I began to receive a string of emails…

One wrote: ‘I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading your sailing related books. They greatly helped me keep my spirits up during the long winter covid lockdown. (beginning of 21 to end of March 21).

Three read, two saved for winter…’

The chap went on to describe playing on an old barge near South Fambridge … apparently not much left of her. I went looking with my mate in tow on one of our weekly longer walks. Neither of us could spot any signs where SSBR Barge Compendium places the vessel’s remains (William & Arthur).

From The Netherlands I had a long email filling me in on activities achieved against Dutch covid requirements: like us they’ve had lockdowns and restrictions, if not more so.

I often sail alone and the evenings on board were a good opportunity to read your book Salt Martsh & Mud.
It was a source of reading pleasure. The pleasant communication on board between you and Christobel, the nice adventures you have, the beautiful descriptions of the voyage, the attention for nature, the continuous presence of the rich maritime past of you and the sailing area and last but not least the beautiful, playful and richly varied use of words and language in which the stories are cast, made me again and again curious about the> next chapter and your new adventures.

In short, I really enjoyed it!

While reading, I kept google maps handy and it’s surprising how well your travels can be followed then. I imagine I’m getting to know the area the book is set in quite well.

I also heard from another reader and wife, both keen sailors, with a River Deben moored boat. The email was a sweet ‘checking up’ on us with news. Within the words, the writer asked:

‘I also wondered whether you have any new publications due or which might be ‘on the stocks’ for the future? I’m currently re-reading Mudlarking having just finished Rochester to Richmond again…’

I can’t remember if I told them the truth…

Perhaps I should!

There have been other communications and messages too, however it would be churlish to go on, so to all of you: it has given me huge pleasure too in reading your kind words. The mate was in tears with a couple of the messages she saw…

The covid lockdowns have not been easy for anyone. Escapism is a good medicine, as is/was walking, and last lockdown gave me the impetus to sit and write.

The book, when it comes out, will have been a product of the winter 2021 lockdown. By its end, the book was essentially completed and is now currently going through proofreading and editing…

It has been a bit of a month down on the Thames estuary with just a few available days fit for sailing when the tide was in. I grabbed two of those…

My eldest brother was over from Canada a little while back and he hit a period of excellent weather in the east, enjoying a three day sail and another out on the tide before hightailing back to Canada as Covid-19 variant Omicron began to hit.

Over a couple of days before Christmas I was able to get afloat for a couple of sails. It at least ‘showed’ the tree off to other folk afloat. Hauling a tree aloft is a rarity these days on ships and boats.

Christmas Day arrived to another bout of windy mizzly weather – no matter I have only sailed on Christmas day on very few occasions!

Boxing Day morning our phone rang early.

I looked across at the mate as she listened … it was my sister down in Devizes about to leave for our mother’s care home. She wasn’t good…

Advice was get going!

Sadly, my dear mama died a little after eight. She went peacefully, bless her, with my sister holding her hand.

So, the the artistic sailing mum we all knew has passed on to pastures new… She has left us her memories.

I, for one, will always treasure the sketches she came up with to illustrate the first three books to follow ‘May Flower’. It was something she was superb at.

So, although it is the festive season until twelfth night for many, it is for me and my siblings (and others) a sad time too.

Sail on mum, wander the eternal shorelines and the wooded glades. Sit, ponder and sketch, for ever.

God Bless…

To all, good sailing or whatever boating you participate in. Let us all hope for a better 2022 out on the water.

Whimbrel ‘managed’ 930 nautical miles for 2021, pretty good really, considering…

I first met Max when he pitched up at my yacht club to begin working on the regular Saturday routine. He had been at it a little while without my knowledge while I was away summer sailing aboard Whimbrel.

I immediately found Max to be one of those honest down to earth guys that often seem all too rare.

Max had appeared at the club with a robust little yacht called Kate which he had sailed across the Atlantic with a ‘duff’ engine. Within months he was negotiating a purchase deal for Wendy May, a deep keeled gaffer then owned by Dick Durham.

Due to family needs (aged parent) Max had to move. So, I felt sad when he slipped his mooring and sailed Wendy May off to a distant Welsh creek.

Christobel bought this book for me as a birthday present. It was read aboard Whimbrel during the recent glorious ‘gas-less’ summer generally when up mud creeks – far removed from the blue waters of the Caribbean where most of the story is told.

I remember this ship at Battlesbridge from many years ago. What it was doing there was alien to my thinking. And, as Max tells, he needed a very good spring tide to make the passage up to the top of the tidal River Crouch. Her name: Gloria.

Max delights in telling us about the trials and tribulations in getting his ship in order. His previous boat was a little yacht kept at the Thurrock Yacht Club.

Max made it to the Caribbean via the Iberian peninsular, Los Palmas and the Cape Verde Islands. There he worked to earn enough to make repairs and ‘live’ … Max then sailed the yacht back home, alone…

Then after stops to visit family ‘down west’ he made it back to Battlesbridge taking a crew aboard to help with this bit!

There are a scattering of black & white images and an end map with some details of the routes taken.

I have sailed the high seas aboard ships, but other than a south coast passage have never gone deep sea aboard a ‘little ship’ so I found this story of great interest. It was compelling…

Max is passionate about his sailing and clearly knows his stuff.

Thanks Max, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Boat-They-Laughed-At/dp/1471043606/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UTUKC6P3ZY05&keywords=the+boat+they+laughed+at&qid=1638976161&sprefix=The+boat+they+laughed%2Cdigital-text%2C143&sr=8-1

Published by Amazon, 2012.

ISBN: 9781471043604

Price: £7.99

I knew Dick in a childhood sort of way one does when the person appears in one’s life to crew (and work) aboard your Thames spritsail barge home.

Dick disappeared from my life and he next turned up as a ‘yotty’ working for Yachting Monthly. Dick later graduated to News Editor and had his own column, which he still has several years after his retirement.

Dick’s sweet gaff cutter Betty II is moored adjacent to Whimbrel at the same yacht club. We’ve ‘slaved’ together many hours on club work parties so I think I have got to know this author, sailor, raconteur and bloody good bloke fairly well…

I received a copy of Dick’s latest work, Turnip Road, for my birthday in June 2021. I read it during a long summer spent afloat on Whimbrel.

The book tells the tale of a young man who after working on the last working spritsail barge, the Cambria, had a wanderlust that needed to be satiated.

Dick travels across Europe, meeting people travelling in the same direction. He hitched, took buses and actually walked a little of it too…

Some of his fellow travellers became confederates in the same cause: friends on the trail, until one or the other peeled off in their own direction.

What was his direction. Well, along the ‘hippie trail’ in the main at first, but from there it wasn’t clear. He just kept on going.

The scents, smells and filth of the conditions found on the journey convey much colour. One wonders if many of the places have changed? Well, of course they will have, but what I mean is for the betterment of the people?

Dick finally made it to Sidney! The city isn’t one normally associated with such travelling but modern backpackers hike around Oz stopping at the countries cities. Dick had a sister living there, so why not…

I found the book enthralling. His power of description is something else and could possibly be termed ‘purple’ (a phrase chucked my way by someone who clearly hadn’t properly read one of my books!) but all of Dick’s books are so written.

It was a spanking good read.

Only one gripe: a few pictures would have been great and perhaps a route map…

Thank you Dick for filling in much in the way of gaps. I would like an ask! When are you going to progress that brilliant duo, Dippy and her DI?

Turnip Road by Dick Durham.

ISBN: 9798590450107

Published by Amazon. See: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turnip-Road-Beyond-Hippie-Southend-ebook/dp/B08RZC2FNT

Paperback: £9.00

Kindle: £6.00

Apparently, the reporting of near miss incidents has fallen by a staggering near 50% over the last few years. The Port of London Authority are clearly concerned for they know that safety has NOT improved to that extent.

It is the reporting that has dropped. The PLA want river users to be proactive in reporting incidents for ultimately damage, injury or loss of life can be minimised.

There was a notice earlier in the autumn which caught my attention, but the later one first, I think…

It is about the approach of Christmas!

See: https://www.pla.co.uk/assets/19of2021-christmasdrinkanddrugsawarenesscampaign.pdf

Small chunk lifted from PLA Notice 19 of 2020…

‘CHRISTMAS DRINK & DRUGS AWARENESS CAMPAIGN As we approach the Christmas Season, the Port of London Authority (PLA) and the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Policing Unit will once again be supporting the Metropolitan Police Service annual ‘Christmas Drink – Drive’ campaign. This high-profile campaign highlights the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drink or drugs – this message applies equally to the river as well as the roads, as the safety of vessels, passengers and crews is of paramount importance…’

The drive or emphasis seems to be on the ‘upper’ river sections but we all know that down in the estuary it is of paramount importance too!

I have a rule on Whimbrel, unwritten and unsaid, but alcohol is not served whilst underway. If a lunch stop is on the agenda, a pint is the maximum I will enjoy. My crews too.

A small snifter in a coffee on a cold day being the only deviation!

The other notice that hit me between the eyes was something which I have had recourse to use. This is PLA Notice 17 of 2020 – Near Miss Reporting.

It was after being ‘bombed’ by a RIB. We were in the shallows outside Smallgains Creek. I was on the cabin top preparing to set the mainsail. Christobel was on the helm.

The boat went ‘ballistic’ … Christobel was thrown off the tiller and across the cockpit, jarring herself. The boat slewed dangerously.

How I didn’t go overboard, to this day I do not know. I wish I had in many respects: it would have got more done about it…

Sadly, I still have waking periods at night when it pops into my head…

I will say no more!

So, I had a good look at the link. There is an incident reporting form on the small craft ‘navigators club’ site on the PLA web site.

See: https://boatingonthethames.co.uk/?__hstc=106811548.d2e9cdab5823129638d2533b97bf9d2f.1589111288148.1589187344000.1589264643408.4&__hssc=106811548.1.1589264643408&__hsfp=630254131

The section is called: Boating on the Thames and it covers all areas from the estuary up to the tidal limit at Teddington. Get yourself listed if a Thames sailor and enjoy!

I have cut a little section from the PLA document…

See: https://www.pla.co.uk/assets/17of2021-navigationalnearmissandincidents-newwayofreporting.pdf

‘NAVIGATIONAL NEAR MISS & INCIDENTS NEW WAY OF REPORTING A new way of reporting Navigational Near Misses and Incidents has been developed and is now publicly available to all River Users through our website or the PLA Tidal Thames app on your smartphone. To report a Near Miss or Incident via our website, go to pla.co.uk and click on Near Miss & Incident Reporting on the home page.’

It goes on…

‘Therefore, if you are involved or are a witness to a near miss or incident, please report this as soon as possible by submitting a report via our website or the PLA Tidal Thames App which can be downloaded…’

We were sailing over to Queenborough that day – we made it – and enjoyed a great weekend at the Traditional Boat Festival (2019).

If afloat over the Festive period, get out there and enjoy yourself, but leave the imbibing to afterwards…

For all Finesse owners this is your opportunity to meet with many more owners and see other craft within the Finesse fleet.

It is a worthwhile enterprise and great fun with like-minded souls.

The 2022 Rally is planned for Queenborough over the mid-June weekend when tides are of a friendly height.

I gather a number of craft have said they will be attending already – as will Whimbrel and her crew.

Contact details on poster picture…

Recently I updated my ‘Books’ page on the web site.

See:

Ditch-crawler updates his ‘books’ page…

Well, moving on from there, I have fantastic news: A new book is due.

Today, I signed a contract with a publisher after negotiating a book deal.

I can’t say much more at the moment but in the coming months there will be a trailer video…

Update: 7th December 2021.

The publisher now has the completed manuscript and the process begins…

During the summer we sailed into West Mersea a few times. One was over a weekend when there was a bit of a fair taking place on the carpark in front of the West Mersea Yacht Club – regatta end day, I think.

Apart from Christobel asking how she could become a fairy … the stall that caught my eye was emblazoned with the ‘word’ ENORI’ and being inquisitive, I walked over.

It turned out that the letters stand for, Essex Native Oyster Restoration Initiative. It is a collaboration between all stakeholders and others who are working towards the restoration of the traditional native oyster beds.

The native oyster does not thrive in the drying shallows but it lives in the shallower tidal waters fringing sand/mud banks and creeks.

The project has begun with a trial ‘patch’ of culch laid in part of a block which recently appeared in ‘our’ chart corrections. It is roughly in the pencilled area seen on the chart section above. It is surprisingly big, however, the section in use is relatively small as of August this year.

The native oyster has been around a jolly long time and ‘all’ shell finds in Roman (greater consumers), centuries before and after up to the disasters of the last century are of this family.

The much more widely consumed oyster now is the ‘Pacific’ which was imported to restock after the devastations following big freezes – 1963 especially which proved pivotal.

The first layings of culch – the fragmented oyster particles that the spat clings to – have been made. This bank will be fed spat and young oysters and farmed in the traditional manner.

The chap I chatted to was not only very knowledgeable but was also extremely passionate with the project. It was a great chat.

So, if you haven’t picked up on your chart corrections and marked up the ‘oyster box’ then it might be wise to do so!

And, if a lover of oysters, perhaps in the years to come, the good old native will slip down with a pint or two…

The old packing shed lives on, on Packing Marsh Island, however, the island itself is in a precarious state. Its survival appears to be at the behest of ‘regular’ discharges of shingles on its shores. I could clearly see huge degradation from my previous visit to the area two seasons ago.

I feel the native oyster has a better chance of survival…

See www.essexnativeoyster.com

During August, we’d popped up into St Osyth for a night after booking a berth with the yard at the head of the creek – home port of the spritsail barge EDME. Upon leaving we had a night in Brightlingsea to use the shower facilities and get a ‘shed load’ of laundry done!

There are a couple of smacks up at St Osyth, but it was at Brightlingsea I am ‘sailing’ to… The mate stood by during the laundry exercise more than I did, happy with her book! I was ‘sent off’ to have a poke round the waterfront…

At the heritage dock I met a couple of chaps who were just about to leave the site after a spell aboard the 1885 built smack Victory. One of the chaps had purchased her, he said, grinning. She has a ‘Thames’ number, LO111, but was built by Howard of Maldon.

I was told that it was thought she was used as a trading vessel in earlier days working for a miller on the River Blackwater up at Maldon. I wondered if this was Greens?

The old thing had lain for years up at Wivenhoe in a mud hole along the front. I remember seeing her looking rather dilapidated. Her gear eventually ‘fell down’ due to a rotten mast.

She was moved down to Brigtlingsea after being given to the smack society with the intention of making her available to a ‘fitted person’ who could undertake her rebuild. The new owner had had thoughts of motoring her round down the Swin, but the decision was made not to. Rather wise, I thought!

Her new owner said she was due to be lifted out and transported to a workshop in Erith – they being Erith YC members. The Victory is to be completely rebuilt under cover…

Another vessel in a seriously bad way was still floating. Her hull looked ripe with rot and her decks certainly were. I didn’t find out her name.

Leaving the heritage dock, I briefly looked over to the spritsail barge Dawn which was under cover having deck maintenance – re-caulking – having chosen to continue her Covid-19 sojourn…

I wandered into Morgans Yard to look at vessels in the lay up area. A few old friends were found including the bare empty and rather forlorn hull of the Colchester smack Shamrock.

At the time I thought her days were numbered, however, the very next day he old thing was loaded onto a lorry and taken to the St Osyths boat Yard for a complete rebuild.

The vessel was largely held together with strong webbing straps in an effort to maintain shape, and, I believe, just to hold her constituent parts together.

All in all, these are happy tales…

Another such tale has taken the Maldon bawley MN2, Dorana, to Eyemouth, Berwickshire, for a rebuild at a yard in the old fishing village in the Scottish Borders.

I am endeavouring to find out a little more, but no response from the local heritage centre has been forthcoming currently…

Dorana is 34′ and actually quite young: being constructed by Drake’s of Tollesbury in 1939. She has an upright transom, bawley-like, rather than the traditional highly raked Colchester type.

The vessel is similar to the Joseph T, another Maldon vessel which lay ashore at Maylandsea for many years. She was broken up last year…

Smacks and Bawley’s are always a delight to see, as are all traditional craft and owners should be applauded for their loving care and tenacity in keeping their little ships in such fine order.

I’ll certainly be looking out for the Shamrock and the Victory over the next couple of seasons…

More on the Dorana: She is indeed in Eyemouth. I contacted the town’s museum who put me onto the local boat yard. I had a response from the Marine Manager of the yard, Graham Perrins.

Graham tells me that the smack was purchased by a ‘local business man and is working on the boat at his own leisure…’

I am sure the smack world will keep in touch.

New flowers in early January when we were deeply in the second full scale Covid-19 lockdown were apt for what I was getting up to when not walking and varnishing dinghy bits and other stuff…

Current projects:

I do have more up my sleeve but when this will come to fruition, I cannot at the moment say.

I’ve been for some while working on a series of articles being published by Yachting Monthly Magazine and these can be found at intervals…

Update:

The articles mentioned have been trundling out. Currently one more is due to be published at some point in the magazine’s future programme.

I have also been involved with a series of short articles dealing with the ‘Ten best…’ places, anchorages, walks, city visits, etc…

On the ‘future book’ front, I spent the lockdown during the first three months of 2021 rewriting some work and putting into words a ‘breezy buzz’ that was travelling around my mind.

As the days progressed, between walking, the mate wielded her ‘red’ pen as she felt it should be, in the main it was often quite lightly. At times she dropped work back into my lap in tears…. Saying, ‘you made me cry…’

I am now in the process of finding a publisher!  

The process is often long and drawn out. It is very much like when looking for a publisher for ‘May Flower’ for I am exploring new fields…

Hey Ho!

Autumn is properly with us now in my little corner of England and sailing out on a tide has resumed.

First the Brent arrived and then the terns disappeared. Flocks of overwintering waders have arrived too. The Brent geese were a little early, I thought, signalling perhaps harsher conditions on their home territory. Home: I use loosely for they spend more time in their overwintering grounds.

September was a fine month for us and most of October, although a little windy for parts of last two weeks – gaps allowed time afloat, so I’ve no real complaints!

A gentle potter up along the Leigh-on-Sea shore and into Leigh Creek looking at the range of traditional craft ‘hiding’ away was enjoyed.

On one of the sails I passed two friends – both Finesse owners. One has a Seaking too. The chap’s Finesse is a ’21’ which he has put a new cabin on and renewed the decks.

One of the joys of autumn is the quiet upon the water and sight of the wintering bird life. I love too the colour changes taking place within the saltings as the last of the summer green fades. Along the Hadleigh downs, the autumn shades can often be slow to show, then, on a sail the hillside glows as a late afternoon sun bathes the panorama.

Sailing up past Bird Island for the first time since the spring I spotted a huge clump of cord grass growing. The island just covers at 5.0 metres (Southend). I wrote to the Port of London Authority in the spring of 2014 and drew their attention to this growing island. A tide gauge reading from VTS as I sailed by showed that the island just covered at 4.7 metres then.

I was told it didn’t exist!

Well, plenty of boats run into it!

Looks like an island of mud to me. Next year the saltings growth will increase, that’s for sure.

A survey report of 2001 showed the height in this area to be 4.5 metres above chart datum…

The silting progression is stark.

We had planned a two day heist across to the Medway together. The weather though looked a bit threatening for two nights but one was looking good. In the event the mate chose to let me go alone…

For a change, I enjoyed a glorious sail over the Thames, crossing the tide, and made it into the entrance of the Medway without recourse to the engine. I fetched across the harbour in a series of tacks before laying along the south side of Saltpan on a close reach. Marvellous!

After pottering upriver to Stangate Spit, I sailed back and made my entry into the West Swale, favouring Queenborough for my overnight stop. The Admiral’s Arm always provides a nice pint too…

Before going ashore I cooked off my supper – a Bolognese sauce – ready to reheat later.

The sunset was sublime. Queenborough – well the Medway basin as well – is a grand place to capture the sight.

After my scrummy supper and a call back to base, I sat watching a couple of hot air balloons crossing the early night sky. The moon was in full bloom, a silvery-yellow and through binoculars the surface craters were clearly visible.

With an early start in the morning a little before sunrise, I did not hang about and was soon wrapped up in my bunk, toasty, missing the mate…

The alarm shook me rigid as it warbled out of reach. Swinging my legs out, it was silenced. Pulling some clothes on I looked outside – barely a breath!

As soon as the kettle sang, first water in my tea mug then a porridge pot. These are quite good for early starts and the mate has made sure a few have been stowed aboard this last season.

The tide had been making around an hour and a half by the time I dropped off the mooring. With the genoa the boat fetched across the tide towards the Queenborough Harbour Trust’s pontoon while I hoisted the main.

The sky soon turned a salmon pink as the minutes ticked by. The wind built a little and I moved from a knot to a couple.

For a while I had the genoa poled out, but by mid Sheerness Harbour the wind became more south-easterly and I dispensed with the contraption. By then the boat was rustling along over the flood.

It was an easy sail across with the wind on the starboard quarter. A gybe near Southend Pier put Whimbrel on a run into the Ray. (Later, The City of, in honour of the murdered Southend West MP Sir David Amess who was tragically killed that lunch time. His constituency lay under the boom, across the water…)

Sailing up the Ray I did not spot any terns. I had the previous week. All gone. Autumn as far as I was concerned was bedded in.

The sands were covered as I sailed up the stretch abreast of Chalkwell Beach but a few seals were spotted in the shallows chasing fish as they were ‘swept’ over the top by the flooding tide. People that don’t know are aghast when told about the numbers that bask. The mate sometimes sends pictures to her coffee friends!

Yes, it has been a lovely autumn so far and in this little corner of the Thames estuary that I call ‘home’, I feel incredibly thankful for the bountiful beauty that those out on the water are able to witness. It is awesome in so many respects.

And too, I am lucky to have such an understanding mate. One who isn’t unhappy at being left alone on the odd occasion…

Abandoned vessels have almost become the norm around the Thames estuary shores. A news item recently in the maritime press – Leisure Marine – has highlighted the problem of the end of life for boats.

See: https://marineindustrynews.co.uk/about/

Some interesting ‘stuff’ is discussed in this industry media outlet…

It used to be common for old wooden boats to be hulked in a rill, creek or lonely piece of salting to gently rot away. The hull as it died often became the home for numerous creatures as well as a convenient perch for bird life.

I wrote an article about this in a magazine now long out of print back in 2010. It was published in Anglia Afloat in May/June 2011 issue.

I have for decades followed the fate of vessels during their end of life years. A spritsail barge hulked nigh on thirty years ago has progressed from a fire damaged hull to a broken and time ravaged ruin.

A Maldon oyster smack the Joseph T which was taken ashore at Maylandsea where a full restoration was begun, oh, some twenty years ago, possibly longer, has in the last year after many years of stagnation and abandonment, been sawn up for firewood.

Perhaps she would have better served the environment by acting as a wave break against a marsh edge to allow silts to build up, as was often the way…

Wherever one walks the banks of creeks, vessels which were once someone’s pride and joy sit neglected until taken ashore or they sink, creating a headache for other mooring holders.

Some while ago, during the first lockdown periods of 2020 there was an article in the media about a vessel that had sunk on moorings in Brixham Harbour. She became the responsibility of the harbour authority to remove. This apparently is the case and clearly the fact is known by unscrupulous owners seeking to abandon a vessel.

The means employed is often to sell a boat worthy of restoration. That owner disappears leaving the new starry eyed owner very quickly scratching ‘his’ head wondering what to do. A headache with too many jobs to make her seaworthy to move…

She sits abandoned until eventually she sinks. The harbour authority cannot trace the new owner…

It is happening – as seen on the River Medway recently where a large motor vessel clearly used as a floating caravan sank alongside Rochester Pier. Peel Ports had to have her removed.

See: https://msba.org.uk/?p=6463

Marinas hold a fair number of craft that when looked at closely are in the throes of abandonment. If the bills are being paid, the marina won’t do anything unless the boat sinks or becomes a hazard.

The biggest problem is with GRP: steel can be cut up and recycled. Wood can be sawn up and taken to landfill or burnt once noxious parts are removed.

The humble little GRP dinghy can be found sunk, half filled with mud and with saltings happily growing within anywhere you look. What do you do with them?

Apparently the EU Commission is looking at this problem. I bet too it was a British initiative from before our divorce. The directive is to come up with an industry solution by the end of 2022. Britain, will, I’m sure follow the industry guidance that falls out.

A database of ownership of privately owned vessels is being separately proposed by British Marine. Ross Wombwell, BM’s head of technical services wrote in Leisure marine News, 16 September 2021: the challenges are ‘to manage a long-term strategy to stop vessel abandonment…’ It is planned that this will go a long way (as for cars) to provide a ‘financially viable and environmentally friendly end of life disassembly and disposal.’

Food for thought for we will all, whatever type of boat we own, have to become registered owners. How this would work and how would vessels be marked are ponderable…

So, in the future, boats littering our waterfronts and abandoned in boatyards will be a thing of the past.

Hmmmmmm……. I wonder!

Sailing towards Harty ferry during the first week of September we passed by the disused Turkey Cement Works Dock on Elmley Island between Ridham Dock and Grovehurst Jetty on the ‘north/south’ section of the West Swale.

Earlier this year I had spotted a trailer-able yacht of around 26 to 28 ft out of the water at the top of an old hard once used by a short-stay yacht club. The boat, it turned out, belonged to a member of the community on Elmley island.

I spoke to the Manager of the Iron Wharf, but no light on what was going on was known.

Then I remembered, I’d had communication with the owner of the yacht, Gareth Fulton. The chap works for the nature reserve. I sent off an email…

A few days later news came that there had been a long reach excavator in use on the site and with a free day it was put to use in clearing mud and debris from the old dock bottom.

They have plans for the dock and Gareth has ‘invited’ us in on Whimbrel. It won’t be this season, but next year, a high probability.

Having been part of a family (See: The May Flower A Barging Childhood) which helped to reinstate the use of Twinney Dock in Upchurch, then two years later Callows Wharf, Upchurch, up at the head of Milfordhope Creek. I just love it when any disused facility finds a modern use.

The Turkey Cement Works have been written about in ‘The Jottings of a Thames Estuary Ditch-crawler‘ and mentioned elsewhere. The cement works on the island lasted for no more than seventy years. It supported a population of around 250 people. There was a school and church. Parts of the school can be seen in a cluster of tress towards the farm house.

I visited the dock some years ago and took a raft of photographs – thought then as others had in earlier times when a club used a slipway beside the decayed jetty, that the dock could still be useful.

Gareth promised more info, I must work on that and winkle out a little more…

Elmley Nature Reserve: www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk

Have a staycation, the Government, media and travel industry said. great, we always have a staycation in the summer…

It was all a very good idea for the many people who normally chuck bucket loads of money into a foreign holiday. That money has been fuelling a boom in house renovations, camping, caravanning and boating in all its forms.

Apparently, tent sellers virtually ran out of gear by August. Caravans and motor homes were greatly sought after and the boat market has been, quote, ‘extremely buoyant…’

All of the above led to a greater demand for bottled gas – even for home BBQ’s. The result was almost catastrophic for an industry long set in its ‘sedentary’ ways with a relatively well known summer need.

The Covid-19 pandemic stuck a spanner in those works though: the use of BBQs went up, increasing the demand for bottled gas. Companies like Calor apparently laid off staff or furloughed them. Then as the country opened up they couldn’t keep up with demand. They didn’t have enough fillers in their depots or drivers to collect bottles.

The greatest shortage seemed to be with the 4.5 kg butane bottles and the 3.9 kg propane bottles. For us, at one point, it was dire.

We began to obtain stores for cold meals…

We had already been eating ashore far more than we ever had before. It is relatively expensive and more often than not, the quality is decidedly under par. Whimbrel’s evening food is renowned!

Moored off Methersgate Quay, I was phoning stockists with telephone numbers fed from Christobel at our laptop. That was in the first days of August, having just changed to our spare bottle.

The Woodbridge Tidemill Marina had none. In fact they hadn’t at the time had a delivery since September 2020!

One marina told Christobel that they offered to take their empties to Calor. Calor so no: it’s illegal!

I found three 4.5 kg butanes available from Calor … in Orsett. The lady on phone didn’t know where Woodbridge was and just about knew Suffolk! They weren’t going to deliver…

We had the promise of a bottle from a gardening centre on the outskirts of Ipswich … a later call said they had three bottles delivered from a large order, but no 4.5s… They even offered to let me exchange an empty with one of theirs that I was told felt ‘half full’… Kind of them!

Leaving the Deben we stopped at Harwich before going to Pin Mill and onward to Fox’s Marina in Ostrich Creek. We like it there.

The big Morrison Store in Harwich had none, so, I called Fox’s Chandlery. Yes, they had some propane. Yes they would under the circumstances exchange a butane for a propane. Thank you…

The cooker we fitted to Whimbrel a few years ago could run on either gas without nozzle changes. A correct regulator was obviously needed! We decided to make the change complete for we both had memories of a winter sail when it was too cold for our butane bottle to feed the cooker – no hot drink!

As we neared the end of August, we popped into Tollesbury Marina. Bingo. They’d had a delivery of gas the previous day and had butane and propane in the smaller sizes. They too exchanged a butane for a propane…

The rest is now history.

We arrived home at the end of September’s second week with our first propane 3.9 kg bottle in use and a spare comfortably snuggled close to it…

The Royal Yachting Association did not mention any gas shortage during the summer at all: there were no news updates down the ‘wires’…

All they seem to have been interested in was the Olympic jamborees out in Japan. As laudable it was to celebrate Team GB & NI success, the ‘common’ sailor either day-sailed between food stops or didn’t go sailing: the waters were exceedingly quiet.

We met countless boat owners in search of gas. One friend didn’t have this problem – the boat is fitted with a modern diesel cooker.

I would have thought the RYA were just the organisation who should have been making remonstrations to the gas industry on our collect behalf. I

wonder sometime why I continue to be a member…

I have written to them…

Happy autumn sailing.

Some while ago I wrote about a few of the barge-yachts I knew about and of the lovely Tiny Mite which I’d learnt had then come onto the market.

The little ship has been extensively rebuilt, sadly, however, the owner no longer has the health to enjoy his years of work.

Walking past the Leigh-on-Sea Motor Boat Club, I saw that their gate was open and several ‘old boys’ were having tea just inside the gate. I amble in for a chat, as one does…

See my post from last autumn:

Ditch-crawler looks at several barge yachts seen in recent travels…

The Tiny Mite has now sat out of the water for nearly a year, which is far too long. Talking to the members of the club I heard that several people had been to look at the little ship recently, but that no offers had been made. So, she has not yet found a new owner…

I had a walk round the outside of the hull. Cosmetic work obviously needs to be carried out. The hull looks to be sound – although there has been an opening up of some seams. She needs to be afloat!

Sadly, if a new owner does not materialise then a degradation of current condition will surely take place.

Currently, she must be a good proposition for an owner with some carpentry skills and the time to bring her back to cosmetic brilliance. As far as I know the little ship is sound and not in need of difficult work: it having largely been completed by the current owner…

There must be someone who would love to potter the estuary in her…

Since writing this the other day, Fred Cozens, the owner, has contacted for a chat. He is okay, but has a health problem which disallows strenuous activities and is the reason for selling.

Fred says that he is looking for sensible offers. He has a wealth of knowledge of the little ship and will appraise a new owner of known works that he himself would have done.

Unfortunately, the barge lost its mainsail in a blow. There isn’t a spare, but the other sails are with the barge-yacht.

The little ship has been in Fred’s care for forty years now and would suit a like-minded soul both young enough to do what’s necessary and old enough to understand. She isn’t for any starry eyed sailor…

Price: Sensible offers only! Work requirements can be priced in to an extent.

Contacts: Fred’s cousin – Steve Shelders, telephone – 01702 558976

or, The Leigh-on-Sea Motor Boat Club: www.leighmotorboatclub.com

Wow, what a success this year’s Queenborough’s Traditional Festival was.

The weather was kind and puff-ball clouds slowly crossed sunny blue skies after early morning high grey cloud cleared away. A late summer carnival atmosphere soon enveloped us all, with people wanting to visit the assembled fleet…

I’m told that nearly 2000 people visited the vessels on the pontoons. It was a great pity more owners didn’t sign up to bring their traditional boats, it was generally said… More on this later!

Whimbrel arrived before noon on the Friday. We had spent the previous night in the quiet of The Lillies under Elmley Island.

We had sailed there from Faversham, as too had the steam tug Barking which passed us some while after we were anchored up had also steamed down Faversham Creek: we had seen her up at the Town Quay.

We awoke promptly on the Friday and the mate busied herself with our tea and coffee while I ran the riding light down and shortened the anchor cable.

After a ‘scratch’ breakfast, we were away, sailing off our anchor, bound first for the bridge (to disrupt rush hour local traffic) and then to one of our favourite harbours…

In the harbour, we swung to a buoy until called alongside in time for a trundle ashore for a beer (or two) at the Admiral’s Arm.

During the afternoon, various vessels began to arrive. I knew from the mooring plan that there were not going to be huge numbers of us, however, quality was in attendance…

A couple of craft failed to pitch up…

Saturday dawned a little overcast with a high greyness through which, though, the sun could be felt. Boats not already flying bunting soon had it run up.

Before the gates were opened, we pottered ashore for a newspaper and visited the harbour market, which, for the weekend was going to be open on both days.

The market is arranged along the quay bordering the creek and was started earlier this year as Covid-19 restrictions allowed. On the way we bumped into the owners of the Edith May.

There was an eclectic array of stalls selling home baked cakes and savouries, arty stuff and other celebratory paraphernalia.

Two little starlets were given the full tour below by Whimbrel’s mate and ended up having a peak into the ship’s store locker. Wide eyes spotted goodies galore!

The two young ladies took the helm whilst daddy photographed them. I think the older one really wanted to stay…

At some point a lady from the Queenborough Yacht Club came aboard with her sister. Both were amazed at the space below and the vastness of her storage capacity.

An ‘old stager’ dating back to the end of barging, mostly on motorised craft popped over for a chat. We’d passed him with a QYC group while on our way up to Pin Mill in early August.

Nice chap and was the ‘Old man in a boat’ we followed around the edges of Stangate Creek which featured in one of my yarns – A Mystery – in Salt, Marsh & Mud.

Both of us made time to escape independently from time to time, sometimes not getting far: punters would ask questions ad want to visit.

Over on Doris, the venerable old Leigh Bawley, The owner’s partner and sister were essentially holding the fort for her owner was on duty for the day – being a harbour operative. Bless!

I just had to climb aboard the Edith May and have a chat to her owners – trouble was I ended up bringing people back to Whimbrel – old Upchurchonians!

I even managed to get out for a sail in the tender…

Early in the afternoon of Sunday, Tiny Mite needed to break way to enable her to return to Faversham. We moved off and back in onto the pontoon.

The crowds thinned, the sun waned and as I hauled our flags down, I felt a certain level of sadness for it was all over. It was a sadness tinged with the elation of a job well one. It was a success…

Early on Monday morning we set the Genoa, slipped our moorings and crept away, hoisting main when clear.

We crept out of the West Swale, past the Queenborough Spit buoy, homebound. It was around forty-six days since I sailed in with a cousin and a brother for a trip up to Pin Mill. It was the weekend of the Swale Smack & Barge Match and the weather deteriorated on Friday blowing almost a gale, but we had a cracking double reefed main sail round to Harty and to Pin Mill on the Saturday…

It all seemed a long time ago!

On the way out, Christobel grilled bacon and we had a tasty breakfast…

It was a fast passage and we went the ‘long’ way via the Nore, West Shoebury and then to the Pier, before stemming the last of the ebb into the Ray Channel.

Yes, I had a dip, much to the horror of my good mate. The boat’s bottom hadn’t had time to get dirty after our scrubbing on Mundon Point and Osea Is. beach some two weeks previously.

We were nearly home…

So, what else did we see and what were my thoughts: there were several old work boats (excluding the barge and bawley). The tugs, Barking and Kent looked resplendent and the workaday X-Pilot, a busy little ship normally.

What was apparent, from the berthing list, and the cancelation of a couple of little ships, was the dearth of traditional yachts. The harbour authority have expended a good deal of effort and the community, businesses and they themselves seem to have created a ‘highball’ cocktail that works.

More is needed closer to the water venue, to lead people on. I mentioned this…

Whimbrel has never experienced so many keen, starry eyed visitors, that is for sure. But, without more craft, or to the point, more owners coming forward and supporting the event it cannot move on.

Talking to the river’s heritage ‘king pin’ he too agreed, but was delighted with the progress made ashore especially.

Work in progress, must be the footnote.

So, please, traditional craft owners, try and make a date in your calendars for next year and show eager members of the public the love, enthusiasm and pleasure you have for your mistresses…

While visiting Brightlngsea I had a walk around the hard standing within Morgan’s boat yard.

Over the years I have followed with my camera the progress, or not, of long term projects. It has been at least three years since my last walk around and changes have happened.

The yard has undergone a few changes. Many of the old house boat type ‘wrecks’ along the shore have been removed. The hard stand has bee improved. There is a planning application for an extension out over the mud flats and increased marina space into the river – I will comment in this in a separate post…

The barge-yacht is not unique but she is unusual in having a carvel planked construction. The little ship has been in the yard for a number of years and if my memory serves, not a lot has changed since last here in the summer of 2019.

Although she looks essentially sound from the outside, sadly, the ship may have sailed her last passage.

The Colchester smack Shamrock looks as if it is about ready for the bonfire. Fear not… The day after we sailed away from St Osyth, the Shamrock was lifted onto a lorry and taken up to the St Osyth Boatyard where she is to be reconstructed…

Good news indeed!

The Hillyard I came across is also destined for St Osyth. I was talking to a chap up that way who has a large yacht alongside the quay – he acquired the vessel with a view for local cruising.

Another good news story in the making.

Time has moved on and we have passed through Maylandsea where at the Blackwater Marina there has for years been a number of projects. One was the Maldon smack Joseph T, sadly, the yard manager told me that last year she was chopped up and taken away.

The Joseph T was almost unique for there are not many of the Maldon oyster dredgers left. I am not an aficionado, so am treading on quicksand her!

At the back of the Blackwater Marina yard is a large group of vessels, perhaps once a family’s pride and joy, moldering away.

At Burnham Marina I learnt that the second hand boat market has continued to be buoyant, however, the good ship has to be in a fit state to attract a buyer…

Happy sailing!