Tollesbury

The main reason for moving out of Shotley was to have a different set of options for day sails. We love the Stour and the Orwell and we had really only started to explore the Walton backwaters but there are other great places too. There are lots of other benefits and quite a few negatives – more on that another time.

West Mersea is a lot like Shotley in one sense – there are lots of places to go nearby. Of course our first departure was to Fambridge – not that nearby! We definitely wanted to go out today but there was not much wind forecast and the port winch was not working and we couldn't leave home until about 9:30.

We also wanted to get diesel. We used quite a lot on the way to and from Fambridge, as well as some getting to West Mersea at Easter. The nearest places to get diesel from a pump straight into the boat are Bradwell Marina and Tollesbury Marina, both really nearby. Tollesbury is a long way up a drying creek and is really only accessible to Robinetta at high water springs. Bradwell is a little easier. Today was springs and high water was around 2:30pm – the perfect opportunity for a trip to Tollesbury to get diesel and lunch!

By the time we got to the boat, it was gone noon. There was a lot more wind than forecast but not in a great direction for getting to Tollesbury. Then the depth gauge decided not to give any reading, which is not great for beating up a narrow channel so we decided to just motor. It might be the first time we have ever gone out with no intention of raising sail! We did get the cover off and set up the topping lifts and the peak halyard just in case we had engine troubles. Time was getting on so we left fixing the winch until we got back.

The trip was uneventful. We entered the marina at five past two with the gauge on the sill reading 8'6" of water. There was a boat moored on the fuel dock but they helped us raft up and we fuelled with no problems and went for lunch at the Cruising Club. It’s a small marina with a good chandlers and the welcome at the CC was excellent, as was the "remnants" of the carvery. The chap at the bar wasn't sure there was enough left as they had been very busy but they managed to pile our plates high! The Maldon Gold bitter was in excellent condition and we even got a discount for coming by boat!

The was 9' over the sill at 14:30 so I reckoned we probably had two hours before we had to get out but we still had that winch to fix and the weather had cheered up a bit after having been resolutely dull all morning. So we dropped the mooring around 15:30 with 8' over the sill. We had the engine idling to give us steerage way over the tide and got pushed out of the creek at 3 to 4 knots. The channel markers were bent nearly horizontal with the strength of the tidal stream and by the time we passed the outer tidal gauge it said 7'. I'm not sure the rule of twelfths applies here! I must look at the almanac.

The return journey was also uneventful, and we had some blue sky and a little warmth from the sun on our backs. All-in all we had a very pleasant little trip with everything going to plan. Surely we can't have been out in a boat ?