Wix and Wrabness Yacht Club 

Dove Cottage Oakley Road Wix Nr. Manningtree Essex. CO11 2SE

                                                                                        Tel 01255 870777

The Club's first full year with a complete cruising programme.

New boats, new crew and a host of new destinations including, Southwold, Bradwell, Burnham and a European Cruise with a whole new angle, wives and girlfriends to keep us on the straight and narrow.

Several new members went sailing with the club for the first time, whether it was a day sail, a trip up the Stour to the club barbecue, or across the North Sea.

A blisteringly hot August (temperatures reached over 100 degrees fahrenheit) with a summer of sailing, swimming and socialising.  The club was well and truly established and going from strength to strength.

Year's highlights

   1.    Southwold    

The club's first venture to Southwold, engines there, great sail back,  with Full Circle taking line honours in the spirited return journey, despite Freydis' best efforts, sailing through the overfalls and clean over the Whiting Bank!

Very late nights with all night parties (Fi and Rupert!!!) and a few stowaways on the return trip, (Sophie and Emily).

2.    European Cruise

With Kevin having taken delivery of his new boat, Levanter, a whole 2 days before, 3 boats, Levanter, Freydis and Full Circle, set off for Oostende at 04.30, having imbibed freely the night before at an impromptu naming party for Levanter.

 

Light winds meant motoring most of the way, with two brief attempts to sail near each coast.  After an uneventful passage (just as well, given the lack of sleep the night before), secured at Oostende at 20.00.

What followed over the week included, mainly sunshine, one force 7 on the nose (Oostende to Nieuwpoort), another broken boat, (Freydis, stern gland).  An enforced 3 night stay in Dunkerque, (where the Cruising secretary vowed the club would never visit again as it seems to be cursed), and 225 miles of light winds (good for Levanter, horrid for everyone else), nightly sampling of European cuisine (and beverages), and 8 very tired but generally happy crew.

 

    Useful Links:    Royal Yachting Association.   The Met Office.     Weather Online.      UK Hydrographic Office Easy tide.

Deben Entrance.     Orford Entrance.    www.marinas.com        Stour Sailing Club.        Windfinder.com

Copyright © Wix & Wrabness Yacht Club 2002 - 2007