Kent, September News

I enjoyed organising the “meet” but my goodness, the weather !!!

Despite the horrific weather, most of us had a jolly good weekend…… Ian Griffiths had to remain at home, a combination of worries over his eyesight and the unhealthy weather forecast. This also put John Calver off who was intending sailing down on his own, but decided that this might not be prudent. David and Carol Steptoe also couldn’t make it because of sickness [not sea sick I might add]. They were all missed. We wish Ian every good wish and hope that he can join us on another occasion and trust that David and Carol have made a full recovery? 

On Saturday morning I had a telephone call from Sweet Surrender, where are you ? You will of course know that those who have to travel furthest, always arrive first and those who are nearest arrive last. And so it was that David Holden [Skeetwell] and myself [Dawn Owl] arrived last. On arrival we found Sweet Surrender, Tabitha, Humdinger, Khamsin of Hamble, and another CA member Lady Rosemary at anchor. The land forecast, up to now, had been reasonable.     

We all met on board Dawn Owl for drinks and nibbles with Skeetwell rafted up alongside. Then, the weather rapidly deteriorated. We were aware that, although we were at anchor, other boats were passing us by !!! The skies had darkened, a squall had blown up and the tide was running strongly eastwards. Having started the engine and gently got under way [so as not to disturb the members below], we weighed anchor and proceeded to re-anchor. It was very soft mud!  Party over, everyone returned safely to their own boats but we had all enjoyed a good evening with lots of exchanges of news and stories. The inshore forecast was not good for Sunday, NW F8 maybe F9. Early on Sunday morning two boats came up and felt it prudent to return to port. After discussions it was felt prudent to move up the Swale to a more sheltered location. Sweet Surrender also felt it sensible to slip and proceed home. It was like 10 green bottles sitting on the wall ! Eventually three of us moved. 

So Sunday night eventually saw the numbers for supper [and I was the cook] reduce from 20 to 4 persons.  The weather had and was awful, there was now a forecast of F9 NW to N in place. Three of us “lost our balls”  - anchor balls, with the wind whistling around us.  From Alison and John “We had the best two sails this season, so we are very pleased we decided to come in spite of the forecast. The trip over was brilliant and, while the return journey was considerably slower, Tuesday was a lovely day and we were able to sail the length of the Crouch without recourse to engine. All in all a great weekend in spite of the challenging conditions”. From Syd Platt “We had a bumpy ride back to Queenborough and a very hairy time as we were about to enter at Garrison Point for a while, when that violent squall hit us. Viz dropped to zero, very worrying, as an outgoing ship was spotted, coming at us. We lost visual contact with it, but luckily at the last moment it emerged again and we passed ok.

We managed to pick up a Queenborough mooring but my crew said it was too rough to risk putting ashore for a meal”. So all in all an interesting and challenging weekend, so much for the original land forecast……. 

Well where next year ?  Pyfleet, Stone Point, West Mersea, Limehouse, Faversham, Dover, Gravelines ? – always looking for ideas !!! Thanks to everyone who helped make the weekend……… ……… Best wishes Clifford Joint Secretary – Kent Section