I had a bit of a shock when away sailing overnight at the beginning of last week. After running the engine for a short while during a thirty n.mile day sail, I noticed when back under sail with a freshening breeze that there was water sloshing in Whimbrel’s normally water free bilge. Shock, horror! After…

The history of the title ‘East Coast Rivers‘ is far longer than the first edition of Jack Coote’s Thames estuary master piece which appeared in the 1950s and was update regularly until Jack’s death. In 1903, S. V. S. C. Messum, Lieut., R.N., had written and had published by J. D. Potter, Admiralty Agent for…

It has been a glorious summer across a lot of the country but especially so in the eastern quarter covering the greater Thames estuary. Aboard the good ship Whimbrel, we’ve had a ball. The weather proved all too good for a migration of rubber dinghies across the English Channel and a vociferous minority began an…

The Lord Nelson and her sister ship Tenacious were owned by the Jubilee Sail Training Trust. Both were built to facilitate wheelchair users and people with abilities turning them into tall ship sailors for a week or two weeks. The trust got into financial difficulties through the build of the sister ship, Tenacious, and funding…

For my recent seventy-first birthday I was given a copy of a book put together by W N Roughead, a sailing companion of Hilaire Belloc. Belloc was born in 1870 and died in 1953. He married in 1896, his wife dying dying in 1914. Much of his life was spent as a widower. The book…

I’m not one to ‘throw myself about’ but several nice events have happened recently. A week or so back when my sister and two friends were aboard we had berthed at the creek side pontoon of the lovely Stour Sailing Club. On our departure day the crew had wandered ashore to pay respects to the…

During June 2025 last year I celebrated my seventieth birthday, this year I celebrated the end of that milestone year – one I may not have reached had I not ‘demanded’ a PSA test when nearly sixty-three, Under the current Government’s dictate (NHS Policy), I’d have gone on to die… Job done! Whimbrel had been…

Back at the beginning of the year Fox’s Marina and yard were sold to Morgan Marine of Brightlingsea which in the process was re-branded, Morgans Group. Brightlingsea – the base for Morgans and where the ‘family’ marina and yard is located. Fox’s Marina and yard will continue to trade under the well known brand name…

The River Deben is certainly well off with a large number of boatyards, and most are not purely for lay up but have a capacity to build and restore wooden craft. GRP owners are catered for with similar overhaul/refit services in their mixes too. At the head of the navigable Deben River, the Larkman’s Yard…

The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) has for a year or so been putting out articles about ‘safety in and around’ the water. These have been in own magazine but oft as not, relayed by Marine Industry News. I have even seen them on social media (facebook) other platforms too, likely. The information has not…

The article below in Marine Industry News is very interesting: it is clear that the USA is moving fast on this matter. I believe it is something the EU and UK should be activating too. The USA Federal Government seems to have taken the lead now with a conference, see below: US summit on abandoned…

Apparently we are into the season of boat shows. Now, I have been to a few boat shows during my sailing life, the first being, probably around fifty years ago at Earls Court. I can remember it being a fun day out. Did I buy anything, No! Years later I attended a couple of shows…

It was with some glee that we got away for the May (Workers) Bank Holiday after all the necessary work of varnishing, deck repairs and internal cleaning. We still have the antifouling to do and it is coming up fast – the mate, in particular is enthralled with this! On the Friday, Christobel had a…

All Thames estuary sailors know the basic story of the Sir Richard Montgomery, the United States ammunition ship that sank on the tail of the Grain Bank in 1944. And, due to a mixed media interest warning of the direst of consequences should the ship explode, people on both sides of the Lower part of…

A while back it was announced in the maritime press that there was to be an International day for bringing together the marine industry, marina/ports and the marine fraternity. This has been set for 23rd May 2026 and apparently has generated much interest with many organisations signing up. Following on, another date has been set…

Yes, I have been getting down to it. Even Christobel has asked if we have enough antifouling paint … indeed, we have (or she has) and discussion has taken place for berth cushion washing and the inside of boat cleaning session… So, during the mixed weather that March threw at us in my little corner…

I had come across this old lady on a visit to The Blackwater Marina at Maylandsea some years ago but now moored and based at this delightful haven, I have taken a greater interest. She is owned by yard manager, Beccs Polden. Vivid at Blackwater Marina – 2023. She has a clinker hull with the…

February aboard Whimbrel got off to a good start. On the first day of the month we got a sail. It wasn’t the best of days but at least the wind had died down to a gentle breeze, enough to sail and feel the boat heel to it. The slight drizzle that passed over from…

Some time ago, sailing into Maldon, I noticed that sediment had been pumped onto the northern sea walled shore of Northey Island – this appeared to be on the inside of the wall. The wall here was more a protection wall. for the tide was free to rise on its inner side where a stretch…

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…