Aldeburgh 2008

Wix and Wrabness Yacht Club

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

Tel 01255 870777

It was too good to last! We were back to two boats for Aldeburgh. Two boats two tenders, one outboard and six people.

It was breezy again, max wind speed on the way there was 33 knots, although for once it was aft of the beam and we had a lively run/reach to the Ore entrance and at least we were sailing!

The entrance was exciting with the boats touching 10 knots aided by the last of the flood (a different story coming out the next day). The trip up the Alde also had its moments with whiteouts and hail storms (although certain crew members opted out of the full experience).

The lively sailing at least ensured that the visitors moorings at Aldeburgh were free and the excitement continued with the trip to shore with two tenders, six people and one engine.

We enjoyed a very hospitable welcome at the Aldeburgh Yacht Club as well as enjoying their very reasonably priced bar, including Suffolk Cider.

On to the lovely town of Aldeburgh and the spectacular fish and chips (not to mention the mushy peas eh Debbie?).

An early start, plus the prospect of transferring between boats in the recently forecast force 8, led to common sense finally getting the better of us and opting for an early, if windy (at least on Full Circle) night.

Sunday dawned brighter and a leisurely departure at 09.30allowed us time to explore before the tide allowed us to exit the Ore, taking in Abraham's Bosum (apparently not the biggest one the Yacht Club had ever seen) and the Butley River, which was a delight, if a bit lonely for the ferry man.

Once out of the Ore entrance at 12.30, we went from less than a knot over the ground under full engine power (at the tide tried to keep us in Orford) to 8 knots under reefed main and genoa with a beam reach in 14- 28 knots of breeze. Back at Pye End before 14.00, I now remember why I go sailing. Sometimes it all comes together!

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