Wix and Wrabness Yacht Club 

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

                                                                                        Tel 01255 870777

So here it is at last.  All the fettling, polishing, engine rebuilds, secret weapons for increased speed culminating in the first cruise of the season.  An opportunity to impress everyone with a new found turn of speed and ever increasing numbers of "luxury" fittings clogging up the boat and slowing it down again.

March came in like a lion, so should be going out like a lamb, but as ever, there was sting in the tail.  Gale force winds and driving snow of all things!

It was even colder than the Christmas Eve cruise.

Saturday was a write off with force 9 northerlies forecast so having fitted mainsails in the snow, 4 boats proceeded down Twizzle on Sunday for Ipswich with Octima and our youngest intrepid sailor James, in the vanguard, followed by our oldest intrepid sailor Mike chasing them down in Irela .

Rivalries reached a new pitch as snowball fights provided a new distraction.  Trafalgar must have been like this with cannonballs bouncing off coach-roofs as the rival men o' war traded broadsides.

The snow was kind enough to start 30 mins before we set off, staying with us until we arrived in Ipswich.  Jumping off to more up onto frozen pontoons covered in 2 inches of snow brought a whole new slant to dancing on ice.

After a very sorry interlude to watch football best forgotten, it was off for the traditional curry for 13.  A thoroughly pleasant evening, prior to a rather early night (a bit too chilly for 13 to sit around in cockpits).

Monday morning brought thick heads, a further sprinkling of the white stuff and some blustery north westerlies to blow us home.  After a bit of a false start and some coaxing of reluctant diesels (they work so much better with fuel), we set off to enjoy free flow through the lock and a spirited sail home.

 

One for the records this, and although some of the participants have spoken of little else, some have decided the experience was definitely a one off, with a bid for sailing in warmer climes (or at least above freezing) a prominent topic of discussion.

 

    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