Brightlingsea 2008

Wix and Wrabness Yacht Club

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

Tel 01255 870777

6 boats! Could it be possible? 6 threatened to come but as it turned out our Commodore was too busy parking boats elsewhere and another decided a barbecue (in this weather?) was a better prospect.

Still, there were 4 boats, two new ones, and two "old faithfuls" and a first for WWYC, a ship's cat, although stowed away in the Rosie pod, she was not seen until time for afternoon tea in Brightlingsea.

The forecast was for North West force 4 which would give us a reach all the way, so it was South West, which gave us our customary beat the whole way. Still. with the tide underneath us (at least for the last couple of hours) we braved it and sailed.

As the wind exceeded expectations, Full Circle powered ahead and nothing could get near her even though she took the long way round the Eagle.

Southdowner and Kenspeckle faithfully followed the prescribed route via the North Eagle and Colne Bar, beating against the rising wind and, (due to the incompetence of the Cruising Commodore) for the most part, the tide too. Manfully resisting the temptation to resort the iron topsail, they arrived in time for a circuitous trip to the refurbished Raj Pavilion together with reinforcements from the Tendring Show and the Kelvedon Music Festival. We even had a racing driver make a guest appearance straight from the Ford test track at Dunton.

Sunday brought an unusual sight, the Sun! For what seemed like the first time this year we awoke to bright sunshine and a fair wind which threatened to allow us to point where we wanted to go!

Out came Cruising Chutes and sun tan oil, in went the sun and the wind went round to the north,....... beating again! Still, this time we really did have the tide under us and went from Colne Bar to Pye End in approx 3.5 hours. Pity about the so called Cruising Commodore attempting back flips off the coach-roof and then playing invalid to get everyone else to pack his boat up, stopping everyone getting to the bar at a reasonable hour.

32 miles there, 22 miles home, amazing what a difference the tide can make when you get it right.

A good weekend, with great company and about 50 miles of sailing. nearly as much as we managed in the whole of the two week cruise.

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