Southwold 2 2005

Wix and Wrabness Yacht Club

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

Tel 01255 870777

It's like London buses, you can't get there seemingly for ever, and then you are there twice in a month.

The people of Southwold must have forgiven us for previous indiscretions, for we were back again at the end of May. As usual, musical crews, landlubbers arriving by road and hedonistic sampling of the delights of the Adnams brewery were the order of the day.

A lively sail up in a force 5 from the port quarter and flat seas found most boats skipping along under genoas only. A passage of 34 miles (against the tide) saw us off Southwold entrance at lunchtime. Freydis, under genoa only made suspiciously fast time, blasting past everyone, (with barely a wisp of smoke from the exhaust).

Rafted 4 out, a thoroughly enjoyable weekend was had by all with the opportunity to visit the lovely town of Southwold, renew old friendships and even the opportunity to meet an artist whose watercolour my wife had expertly chosen and purchased some 20 years before!

After a number of crew changes for the trip home, the sun having blessed us for most of the weekend, decided to hide halfway back and rain clouds gathered.

Still, a fair force 3 breeze and favourable tide allowed a pleasant sail home, even allowing a quick diversion to check the bouyage at the entrance to the Ore, for a trip later in the year.

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