West force five
gusting seven was the day’s forecast, a healthy breeze for making our way up to
Ipswich. The aim of the cruise was to hopefully make it to Ipswich for a trip
into town as well as to properly test out the boat in more challenging
conditions after more sedate cruising during the spring.
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Sailing Away from the mooring,( sorry it didn't allow
me to turn it round) |
As Sam and I
trudged across the beach to get to the dinghy, we noticed the full force of the
wind as it laid a boat beating up river to Manningtree on its beam ends. We were not put aback however, for we would
be sailing before the wind (most of the way at least). As we hauled the last of
the kit aboard, we spotted a dark cloud looming over the horizon. For a few
seconds I considered abandoning the trip but soon gave the idea up as the
prospect of the sail became more and more exciting.
We slipped the mooring
and sailed off under jib only, Due to the touch of southerly in the wind we
made sure we kept to the weather shore of the Stour in order to prevent us
having to use the engine if we were caught too close to the lee shore,( not an
inviting prospect). Soon we were
storming passed the Royal Hospital School making seven knots with the tide
under us. I decided to pull on some backstay just to stop the mast leaning
forward casing the luff of the jib to sag heavily to windward, (In order to
prevent this happening I later bought a couple of blocks to act as a downhaul
on the jib, in turning preventing the hair raising experience of the mast
bending so much and also improving windward performance).
Soon enough we were round bloody point in Harwich and making
our way up sea reach. Soon enough we realised` we had to get the main up in
order to luff up enough and continue to sail. Luckily I had already fully
reefed the main allowing it to be put up quickly and easily. By the time we got
to Levington we had been sailing for just an hour and a half but must have
sailed an astonishing ten or so miles. As we made our way in to the Orwell it
meant we were now against the tide which was soon to been our downfall. The
wind was now blowing down dead down the Orwell forcing us to beat up to our
destination, but beating is not the preferred point of sail for my boat drawing
only 18 inches very useful for ditch crawling. We were soon also on our beam ends and needed
to reef the jib. The problem is that reefing the jib on the move is a hard
process (my boat has reef points in the jib and only one set of sheets) but all
the mooring buoys were filled up. Unwilling to anchor among mooring buoys and
now on a falling tide, I finally was forced to reef while moving, I ducked
through the cabin and was able to reef while standing in the forehatch lowering
the tack of the jib into place was simple enough however repositioning the
sheets was a much harder job. Soon enough however, the process was complete.
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| In Wolverstone Mariner |
A little later, we realized
that we had seen and avoided the same wooden yacht on her mooring quite a few
times. Furthermore an uncomfortable chop was building up in the classic estuary
style, and the first few drops of rain had begun to fall, continually increasing
and eventually forcing us into full oilies. We decided that it had to be a
mariner, (something I would rather not do if it was possible to just anchor and
dry out). Soon enough we got the small mariner two stoke to splutter into life
and pushed us gently into Wolverstone mariner, (in the back of our minds we
both feared that we would run out of fuel as we had neglected to believe that
we would have a need to motor. That night we cooked a fine chicken tika masla
in the cockpit, the only problem being that the wooded spoon is now permanently
died an orange colour even after countless attempts scrub it.
That morning we
were able to enjoy the full convenience of a mariner, after a hearty full English
a must have on a boat. Dad arrived later with a full can of petrol and two
stroke oil, allowing us to use the engine again, if need be. At midday we
finally left Wolverstone for Ipswich, a strong wind still persisted however luckily
enough the wind had shifted a 180 degrees allowing us to push on for Ipswich
just under jib. By the time we had the lock gates in sight we had radioed the
lock and had the jib down allowing us to manoeuvre safely into the lock and
onto Ipswich haven mariner.
Once inside and
after a quick lunch we set off for the town namely pound land to buy a few
quick essentials such as sweets and batteries. Later on we also went to the
cinema to watch men in black three. However, we had to dash back at the end due
to a quite a vicious rain storm. Once in the comfort of the cabin we were able
to settle down and eat a vast quantity of pasta and enjoy games of chess and
cards.
The next morning
we were up at five-thirty to catch the best of the tide. When the alarm rang we
noticed that the rain still pattered lightly down. The night before I had
already filled the kettle, allowing us to enjoy a quick hot chocolate and an
instant porridge. As we climbed gently out of the cabin, avoiding the worst of
the water; we were greeted with the sight of a mill pond, the wind had now completely
disappeared. Thank god we had filled up with petrol the night before.
As
we came out of the lock we accounted our first problem, stupidly we knocked a
rope overboard and it tangled itself around the prop. Luckily we caught hold of
the pontoon again, allowing us to easily lift the engine on-board to sort out
the problem. After attempting to untie the rope from the prop, we were forced
to cut it and then continue.
As we left the
lock astern we spotted a seal swimming around. It was quite a sight to see
nature so close at hand with the industrial heart of Ipswich.
As we
passed pin mill we encountered the second of the days problems, attempting to
avoid the worst of the tide, we sailed in the shallows using the marked up boat
hook to sound, (I find echo sounders ineffective at such depths and in less
than six foot of water is the only time I need to now the depth; furthermore
they are expensive), We were motoring along in less than 3 foot of water
avoiding the worst of the rising tide. However we failed to spot a small
sandbank ahead and ran gently aground. Soon enough I threw the anchor into
deeper water and was able to drag myself back. We also turned the engine round,
(it has no astern or neutral gear) and powered ourselves astern. After rather a
dreary morning of intermittent showers this cheered us up and soon I went into
the cabin to prepare toast and jam, a real delight.
As
we came up to Levington we were singing a loud rendition of Jerusalem, it was
soon stopped by the spluttering of the engine as it cut out; it had run out of
fuel! However we were able to get it too splutter into life for long enough to
get us onto a nearby mooring. There we were able to fill up the tank again.
This lead to my technique while motoring with my outboard that has a small internal
tank of running it right out and then refuelling. Soon we were under way and in
Harwich harbour. Just off Parkston quay we ran out of fuel again, refuelling
was less easy this time in the Harwich harbour slop!
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| The final swoop onto the mooring under jib only |
Soon
enough we were anchored under Sutton point for a final night. Sam swam ashore
with a stern line in order for us to dry perpendicular to the shore. As we
dried out on the harder ground the rudder began to rub and grind resulting in
some minor damage to the pintless, ( the following week it was removed and
modified allowing it to be lifted).We were able to go for a stroll ashore and
then a handsome meal of rare sirloin steak and potatoes that were boiled for
five minutes then thinly chopped and fried in plenty of butter, resulting in a
something not dissimilar to chips.
The
final day let us enjoy a fine sail, for once under full sail. A perfect end to
a very enjoyable cruise, showing that although the Mistley Prawn was not the
most weatherly boat it still did what one wanted and as is said you have much
more fun in a smaller boat. I can really understand this; I don’t understand
why sailing a 25ft or 30ft or even 50ft yacht would be any better
