Brightlingsea 2013

Within the Club and the various committees much discussion and planning goes into producing a varied and interesting programme of events. One regular feature is the Club Cruise to Brightlingsea and as the Late Summer Bank Holiday weekend ends on a near perfect summer's day I can assure everyone we really must come back again, a lovely weekend.

We should also spread the word on the pleasure to be had and the welcome we receive in the harbour and town despite some aspects being basic. More of that later.

As for a start, your regular cruise organiser was too busy sailing to be organising a sign up sheet, the Forum was quiet and as the week before the weekend arrived it looked as if this may not be a great one!

The weather was signalling some mixed reception and summer seemed to have been and gone with a late appearance our only hope. Rear Commodore and Race Organiser in their cat/tri were on the water anyway, I had a bit of crew available, others were wavering or wondering.

Then it all fell into place, Jollyphonics, Sisu, Kailani, Ember all signed up at the Club, Ian and his barge also, with Elysium, Physeline, Starry, Woodstock Hi, Aurai, Kooukmalou and Lady Liz all let me know by one route or another.

Boat list to Harbour Master, guess at 25 Diners forwarded to Colne YC, agreed Sunday evening as it really dawned how awkward the tides might be for anyone restricted to the weekend only! It was also a mighty spring tide to work with and the weather outlook was rubbish.

My own plans were constrained by crew arriving Friday evening, others got to Stangate that evening and tide wise departure was either 0300 or 1500, give or take your own approach to passage plans. What was clear that rain was only a matter of when it started and just how heavy was heavy rain going to be?

What the heck, crew arrived 10:00 decided to head down river, anchored off Thamesport, got a couple of hours kip. Set off 03:30, inspired choice to do first shift. Second shift was very wet. Tide gave an exciting ride, 8.5 kts was held from Sheerness to Blacktail Spit, the rest of the buoys arriving quicker than ever.

Half the fleet was in on the Friday, most of the rest following me at a more gentlemanly wake up time, we got to Pyefleet by 09:30 ish and had to wait for water to get in. The ride was wet or wetter and much discussion on waterproofs failing! Visibility was poor and wind varying quite dramatically from 2 to 15 kts?

Harbour team berth you very diligently and by early afternoon all but two were in. In the event Lady Liz chose not to travel in the conditions and Koukmalou set off much later and arrived on the Sunday evening but well done all the same, I bet their first beer tasted sublime. The pontoons are secure though no electricity or water supply.

Most of us paddled around the town that afternoon and evening, with a three way dining choice, the YC, the Yachtsman's Arms and the Indian. 9 of us going ethnic and all reporting good food at each choice and value.

Sunday was a slow start and a bit of boat moving, Neil undercutting the water taxi and all that boat stuff going on, it was also Sharon's birthday, with Physeline and Aurai putting some bunting out. Martin Smith checking our flag etiquette and Martin Richards confirming I could nearly spell.

Then it was drinks on Spice Cat, for everyone, great stateroom Wil! Wait a minute is that not my Upnor friends, supposed to be in Tollesbury I thought. Quick check and a spontaneous suggestion, they agreed to join us for dinner. Dinner was lovely, dining room full of guests, we got to 29 with four from Upnor, Rear Com, delegated his after dinner upwards, a lot of balls on Starry. Commodore gave a speech, and learned about a club, with no boats, moorings or clubhouse, 155 members, RYA accredited and a Lady Commodore, now there is a thought.

Our Commodore checked everyone's Passage Plans, some less detailed than others. Suggest you speak to Mike T if you want to see how a proper one is written!

Monday dawned with brisk NE, bright sunshine and as the boats nearly all left for home at 07:30 or so, it seemed a perfect day in prospect and I bet it was. We stayed in port longer and I write this at anchor with a beer in my hand and think it just does not get better than this even with Jan's jokes.

Charles Hessey

Date Published 15th Sep 2013