Scandanavian Seaways Race

The rally resumed with a race from Harwich to the Deben. It started at the Dovercourt Breakwater at 1030, but we took longer than expected to get to the start so we were ten minutes late over the line. We had our ensign flying, and it turns out that you should not fly the ensign while racing, so we got yelled at! (Not in a bad way, just to let us know it was wrong!)

We managed to almost catch up with one boat, Carima, before reaching the finish line at the Woodbridge Haven Safe Water Mark at 1228. The safe water mark shows where to start the passage to enter the River Deben, which has a complicated entrance with shifting sand banks. It felt good to have Carima to follow but the entrance is well marked and the instructions in the pilot are very clear.

We sailed up the river past Felixstow Ferry, but soon after ran aground by not taking enough notice of the curve of the river. Luckily we were on a rising tide and floated off within 20 minutes. Luckily Julia in Carima noticed we had problems and came back to stand by and then lead us on the safe course up the river. This time it felt absolutely necessary to have a boat that knows the waters in front of us! She led us on a short cut that avoided the busy moorings at Waldringfield. It felt very shallow!

We picked up a mooring buoy at the entrance to the Tide Mill Marina in Woodbridge. Access to the marina is narrow, and over a sill so we had to wait until we were called in. The boats that had reached there ahead of us (20+ Old Gaffers) had had to wait longer until there was enough water over the sill. We had to wait an hour before we got in, and we were then rafted up on a modern boat just by the entrance.

We spent Sunday in Ipswich, shopping in the morning then watching the regatta. Looks silly, and fun. The weather was perfect for it, bright sunshine.

We should have been heading to the Walton Backwaters with the Old Gaffers, today but the wind was too strong and in the wrong direction so that part of the rally was cancelled.

Motor sailed from Ipswich to Shotley. There is a slight tear in the staysail, so we mended it with sail repair tape as a temporary measure.

The August Classics Cruise

Went up to Robinetta on Friday night to finish reassembling the cabin before our first long cruise, a week with the Old Gaffers racing and touring round the local rivers. Strictly speaking it’s the racing series that is called the August Classics, but the same name seems to be used for the week long cruise that is built around the racing. Robinetta is not a racing boat, but the cruise looks interesting since it is scheduled to go to places we haven’t been yet.

We managed to get everything in place and luggage/provisions stowed by 1600 on Saturday then cruised up the Orwell, past Pin Mill and all the way to Ipswich which we’ve not done before. We entered the lock with 9 other boats, most of them heading for the rally.

We tied up at Ipswich Haven Marina alongside Charm, a very smart small gaff yawl.

Harwich Sea Festival

We took part in an unofficial OGA race as part of the Harwich Festival of the Sea. We don't point up as well as some of the other boats. Managed to overtake the Quiz on a beam reach but drifted further and further behind on the beat.

Course was Halfpenny Pier to Fort to Parkeston, back to Fort and then past the pier. Rafted up by the Trinity House quay for a cup of tea and then went home.

Having problems

Decided to take her up the Orwell for a change. Bit of a swell. Motored a little way up the Orwell and turned round to raise sail. Couldn't make it work right and got quite stressed. Partly the new gaff saddle, partly the swell, partly getting our ropes mixed up.

New Gaff Saddle

Murray McPhail at Classic Marine in Woodbridge made us a new gaff saddle in steel.

We took her out into the bay to try it out. Very little wind, mostly motor sailing. Used the topsail too.

It doesn't sit right like the old one did. We have to pull on the throat halyard to nudge it into position against the mast.

Lovely broad reach back to Shotley. Big queue to lock-in. Messed about sailing on the jib alone for practice while we waited our turn.

Out with Ben

Took Ben out with us for the afternoon. Beat up the Stour to Wrabness and then ran back down.

Tiller felt a bit heavy, Ben pulled some strings and all of a sudden she was perfectly balanced - his Yachtmaster training really worked!

Freeflow through the lock on the way back in.

Aluminium gaff saddle found to be collapsed due to metal fatigue.