mollietteThe annual journal of the WEST MERSEA CLUB Founded 1899

December 2019 Contents

Page

From the Commodore 1 Fastnet - Fast! 2 Fastnet 50 years on 6 Fastnet – Or Bust 8 Tramp K5454 - 40 years of racing 12 The Hebrides - a tale of two summers 14 Loadsa boats 19 West Mersea Lifeboat 20 Week 2019 22 The Life and Times of the ‘Tollesbury Hilton’ 26 Mersea Week Photo Competition Winner 28 Some Lovely Islands 30 Sam’s Race 35 on Tour 38 Racing Roundup 40 House Notes 44 Steady as she goes 45 Funny name - great racing pedigree 46 Club Cruises 48 A Week on Ocean Scout 55 WMYC Centenary - 20 years on 56 Committee Members 2019 58 In Memorium 58 New Members 2019 59 Honours 2019 60

Front cover: ‘Team Reedy’ on Tramp during Mersea Week

Inside front: Still waters. Farthing on Jack

Molliette edited by John Davison 01 MOLLIETTE From the Commodore

By Ian Shay Kevin Edwards Photography Kevin Edwards

s I sit and reflect on my second, with near gale force gusts on the first day sunshine on the French trip. The Sailing and final, year as Commodore I and on the final day’s racing. The club’s Committee have been busy preparing a am drawn once again to Regatta just finished before yet more wet programme for 2020.Please participate mentioning the weather. Who and weather came in. Over the and help them provide the racing you Acan forget Mersea Week’s contrasts - flat week the full programme of keelboat want. The cruising programme is already calm on Monday with horrendous wind racing was completed, but some dinghy available on our website. and rain only two days later? and MFOB races were lost. Thanks go to all our staff together with Race officers Finally I would like to say a few words Our offshore racers competing in the Brian Bolton and Peter Fitt and their about the volunteers who make all this EAORA series and in the Fastnet also teams, the Mersea Week Committee and activity possible. In 2020 Brian and experienced some very challenging all the volunteers who all contribute to Wendy Bolton will be stepping back to conditions. But the club was well the success of the week. During the week do other things. The club owes them a represented, with four member boats we again ran the RNLI Charity Race, huge debt of gratitude for all the years competing in the series and three in the raising an excellent sum of just over £800 they have devoted to managing our Fastnet, with very creditable results. Well for our local lifeboat. On the same day racing. We greatly need new volunteers done indeed to all our members who the MFOBs managed to race for the first to replace all their efforts and if you are took part. Sam Lightfoot Memorial Trophy despite willing to help please contact the Sailing the weather - and had a lot of fun Committee. Richard Matthews had a dominant afterwards. We were delighted that Sam’s EAORA series, winning six firsts with parents were there to present the trophy. The House team has faced a challenging Oystercatcher XXXIII to take the overall time and we are now employing our championship. Michael Wheeler had two For many decades the club has prided third chef in a year. Despite this and firsts in Golden Fleece to win his class itself as being one of the prominent other staffing difficulties, a full social and come third overall. The club’s best racing venues on the East Coast, but like programme has been run with some result came in the Buckley Goblets, with many clubs locally and nationally is notable successes, particularly the a clean sweep of Oystercatcher first with suffering a serious decline in themed evenings. second and third places going to Golden participation. To try and address this Fleece and John Munns’s Dark Horse. decline the Sailing Committee made a The Moorings and Boatyard team have number of changes for the 2019 season. run an efficient and user-friendly launch Oystercatcher and Golden Fleece In particular we moved from local service. YC2 has been running well after competed in the Rolex Fastnet race, handicap racing to IRC racing and a few initial problems with her new together with Ben Morris in Lulotte, in introduced Sunday afternoon starts. In engine and propeller and YC1 is to conditions that saw 62 boats out of 388 addition, sailors’ suppers were provided undergo repairs to her this winter retire. Oystercatcher finished 17th in the after racing on Sundays. Despite these and also requires a new engine. IRC class Z and Golden Fleece 43rd in initiatives the IRC fleet numbers Class IRC4. Lulotte won the Sparkman continued to decline. On the positive Despite the economic and political and Stephens Trophy. side, individual trophy races were well uncertainties our club continues to thrive supported and the White Fleet had a and to attract new members, while some In home waters, a very successful Cadet good season. The MFOBs go from other clubs are struggling to survive. This Week was supported by 160 young strength to strength providing the would not be the case but for the hard sailors revelling in the theme for perfect mix between competitive racing work and dedication of all our staff. this year. This event, one of the biggest in and a strong social calendar. They had a Managing the Club is very much a team the country, has been running since cracking season, averaging 10 boats per effort and I am very grateful to all the 1935. Such a large programme would race almost every weekend between May Flag Officers, Officers, members of the not be possible without the huge effort and November. General Committee and all the other made by the Cadet week Committee and volunteers who have given freely of their an army of hard working volunteers. The cruising fraternity also made the time to help keep the on course. most of the season, enjoying good Mersea Week was held in the windiest weather for eight of their nine cruises - A very Happy Christmas to you all and weather we have seen for many years, including three weeks of continuous fair winds for good sailing in 2020.

DECEMBER 2019 2 3 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

since the tragic 1979 Fastnet, in which to pass close by the rock, with the roar Alan Brook and I had sailed, and of breaking water close to leeward. actually 50 years since Alan and I did There was a Rolex photo boat under our very first Fastnet together as our bow which captured the rounding. Fastnet - Fast! fledgling crew aboard former WMYC For the following hour we had to commodore David Powell’s Mersea remain close hauled to clear the By Richard Matthews Oyster. exclusion zone set up in place of the previous spreader mark. Soon after The race started in moderate breeze rounding we had a call from a friendly and unusually gave the fleet a reach Irish Coastguard helicopter, telling us out of the Solent and down channel, that several of our lifejacket EPIRBS allowing most of the fleet to easily were transmitting. They may have been pass the first usual hurdle of the water-activated, but soon switched off, Portland Bill tide gate. We were well and it was good to know they worked placed in the top 10 with a fast reach anyway. for the first few hours, but as forecast we sailed into a calm. Awaiting a new Once clear of the exclusion zone it was breeze during the small hours just off sheets eased and reaching back Plymouth, we stalled in the transition towards the Scillies at 16-18 knots. As zone and several of the larger in good as it was this was where we our class got away into the new really missed the defunct Code Zero, breeze. which would have given us at least an extra knot of boat speed - probably By the time we reached the Scillies, it more. Nevertheless, it was a great sail was starting to blow and at this point and once past the Scillies we had a fast our fractional hoist ‘Code Zero’ reacher VMG run under heavy chute to the decided to retire itself, disintegrating finish at Plymouth. with a bang like cannon. There followed a classic Irish Sea Fastnet, We were 30th overall from 333 with the wind building and gusting to starters. With hindsight, if we’d made Force 7. The good news being that we a better job getting through into the were still able to steer more or less new breeze on the first night and if we direct for the Rock. hadn’t blown out our reaching chute we would have done better. It was a We rounded the Fastnet at dawn on tough race but a fast one, just two and the second day, Alan Brook was on the half days at an average speed of 10.3 helm and as always it was a heart knots for over 600 miles - certainly my stopping moment when I called us in fastest ever. Oystercatcher XXXIII rounds the Rock

he main focus for this season full of , so we opted for her both knew the yacht and were highly speed, equalling or bettering wind was always going to be the original lighter bulb and the capable racers. We harvested a crew speed up to around 14 knots. Fastnet Race. It would be 50 smaller practically unused offshore who had all raced with us on previous years since I had first sailed in . We painted her black hull Oystercatchers including WMYC We opted to participate in the EAORA Tthe race and so wanted to do it on a white and renamed her Oystercatcher members Alan Brook, Erik Ellis, Hamish series, this year celebrating its 70th boat that could make an impact. XXXIII, the latest in my line of racing Cock, Saskia Clark, Peter Bessey, anniversary, as the best way to build yachts going back to 1978. While we Drummond Sydenham and Seamus some pre-Fastnet offshore experience After looking around I bought the Ker were preparing the yacht for the Clifford. Occasional crew included and we all enjoyed getting back to 51 Tonnerre 4 from well known Dutch season, I was approached by a buyer other YC members John Davison, some East Coast passage racing. We yachtsman Peter Vroon. Tonnerre had who had apparently had been pipped “Wiggy” Williamson, Mark Barry and ended up winning the EAORA overall been laid up under cover for over a at the post when I bought the yacht. Steve and Debs Johnson. championship, which for me was the year, her owner now in his 80’s American John Raymont from Newport seventh time. Sure, many of us effectively having retired from sailing Beach, California particularly wanted We did well in the RORC North Sea remember the glory days with fifty after many years of successful inshore the yacht for the Transpac race and I race, our first racing outing, taking line boat fleets, but there is still a core of and offshore racing. agreed terms to sell her to him at the honours and a third overall. We might enthusiasm for East Anglian racing and end of the UK season. have done better had RORC not set a it was good to be back. Oystercatcher’s The Ker had an impressive record, course that allowed two opportunists 12ft 4in draft was a constant challenge having raced successfully in the The boat was a joy to sail - and very to sail through the Galloper wind farm. and we were grateful to EAORA race Sydney–Hobart, Transpac, Transatlantic, fast. As well as all the gear, we This cut a corner but in our opinion management, who made every effort Around Britain and many other inherited the previous owner’s son, was fundamentally unseamanlike. As to set courses where we could float. offshore and inshore events. She came Carlo Vroon, as crew along with we got to know the yacht we came to with two keel bulbs and a container another ”Cloggy” Yves De Block who appreciate her power and off-wind The Fastnet was my 23rd - 40 years Alan Brook at the helm points Seamus Clifford and Hamish Cock trimming

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 4 5 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

All the crew were superb and on a from Croatia to serve as our mother 155% overlapping genoa, but personal note I was proud to be ship. struggled on the upwind legs. On race awarded the RORC Dennis Doyle two Kismet was well behind and our trophy for the skipper with the most Racing in these classic regattas takes tactician, Olympic gold medalist Saskia (23) Fastnets. I’m already planning a place under the French CIM rating rule, Clark, opted to break away from the new campaign for the next one in for which we replaced our winches fleet taking her in an entirely different 2021. with handybillies for a 2% rating direction, looking for a new breeze. advantage. Kismet’s crew had a day of This risky call paid off handsomely, Our last race with Oystercatcher was practice before the regattas, including with Kismet laying the finishing line off back to the East Coast for the Buckley sail changes and reefing, which proved St Tropez in a fresh new breeze with Goblets, the final EAORA race of the especially valuable in the final race the rest of the fleet dead downwind series. We invited John Raymont and when the forecast wind of 15 knots still hunting for breeze. five of his crew from the USA to join us freshened to 30-35 knots. With a for this one. These guys had recently series of headsail changes and double Kismet won her class in St Tropez with completed the Transpac in the owner’s reefed mainsail, Kismet stretched away a 1, 1, 3 score line and has now previous boat, so it was an opportunity to win by eight minutes and score returned safely home to Fox’s via for us to meet new friends and second place overall in the 20-yacht Antibes and a truck across France introduce them to racing the yacht. As Regatte Royale classic gaff yacht fleet. without incident. On the same trip last it turned out the race to Ostend was year, the boat arrived at the French one of the high points of the entire The Voiles St Tropez races were crossing port with 12 illegal stowaways season - with a reach followed by fetch typically delayed awaiting breeze and who had somehow got aboard during across the North Sea in a full breeze. ‘Ready about’. Midnight racing off Antigua started in 5-6 knots which freshened the transit. Kismet’s next adventure will We completed the 90 mile course in a during the day. Kismet showed be a special regatta for Fife yachts in record 6 hrs 9 mins, averaging close to Antigua in February. I was the original sailed well and proved to be when the auto reef feature activated excellent speed reaching under a huge Largs, Scotland next June. 14.5 knots. We won the race, my 15th owner, sold her to a friend five years progressively more competitive as the itself, otherwise known as a Goblets win, by over an hour on ago, and bought her back hoping she wind increased. dismasting. With the cooperation of handicap. With the exception of 10 would be ideal for some Caribbean the race committee we hurriedly minutes, I helmed the whole way racing. I actually repurchased Holding We were happy to win two races in recommissioned my which I across with a grin from ear to ear. This Pattern in the same week that I bought Antigua Sailing Week, but failed to win hadn’t sailed for a few years. We was champagne sailing with bells on Oystercatcher XXXIII. Two yachts in one the week by one place against a well found good speed during the regatta, and was the last time I was to sail the week, my wife Denette was worried I worked-up local boat with a fully winning the final race by 13 seconds yacht. Even the hour and half waiting was losing the plot! optimized CSA, (Caribbean Sailing and the week and on countback. for depth at Ostend didn’t spoil a Association) rating. Holding Pattern magic, memory book sail. Our first event, the BVI Regatta, was a remained in Antigua and we plan to In September, with her varnish disaster. The wind never got above six race her again next spring. Meanwhile glistening and her bottom freshly The rest of an ‘amazing season’ – knots and we soon discovered that Geoff Hunt will be flying to Antigua to painted, we trucked Kismet my 48ft seven more regattas in four Holding Pattern was hopeless in very trim 10% off the keel bulb, which we William Fife designed and built gaff different yachts light airs. Happily, most Caribbean hope will give us better performance in , to the South of France to race in sailing is in trade wind conditions and light airs and perhaps more downwind the Regatte Royale in Cannes and the We started the season by shipping the at the Voile St Barths event we won speed. Voile St Tropez regattas. The boat is 37-foot Stephen Thomas designed our first race. As soon as the wind now 121 years old - it’s hard to believe Holding Pattern from the UK to went above 14 knots Holding Pattern In early April we raced our lovely 82- that Queen Victoria was on the throne footer Midnight in the Oyster Antigua when she was first launched. Regatta. I was privileged to welcome Meanwhile Midnight had sailed up Plenty of action for mainsheet man Hamish Cock on Kismet the return of 20-plus Oyster yachts Results Summary 2018 that had arrived in Antigua, having

completed a circumnavigation. As Voile St Barths Holding Pattern CSA 4 1 x 1st & 2nd overall much as anything, our participation in Antigua Sailing Week Holding Pattern CSA 5 2 x 1st & 2nd overall the regatta was to join that fleet. We Oyster Antigua Regatta Midnight 3rd in class had a photographer aboard for one Levington Classic Regatta Scorpio 1 x 1st & 2nd in class race, who had recently completed the RORC North Sea Race Oystercatcher XXX111 Line Honours 3rd overall Volvo Ocean race as on board EAORA Janes Cup Oystercatcher XXX111 1st Class 1 & 1st overall photographer. He was a highly skilled EAORA Thames Estuary Oystercatcher XXX111 1st Class 1 & 1st overall drone pilot and got us some fabulous EAORA Cannon Ball Trophy Oystercatcher XXX111 1st Class 1 & 1st overall shots of Midnight racing with EAORA Thames Estuary Oystercatcher XXX111 1st Class 1 & 1st overall spinnaker. EAORA Buckley Goblets Oystercatcher XXX111 1st Class 1 & 1st overall

EAORA 2019 Championship Oystercatcher XXX111 1st Class 1 & 1st overall Following the Fastnet came Mersea RORC Fastnet Oystercatcher XXX111 Dennis Doyle Trophy Week in Decoy, my Cork 1720, racing Mersea Week Sport Boats What a Blast 1st overall in an active IRC sport boat fleet. In race Regatte Royale Cannes Kismet 1 x 1st & 2nd class overall one, we were stretching away from the Voile St Tropez Kismet 2 x 1st and 1st in class overall Champagne sailing. Holding Pattern off St Barth fleet nicely with 18 knots on the clock

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 6 7 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Alan (Commodore 1953-56) was a stalwart in bringing on Mersea Oyster. She trialed for the Admiral’s Cup team to the young and over 100 people qualified for Royal Ocean represent Britain, was first reserve but was not finally Racing Club (RORC) membership by sailing on Thalassa. selected. In the course of that year’s series, however, she beat most of the international team yachts. In the Fastnet, Fastnet - 50 years on Since those days approximately 150 WMYC yachts have which was part of the series, we finished 6th in class out of By David Powell, former WMYC Commodore competed in ocean races and the club won the RORC club 60; and 21st overall out of 180. points championship for several years in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Many more times, indeed, than the ‘elite’ clubs on Fortunately all six of Mersea Oyster’s 1969 Fastnet crew are the south coast! still alive and well, so 50 years later they celebrated the anniversary – meeting for lunch on October 16 at, where I was proud to be one of Thalassa’s ‘100’ and I did my first else, the WMYC. Fastnet on her in 1955 at the age of 18. From that moment I wanted to win the Fastnet, an ambition never achieved! They were the youngest crew to sail in the 1969 Fastnet My best result came in 1961, when I took my father’s boat and have gone on to some remarkable sailing feats. No one Galloper and with Don Pye in the crew (his first Fastnet) we gets an individual mention here, but between them these came second in class. Don sadly passed away this year. sailors have logged up a total of: 79 Fastnets; four Sydney to Hobart Races; two Bermuda Races; 12 Trans Atlantics Over the years with my own boats I had two 3rd places. In and one World Circumnavigation, as well as many total I completed 21 Fastnets. thousands of miles in other ocean races.

Fast forward to 1969 and I bought the American yacht WMYC still figures well in offshore racing. Long may it Rabbit II, a well known 41ft racing boat, and renamed her continue.

Daily Express records the 1969 crew at Cowes (spot the deliberate mistake)

t the outbreak of war in September 1939, every By 1948 racing was underway again, but there were few leisure boat in was laid up in a hurry. Some new boats because of quotas on all new materials. The in mud berths, others on hard standing or in golden oldies (men and boats) took to the circuits again sheds. After six long years, at the end of the war and the WMYC was at the forefront of offshore racing in theA surviving owners went back to their yachts. these early days, especially in the East Anglian Offshore Racing Association (EAORA) racing – currently celebrating The ‘69 Fastnet Crew this year All those boats were built of wood and had suffered its 70th anniversary year. As many as 50 entries was normal degradation, but those in mud berths fared better because then. Now, sadly, there can be as few as 10 boats in these Left to Right: David Pertwee, Richard Mathews, Alan Brook, David Powell, Duncan Kay, Michael Evers they were damp and the holes were plugged. Those yachts races. in sheds dried out and took many months to ‘take up’ afloat. Lots of pumping was needed. One of the earliest WMYC yachts back afloat and racing was Alan Baker’s Thalassa - a 46ft , launched in 1906.

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 8 9 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

We had to put back our departure for Newhaven with no engine. Jason, later that each of us thought about Cowes by a day and transfer the crew Dickie and I didn’t say, so but we were turning back but said nothing. We did gear and provisions to Levington. each worried that we may not make it compromise, however, and instead of Jason, Dickie and I left on the morning to the start, meaning that 12 months trying to make Cowes in one hit we Fastnet – Or Bust! of July 27 and had an uneventful trip of planning and preparation would go decided to head for Brighton, not an to Dover. We were planning to take it down the tubes. It didn’t bear thinking ideal port to enter in a southerly gale. By Michael Wheeler easy and arrive in Cowes on Monday about. The seas outside the breakwater were 29 –five days before the Fastnet start. big and confused and the wind was It didn’t work out that way. Two engineers worked on the fuel 30kts plus. We were all tense and not system all day. The 100 litres of diesel a word was spoken as we surfed in At 0800 the next morning we went taken onboard the day before was through the breakwaters, but once in it straight to the fuelling berth in Dover pumped out and disposed of, the fuel was calm and we breathed a huge sigh to take on diesel, only to be told that filters were changed again, fuel system of relief. We motored slowly into the they didn’t have any. We ended up bled and main fuel tank disconnected. marina but it was still blowing hard getting 20 litres, having been assured A temporary 30-litre outboard fuel and Hamish the Harbourmaster came that the fuel was fine. Everything was tank was installed in a cockpit locker down to give us a much-needed hand. fine until later in the day when the and two 20-litre fuel cans were lashed He said: ‘Welcome to Brighton, what wind began to build and we decided in the cockpit. We fired up the engine the h - - l were you doing out there to call in to Eastbourne for the night. – and it worked. But it was now anyway?’ We were another step closer About two-and-a-half miles out, the blowing SW’ly force 7 outside. to Cowes. engine stopped and would not start again. The seas were now heavy and The next morning, July 31, it was still The next morning was August 1 – so we kept station under reduced sail blowing ‘old boots’. We walked to the Fastnet start minus two days and the while we called the Coastguard, who end of the breakwater and saw anxiety onboard was real. The wind Golden Fleece loosening up at Classic Regatta Photo: Chrissie Westgate in turn called out the Eastbourne nothing but huge breaking seas. The had dropped and we were up early for Lifeboat. Seeing the powerful 52ft Harbourmaster suggested that we stay an 0600 departure. Within 20 feet of t all started at breakfast in the ‘We are in!’. I thought ‘Oh s - - t, we carried on with the race. Over the Tamar Class lifeboat screaming out to put and the big windfarm support the berth we ran aground in the Waterfront Café on the morning really are going now!’. We entered weekend we achieved a 3rd in Class us at 27 knots was very impressive. In boats moored next to us were not middle of the marina and were stuck after the EAORA Prize Giving under the banner of the WMYC and and 4th Overall out of 26 boats. The rough conditions they managed to going anywhere. They invited us there for nearly two hours, despite Dinner at the WMYC last whilst Golden Fleece had done the next day Golden Fleece was lifted out secure a line and we were towed into onboard for a coffee and we had a having asked to be placed in a deep INovember. Most of our regular Cowes race before in 1975 as part of the of the water at Levington and a Eastbourne. We gave a big ‘thank you’ chat. By 1030 we convinced ourselves enough berth the day before. We crew were there, and we decided to South African Admiral’s Cup team this temporary repair was made to make us to the lifeboat skipper and crew and that the wind was easing and as we finally arrived in Cowes at 1400 – three meet and discuss what we had been was to be my first Fastnet. seaworthy for the 130 mile East Coast then had a few beers while we decided could not bear the thought of letting days late, relieved but exhausted and talking about for the past two or three Race from West Mersea to Ostende what to do next. It was clear that we the other crew members down, we feeling as though we had already years – entering Golden Fleece for the From this promising point we started four days later, which was a Fastnet had contaminated fuel, so the next reefed down and left. Thirty minutes ‘done’ a Fastnet and that whatever the 2019 Rolex Fastnet Race. By the time to encounter a series of ‘challenges’ qualifer. We made the race, won our morning we changed filters and got outside the breakwater we understood forthcoming race would throw at us it the bacon and eggs arrived it was a which made us doubt we would even Class and came 4th overall in a the engine going. why the Harbourmaster had suggested would be a doddle compared to the definite ‘Yes’ from everybody. We were make it to the start line. Our first scare competitive fleet. It took us 27 hrs 11 that we stay in port! We were crashing last five days. How wrong could we off – subject to qualifying and a green was Paul Adams, our bowman (we call mins. Instead of going ashore in It was now midday Monday 29 July – through huge seas and it turned out be! light from partners! him ‘Biggles’ – he used to ). A Ostende, we just crossed the finish line Fastnet start minus five days and we month or so before the race he had a at about 2200 hrs on Saturday, turned were meant to be in Cowes! We filled Commitments had to be made for the heart attack (his second) and then a the boat around and sailed straight up with diesel and departed qualifying races, delivery trips, crew corrective heart procedure just two back to Mersea. It was a hard few days Eastbourne, but half a mile off Beachy mileage, Sea Survival Courses & First weeks before the Fastnet. He got but it meant that we had qualified for Head the engine stopped again. We Aid at Sea courses and upgrading clearance to race, but we joked that I’d the Fastnet. drifted around for 20 minutes and personal and boat safety equipment to better read up on burials at sea. then tried the engine again – it started meet the strict criteria introduced after Fortunately this research was not After some more EAORA racing, and ran for another 30 minutes and the tragic 1979 race. We completed 10 needed. including a win overall, the boat went then stopped....and so it went on. We EAORA/RORC offshore races with 75% back to Levington to complete the decided to struggle into Newhaven, of our Fastnet crew to ensure that we Between the Fastnet qualifying races bow repairs. where I hoped we could find a good met the crew mileage requirement. we managed to squeeze in the Suffolk marine engineer. We were lucky to get Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta on June Prior to lifting out I had noticed oil in in when we did as there was a new Our Fastnet crew consisted of our son 22-23. On the second day I was below the bilges and asked French Marine to weather front coming through with Jason, Richard Fuller, Paul Adams, as we were motoring out to the start check it. This resulted in the engine gale force westerly winds forecast - Philip Woods, Simon Chidgey, Simon when there was an almighty crash and coming out and the sump was found things were not going our way! I Evans and me – four of whom are Golden Fleece went from six knots to to have a hole in it. The heat contacted Peter Leonard Marine who, WMYC Members. Dickie (Richard zero in a heartbeat. We had hit a big exchanger and engine mounts needed after listening to our predicament, Fuller) offered to enter us in the race navigation mark head on, right on the replacing along with considerable dropped everything to undertake fuel by ‘hitting the button’ at 1200 hrs on nose - with six guys on deck (don’t wiring - and it was also discovered that cleaning work the next day. January 7. The race sold out in just ask!). We were damaged, but a quick the prop shaft was bent! It was now over 4 minutes, but a few minutes check down below confirmed that Fastnet minus 19 days and I was It was now Tuesday 30 July – Fastnet later I received a call from Dickie to say: there was no water ingress so we getting concerned. minus 4 days and we were in Under tow from Eastbourne Lifeboat

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 10 11 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

as did about 50-60 other boats. This On the whole it was a full and was fine, but it cost us about 20 miles challenging year which would not have before we could turn left and set been possible without the support of course for the Rock. my family and crew. In addition to the Fastnet crew, the season would not The next 36 hours produced some of have happened without support and the worst conditions that I have encouragement from the following: experienced in Golden Fleece – worse Vicki (Crew Manager), Malcolm Clark, than the Cape Town to Rio Race 20 John Davison, Richard Sharpe, Mike years ago. The wind and the seas kept Berry, Julian French, Tim Turnbull, Ed building and were relentless – the wind Bull, Dave Amass, Richard Bergin and was screaming. We were close hauled Nick Reay. and with no spray hood (removed for racing) each wave that we crashed into Next year I have promised Vicki that swept green water along the flush there will be less racing and that we deck into the cockpit, drenching those Chaos below will spend more time sitting in the on watch. For almost two days we had cockpit on the mooring enjoying gin huge seas and 30–35kts of wind, with tot of rum. At this rate we would finish second overall in the Buckley Goblets. and tonic and fine wine……..we will gusts of 48-50kts and rain squalls like this evening. But it was not to be. The There were more adventures in see! stair rods. With two reefs in the main wind dropped and we were becalmed ‘interesting’ conditions, but nothing and a furled genoa the size of a pocket all night 10 miles from Plymouth, quite like the Fastnet. handkerchief, we were still doing 7- drifting towards the Eddystone Rock. 8kts. Two full length battens worked At first light a breeze picked up, as did their way out of the mainsail and our spirits, and we were able to sail disappeared into the Celtic Sea. We fell again, crossing the Finish Line at 0849, off some waves with such force that I doing 6kts. feared for the boat’s structure and down below everything, including There were 388 yachts in the race, out bedding, was in chaos and soaking of which 62 retired. In our class there wet. Fire extinguishers jumped off their were 89, out of which 23 retired. We brackets, plates flew out of their racks, came 43rd in class and 233rd overall - Lumpy conditions in the Celtic Sea locker doors sprang open and food but after what we had been though to Our time was now limited, but Vicki competitors and it was easy to think was all over the cabin floor. No hot get to the start line and during the had all the shore-side arrangements that we were going well at nine knots, food or drink for two days, just ginger race our biggest reward was finishing. and catering in hand. We just made until the likes of Rambler and nuts and water, and we grabbed what the Skipper’s Briefing at 1600 and met Scallywag came past, making you feel sleep we could in our heavy weather We all spent the night of Thursday up with the rest of the crew. Friday as though you are standing still! To say gear (which was wet inside and out), August 8 in Plymouth, in the comfort came and went with last minute nothing of the , such as boots and life jackets. Not every boat of a warm, dry hotel. We had preparations and our pre-race crew Macif and Actual Leader, winding up experienced the weather that we did, completed the Fastnet but we still had dinner. Saturday August 3 was Race to speeds of 35 knots. it depended on your position in the to get Golden Fleece back to Mersea. Day - the culmination of 12 months of race when the front came through. But The crew had to get back to family and planning, preparation, qualifying, Once out of the Solent we saw Richard it was bad for us and many others. work and left on Friday, but John training and jumping through hoops. Matthews’s Oyster Catcher XXXIII Hooper and Dee Prior had come to Crossing the finish line - finally! We were relieved and thankful that we catching us fast and he was also soon We rounded the Rock at 1049 on Plymouth to help me sail the boat back had made it – albeit only just! gone. We never did see the other August 6 – an emotional moment as to Mersea. However, yet another Golden Fleece 2019 Results WMYC member, Ben Morris, in his we turned to head home. By now the weather front was coming through Our start was at 1400. There were 89 50ft S&S Swan Lulotte. But he did well conditions were easing and we were and by Saturday it was blowing Force 7 Ralph Herring Trophy - EAORA 1st Overall boats in our class, but hundreds to win the S&S Trophy. going ‘in the right direction’. Spirits outside and I wasn’t setting off in that Pattinson Cup – EAORA/WMYC 2nd in Class jockeying for position for their own were lifted, but we were too exhausted again. John and Dee only had limited Jane’s Cup - EAORA 1st in Class starts. We had a good start, hoisted After a frustrating nine-hour calm to celebrate with the champagne we time and could not wait for the Thames Estuary Shield – EAORA 1st in Class our asymetric at the gun and were during the first night a new breeze had brought for the occasion. I sent a weather to clear. In the end I booked Levington Classics – SYH 3rd in Class, 4th Overall soon flying down the Western Solent filled in from the southwest and then text to Vicki that just said: ‘Round – the boat into the marina for a week East Coast Race – RORC/EAORA 1st in Class, 4th Overall with the other 387 competitors. It was the west. By about 0200 on August 5 we’re coming home!’ and Vicki and I came home by train, Sunk Race – EAORA/WMYC 1st in Class. as exciting as it gets and never to be we were approaching Wolf Rock and after making arrangements for a Graham Wallis Trophy – EAORA 3rd in Class forgotten. Vicki was watching from the planning to leave it to starboard and By 1200 on August 7 we were through delivery crew to bring her home. Cannon Ball Trophy – EAORA 2nd in Class Squadron lawn and was able to easily then go through the Scilly Isles to avoid the Scillies and passing Wolf Rock Golden Fleece arrived back in Mersea Walker Challenge Cup – EAORA 1st Overall pick us out by the Golden Fleece ram the inshore traffic zone. However, we again for Lizard Point and the finish at on August 21. Mission finally Offshore Regatta – EAORA 2nd in Class, 3rd Overall emblem on our spinnaker - it was the were two crew down with mal de Plymouth – what a difference a day accomplished! Rolex Fastnet Race – RORC Finished – Box Ticked ! first time that she has ever forgiven me mere and struggling to get past Wolf makes! We had wind on the quarter, Houghton Cup – EAORA Retired for the extravagance of having it Rock so we turned north, passing the sun was shining, dolphins surfed in We completed the rest of the EAORA Amazon Cup – EAORA 2nd in Class painted on the sail. We were powering between the eastern edge of the our bow wave, our bedding was on series, which saw us secure a Class 3 Buckley Goblets – EAORA/WMYC 1st in Class, 2nd Overall along just yards from our fellow Traffic Separation Zone and Lands End, deck drying and we warmed up with a season’s championship win, and a EAORA Season Championship 1st in Class, 3rd Overall

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 12 13 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE Tramp K5454 -

40 years of racing By Steve Johnson

Reedy passed over the helm and with the Big Boy trimmed to leeward we were hitting 14kts down the waves. Gybing in the dark around the Binnenstroom bank buoy, Tramp was soon under the welcoming lights of the North Sea Yacht Club. Great joy - our rivals weren’t in! Time for a large Tramp party! The Goblets were presented to Frank the next morning and fortunately survived the continuing Jupiler and Pastis-fuelled celebrations.

Tramp now had her reputation and attracted top crew, and accordingly Frank and Carole planned new challenges – with RORC races now on the agenda. On the North Sea Race she had a night altercation with a coaster (which was subsequently held The extended Tramp family celebrate liable) when crew Graham Williams was thrown overboard. In a life n 1978 three newly-commissioned I watched Tramp racing in the EAORA threatening situation he was recovered racing boats held a prodigious Thames Estuary race in 1978, when by Frank and the rest of the crew. launching party, rafted up opposite she won her class and was 2nd Tramp was a lucky ship. the WMYC. It was the heyday of overall, beating John Harrisons IIOR offshore racing, and here was Gunsmoke crew of Dougie Seaden, She headed to the south coast for Reedy’s last race - and another win! With Steve on the helm £80,000 of commitment in the shape Hector Heathcote, Stevie Johnson and Cowes Week, with a crew old and of three Hustler 32’s - John Harrison’s Paul Harrison into 3rd. Tramp new, continuing to perform well at the soon had everybody in a muddle and Seaden made the calls and applied Frank’s last race race on board was the Gunsmoke, Ron Wiggle’s Voodoo and obviously had pace. home of English EAORA week dancing on the tables. Tramp didn’t himself to some tactical navigation. inaugural Ancient Mariners race in Frank Reed’s Tramp. The former two racing to France, Belgium and the race the next day. Night racing is always challenging, 2016. A popular win and a very happy boats were preparing for the Half-Ton Hector and I did a few races on Tramp Netherlands for a number of years trying to identify the main competitors Reedy, world championships in Poole and at the end of that season, including a introduced new faces to Tramp, In 1999 to mark the centenary of our among the green, red and white Tramp for racing on the east coast. race on the Thames as her base was incIuding Jamie Wheatley, Andy Radley club, a RORC race from Tower Bridge disappearing navigation lights and the Frank always updated the sail then Thurrock yacht club. We agreed and Bernie Catchpool A 60-strong via the Kentish Nock and Longsand concern of commercial traffic. For wardrobe, keeping her competitive The Hustler 32 was the latest in the with Frank and Carole ‘Come on little fleet gathered in Zierikzee for racing Head was planned. Frank was OOD many, the first light of day brings either even when he and Carol could no line of ‘Hustlers’ marketed and boat!’ Britton to sign up for the 1979 on the Oosterschelde. After a horrible and Tramp was brought out of cold disappointment or that warming longer get onboard . So, ‘Team Reedy’ commissioned by John Harrison, one of season as Tramp’s new home to be the light-aired run to Ramsgate, the next offshore retirement - Carole wasn’t glow of competitive happiness. As we raced on - taking part in the last two WMYC’s top racing yachtsman and WMYC. day’s heavy No 1 beat from Ramsgate going to miss this! Also competing approached the Longsand Head we Mersea Weeks with a crew of old owner of Island Boat Sales. Designed to Oostende saw us back on the were Richard Matthew’s 12-metre were definitely in that latter category! chums, a few of whom had been there by up-and-coming designer Stephen 1979 was Tramp’s year, winning podium.The rest of the weeks racing Crusader and Piet Vroon’s Tonnerre of At the prize-giving, hosted by Peter at the start 40 years ago. Yes,the old Jones and built by Verlvale to rate IOR EAORA overall. With top Kiwi sailor was a challenge. Breskins. The start in the middle of the and Liz Clements, Tramp’s crew IOR Half-Tonner could still be 1st round 21.7 ft, the then current rating for the Haven Collins aboard she was difficult city was spectacular. Tramp had some awaited the result - surely a class win? the weather mark and back on the Half Ton class. There were masthead to beat in anything over 12 kts of Tramp’s crews have always loved a of her old friends aboard - Carole, Then happy shock, 1st overall! podium. and fractional rig versions, the first of breeze. The series, however, went to party (I’m sure it was part of the Dougie, Steve and Debs, Martin Shaw the latter was second overall in the the wire as there were some excellent selection process), so when Frank and and Graham Bloomfield. That was the good ship’s last offshore So, thank you to Frank and Carole, and 1978 Half-Ton world championships. boats competing in the 60-strong Carole sensibly booked into a hotel, race. However she continued to of course to Tramp - a boat with a fleet. Tramp needed a good result in the crew went on the town with a After an interesting beat out of the perform well in local racing and has very large family. LOA 32.3ft, LWL 25ft, Beam 11.25ft, the prestigious Buckley Goblets – the thirsty fleet! A bar with a large reel-to- Thames, and a timed motor through been a regular competitor in the Friday Draft 5.83ft, Disp 3039kg, Bal 1338kg, last race of the series. With a run reel tape deck – no wifi in those days – the Thames Barrier, Tramp was off night series, winning overall in 2018 SA 38.5m. across the North sea in a good breeze great music and too much Genever Southend as dusk approached. Dougie with Dougie Seaden driving.

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 14 15 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE The Hebrides - a tale of two summers By Liz Harrison

Preparing Merganser for her trip north on the back of a low-loader.

the south to the Butt of Lewis in the It was our first taste of the majesty of north. Our plan was to start at Barra, the islands, the varied bird and sea life, day trip to the islands to the south and and the reminders of the hardship then head north as the weather suffered by past residents. Back in the allowed. Castlebay Hotel’s public bar we had the best craik ever, when one of the So, as a sea fog cleared and with Steve boys picked up his piano accordion to and Debs (complete with kayaks) on celebrate with the local fishermen as board, we set off from CastleBay, to their weeks’ catch headed off in a lorry explore Mingulay, Pabbay and Sandray. bound for Portugal or Spain.

We parted with the Johnskis and headed north to find the first of many magical anchorages, this one between Gighay and Hellinsay. Crossing a sand bar we turned into a perfect pool towered over by the hills of the two Not another boat in sight. Ardalanish on the Ross of Mull islands, where a pair of Golden Eagles watched us intently. We could have n 1984 Paul and I first sailed berthed in St Katherine’s Dock – our loader! In mid-May last year, we Mooring in Lochranza on the NW watched them all day. through Scotland’s Western Isles, London flat. We were under no illusion literally chased her up the A1, across to corner of Arran, we joined Mersea part of the support team for the that the weather might be a little Penrith and on to Glasgow and mates Margie Sansom, Howard and The Clyde Cruising Club’s ‘Sailing first person to windsurf around inclement at times and Merganser has Ardrossan. It cost about the same as if Angela Payne and Steve and Debs Directions and Anchorages’ is the bible Imainland Britain. As we sailed up the good central heating, panoramic views we’d motored north from Mersea, it Johnson for what’s become an annual for this part of the world and Hamish Sound of Jura, through Loch Alsh and from the saloon and a covered driving only took 24 hours, and no one was walking holiday on Arran. We then Haswell-Smith’s ‘The Scottish Islands’ is north past Skye we vowed we’d be position in the cockpit. She’s got a sea-sick! waved goodbye to Arran, bound for an essential guide to both the history back to cruise these beautiful waters. great , two double berths and the Outer Hebrides. We motored and current day attractions of the two heads – perfect for inviting friends The weather was awful as we shopped through the Crinan Canal (two long, islands. There are also the Antares It took us 34 years but now we’re along too. Oh, and a great platform and stowed but the day we set off slow days), stopping overnight on the Charts which supplement official charts addicted to this cruising ground, which for Jester, our loyal ‘boat dog’ and dawned clear and bright, the sea was Ross of Mull, and cycled partway to guide more adventurous sailors. reminds us so much of New Zealand enthusiastic hill climber. mill pond calm, and the views of Arran round Coll; circled a basking shark and These charts were highly and has anchorages matching the best were stunning. Little did we know that cruised past a minke whale. Just a recommended, but we couldn’t of the Caribbean and French Polynesia. After a couple of ‘practice’ trips up the this marked the start of what was to taste of what was to come. download them on the limited wifi at Thames we took Merganser to be a record-breaking summer with community centres and cafes. We decided to take our Haines 340 Tollesbury for a once over, and then long hot days, clear skies and balmy The Outer Hebrides or the ‘Long Isle’ Something to add to the winter jobs Offshore motorboat which was sent her north - on the back of a low evenings. stretches 130 miles from Barra Head in Outer Hebrides route 2018. list.

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 16 17 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

became one of the most memorable after we hailed a pot boat and bought a tray of wriggling Scalpay prawns (langoustine to you and me). In the shelter of a small island we cooked and ate the fresh prawns until we could eat no more.

A couple of weeks later, we were once again motoring up Loch Seaforth, finding shelter in Loch Mharaig. From here we explored, walking the spectacular Postman’s Route, climbing hills and trekking up glens. I couldn’t resist helping the local crofters shear their sheep and Paul spent hours upside down painting a clinker built dinghy, not unlike a winkle . The dinghy belonged to a former submariner and Port of London Paul bottling his own single malt whisky at the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay. harbourmaster, who had retired to the Outer Hebrides. Sitting on the edge of We were sad to leave the Outer the west coast of Jura and navigated the loch we could see why! Hebrides, but when a weather window our way into the four-mile long Loch appeared we crossed the Minch to loch Tarbert, which nearly cuts Jura in half. Four miles off Lewis are the Shiant hop down the mainland coast. We left We climbed to the most spectacular of Isles, one of Europe’s most important Merganser with Creran Marine on Loch the raised beaches, narrowly missing a breeding colonies for seabirds. Around Creran, just north of Oban. black adder basking in the sun. 10 per cent of UK puffins and seven Caolas An Scarp, Harris per cent of razorbills breed here every We returned here on the Thursday From the inner loch there’s a narrow year, with Manx shearwaters and storm before Easter this year, wondering if passage leading through to the Top If we’d taken the CCC’s guide as blow’ with gusts of over 90mph. shell-sand beach with sheep grazing in petrels beginning to move in. We the weather could possibly be as good Pool. The CCC guide describes it as ‘a gospel, we would never have found the dunes and meadows stretching anchored in the inky calm and as the previous summer and keen to more serious undertaking which half the anchorages that we wriggled At the northern end of Harris we loved beyond the machair into towering hills. photographed the puffins skipping see if we could find anchorages as requires suitable conditions and careful and edged into. For example, Loch Tarbert and nearby Scalpay, not least across the surface, the guillemots wild, remote and beautiful as those of navigation’. Words like this are a red Eynort on South Uist. The entrance is because of the harbourmaster Fred Beyond the bar (there is a navigable swimming in the clear water and the the Outer Hebrides. rag to a bull as far as ‘Harrison Paul’ is difficult enough to spot, a small cleft in Taylor. Once the Laird of Scalpay (and passage) is Braigh Mor, a bay where a gulls squabbling noisily for the best concerned and so we ‘carefully the cliff face. Once past the central still the owner of smaller islands in East cluster of islands break up the ever- spots on the guano covered cliffs. The sea was calm and the wind light as navigated’ our way through, following submerged rock in a narrow, rock- Loch Tarbert), Fred knows everything. present westerly swell and fingers of Climbing to the cliff top, we sat among we motored from Oban down Seil the pairs of pillars, leading us between strewn passage, it’s a hairpin bend into He introduced us to a woman who did water reach into the hills. We climbed puffins watching the adults fly in with Sound, across the Sound of Jura and and around the rocks. the loch proper where seals play noisily our laundry. She introduced us to her to the top of Scarp for spectacular mouthfuls of sand eels and warily dive through the notorious Gulf of in the kelp, otters fish and birds of prey brothers who were fishermen and so views of the bay and the hills of Harris into their burrows to feed their hidden Corryvreckan. We passed the Off the southern end of Jura is Islay, circle overhead. We took the dinghy to we got fresh lobster for dinner. Being and Lewis; we explored ruins and young. Magical. spectacular raised stone beaches down famous for its nine whisky distilleries – the top of the loch with the bicycles – friendly and interested will get you a walked lazy beds, and watched the sea we visited two. We hunkered down in the perfect way to explore the wild long way in these islands. fog rolling in as a bank of Port Askaig where there’s only room west coast, where beaches stretch impenetrable white. We could have for four boats and a handful of day between burial grounds and the So too will patience. Our one wish was stayed a month! boats; where you go in forwards and wildflowers in the machair were to get to the west coast of Harris and come out backwards! From Islay we exploding with colour. Lewis, which meant waiting for the A little south and east of Scarp is motored to Gigha and Gighalum, a wind to back. Eventually we got our Taransay, where a single boulder small island regularly visited by friends Paddle-boarding back to the boat from weather window and headed round balances atop every peak as if put on Mersea and home to the wonderful an evening dog walk, we spotted a the Toe of Harris and north to the SW there as part of a game. From there are Boathouse restaurant - one of a string pair of kayakers paddling up the loch. corner of Lewis. This was the highlight great views of the vast sandy estuaries of first-class restaurants. It was Steve and Debs! They’d rough- of the summer of 2018. of Scarista and Luskentyre on Harris. camped at the entrance, where they’d We walked back to Luskentyre a few Stretching inland from the Sound of been kept awake by the seals, and Navigating through the Caolas An days later, following the Coffin Road Jura is a loch not to be missed – Loch were bubbling over with excitement at (Sound of) Scarp we came across a from the east coast where the land is Sween. A ruined castle watches over having come face to face with an . vast, shallow, sandy bar. We watched too hard to bury the dead. the entrance and the ancient oak the anchor drop all the way to the woodland of Knapdale runs down to By now, it was well into June and the sandy bottom through clear, azure We first explored Loch Seaforth, just the water’s edge. The pretty weather was becoming unsettled. The water. On our left was Scarp, whose north of Scalpay, in rain and wind with anchorage at Tayvellich is well worth a pontoons in Loch Maddy provided last permanent residents left in the friends Hubert and Elaine Seifert. visit and the Faery Isles are a must. shelter from Storm Hector – a ‘wee 1971. To the right was a long, white Despite the inclement weather, the day Razorbill. From here you can walk up to Loch

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 18 19 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE Loadsa boats By Jay Stapley

Tayvellich, Loch Sween. Coille-Bharr where beavers have been giving way to Fingal’s Cave - made choose just one anchorage to visit and reintroduced. famous by Mendelssohn and his settled on a bay off the northern end Hebrides Overture. of Muck. This is a gem of an island, After fuelling up at Ardfern in Loch with surprises around every corner. Craignish, we motored back up the North of Mull are the ‘small isles’ of The only road is 1.5 miles long, Sound of Jura and through the fast- Rhum, Muck and Eigg. Time was running from Port Mor where the café moving waters and whirlpools of the running out at this point, so we had to is another gastronomic delight, to Sound of Luing, crossing to the Ross of Gallanach Farm in the north. We met y first boat was not the tender was a dinghy with such minutes, rather than the hour it takes Mull. the ‘laird’ of the island, Lawrence most opulent of craft: it low freeboard that I would get to get the cruiser fully active. I am torn MacEwen whose wife sold us home was a Kingfisher 20+, a disapproving shakes of the head (and between a duck punt and a single-sail Mull is the second-largest island in the grown lamb. One son helps on the bluff-bowed chunk of glass on a still day, audible tutting) from boat like an Opie. I suspect I’m too big Inner Hebrides (after Skye) with most farm, another runs a commercial Mfibre drawn by an aircraft designer in more expert boat people if had so for the Opie, so the punt might be a of the population living in Tobermory, shoot, and the daughter runs a very Poole. What he fitted into that small much as a single kit bag in the prow. I good option. Owning a punt means I well known for its colourful houses. At smart shooting lodge where you can hull was amazing. But if she was graduated to a more conventional can also subject myself to the the heart of the island is Ben More, book in for dinner. driving into any kind of a sea, she tender, which now languishes in a humiliation certain to be handed out which at 3169 feet, is the only would stagger to a halt before corner of the garden because I use the when I race against those who have ‘Munroe’ in the Islands. Needless to It’s hard to summarise five months in gathering herself together and yacht club launch whenever possible. been sailing punts since before they say, Paul skipped up the mountain the Hebrides and this is just a flavour regaining forward way. In certain I’m sure it will come in handy again were even born. I know I’ll never while Jester and I walked up Glenmore, of what’s on offer. Merganser is tucked conditions she simply never got going when they throw me out of the club compete with the locals who make the a long open glen at its base. Off the up for the winter in the marina at again and the only option was to bear for discussing religion and politics in Town Regatta such a lively event. But end of Mull is Iona, where St Columba Ardfern It never freezes up there and away to meet the waves at an angle, the bar. at least if I own a punt I can identify in established a monastery in 563, rarely snows so we’re happy to leave or not go sailing at all. some small way with the experts. bringing Christianity to the islands. We her in the water albeit with a heater Having spent a season using my dinghy were lucky enough to be able to and dehumidifier. We kept her initially in Poole where we to fish in the creeks, the onset of a Finally: a kayak or canoe is a must- anchor off, but if the weather doesn’t bought her, but moved to Chichester permanent knee pain made me realise have. For sheer directness of contact play ball you can catch the ferry from Most importantly she’s ready to go harbour when Poole turned into L.A.. that I needed what’s known as a with the water, such a craft is hard to Mull along with the 130,000 others should the opportunity arise for a long Then on to Faversham, where the tide ‘chugger’: a powered boat which is big beat. On a recent trip to Canada I went who visit Iona each year. weekend afloat in the beautiful window was so narrow that I hardly enough to stretch my legs out in but white-water rafting and was captivated Inner Hebrides route 2019. Hebrides. sailed her for two or three years, small enough to get up to the top of by the guy who followed the rafts in a Mull is often called Eagle Island, before finally bringing her across the Salcott. I even take it out into the river single-seat kayak, mopping up the referring to the successful re- various intervening estuaries to in a calm day, despite comments made casualties. He seemed so a part of the introduction of white-tailed eagles in Mersea. After a couple of years I by some friends which feature the water, in it rather than on it, acting the 1980s. At the foot of Ben More bought another lump of fibre-glass, a words ‘tippy’, ‘death’, and ‘trap’. This with complete freedom and shooting we came across a cluster of people little better designed but still the butt same chugger is also invaluable on the steepest of rapids with ease. OK, a with tripods and long lenses, all of much ribaldry in the yacht club bar town regatta day: the water sports are mountain river in Canada can’t really pointing across Loch na Keal to a any time I mentioned that I might be best appreciated from a small boat be compared with the Strood channel wooded slope beyond. There a pair of considering the possibility of going moored ‘on the line’, not least for the in terms of excitement and challenging white-tailed sea eagles were nesting. racing in her. I sold the Kingfisher a levels sociability (more accurately conditions, but at my age that’s year later and a year after that we spelled ‘d-r-i-n-k-i-n-g’) with other probably as well. The only question is To the west of Mull are a spattering of moved to Mersea. boats there. The chugger is also useful whether a canoe or kayak would be smaller islands, most worth a visit. On for picnic trips to Ray Island and has better. You can get more of a picnic Coll, the hotel has undergone a major It took a while for the realisation to earned its keep and place in the drive. basket (in my world, that’s code for a refurb and, as well as offering showers sink in that on Mersea, you don’t have Getting it in and out of the drive, cooler bag of beer) in a canoe but it to sailors, serves fabulous food. ‘a boat’ you have ‘boats’. The notion however, is another matter entirely. doesn’t feel as ‘in’ the water and can There’s Lunga, one of the Treshnish that a cruiser and a tender are be tippy too. Islands, where tourists pour off tripper sufficient is soon exposed as hopelessly So how many more boats do I need? boats to see puffins nesting on top of naive. Even buying a tender, after years At least two: the first of these being a So: cruiser, tender, chugger, small the cliffs, and Staffa with its tall six- of having a marina berth, felt like the small sailing boat that can be simply sailing dinghy, kayak/canoe... that’s five sided vertical columns of basalt rock Fingal's Cave on Staffa. first step on a slippery slope. My first pushed into the water in a matter of boats so far. Any more suggestions?

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 20 21 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

only just enough water for the lifeboat to get alongside. Four people were then taken off and landed at Brightlingsea, where the yacht had come from. We learnt West Mersea Lifeboat that the family of three on board had won a raffle for a day’s sailing on this yacht, with not the ending they expected, although the young lad on board was very By Martin Wade, Lifeboat Operations Manager excited to have a trip on the lifeboat. The yacht was left anchored and the lifeboat returned with the skipper later that night near high tide. The skipper was then able to motor back to Brightlingsea. he year 2019 has been a fairly normal one in terms of the number of rescues we have done. The count is 48 as I write this in November and as we are over the busy summer season we should not have too manyT more before the year’s end.

I have included some fund-raising events below, and we are always amazed at the endeavours some people do to raise funds for the RNLI. At this moment in November a lady from Rowhedge is trekking to Everest Base Camp with an RNLI flag in her backpack to raise enough money Yacht Meander with main and cruising chute jammed aloft to kit-out a West Mersea crew member. Over the summer a man from Tollesbury windsurfed around three islands, raising funds for the RNLI and giving donations to the The ‘Motley Crew’ performing in the Museum three island lifeboats - which were Mersea, Sheppey and Stranded yacht on East Mersea Flats Hayling. Crew’ from Brightlingsea performing. This group of singers only raise funds for the RNLI and so are very A singlehanded yachtsman was entering the Blackwater An event that has been running for many years is the pleased to come and perform for a Lifeboat Guild. when he somehow managed to get his cruising chute Maldon Little Ship Club’s RNLI Rowing Race, held around jammed under a mainsail car near the mast head, with the New Year at Maldon. As well as the various rowing boats, Every three years our class of lifeboat, which is an Atlantic result that neither sail could be lowered. He sensibly called kayaks and gigs taking part, a group of ladies from 85, goes back to its maker for a re-fit and an update for the Coastguard for assistance and Just George went to Heybridge Basin called the ‘Basin Oars’ always take part in its equipment to the latest specifications. All of the offer help. Fortunately Simon Clarke and Daniel ‘Bart’ Hill their four oared boat in fancy dress, as well as raising inshore lifeboats, which are the B Class Atlantic 85, the from Peter Clarke’s Boatyard were on board. Bart quickly money throughout the year for the RNLI. Our lifeboat 16ft D Class and the Arancia - which is housed on the offered to go up in the ’s chair armed with a knife always visits this event on an exercise and invites the Severn - the Tamar offshore boats and those used by and the helmet camera. He soon had the chute cut free so The chute being cut free ladies aboard for the customary photo. Lifeguards, are built and re-fitted at the RNLI Inshore that the mainsail could be lowered, but it took five turns Lifeboat facility in East Cowes. Just George went back of the yacht to unwrap the chute from the forestay. lifeboat by being sponsored. This year they did it again, there in January and returned in April. During this time we but invited other kayakers to join in. A total of 34 turned had the Peterborough Beer Festival III from the relief fleet Last year six kayaks from Coopers Beach caravan site set up for the event and had an enjoyable paddle round the as a replacement. off to circumnavigate Mersea and raise funds for the island, stopping at the Strood for lunch. They raised the impressive sum of £3806 for the RNLI.

The ‘Basin Oars’ on-board Just George Just George returns from her re-fit Our enthusiastic Fund Raising Guild runs many events throughout the year and one very popular event is a In June we had a call to a yacht aground on the East Shanty Night held in Mersea Museum, with the ‘Motley Mersea Flats, on a falling tide. When we arrived there was 34 Kayaks about to set off

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 22 23 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Cadet Week 2019 Dom Barnes reflects on his first year as Chair

adet Week is a week of sailing Like many of us, I have been involved Across the week, a total of 160 sailors pirate themed fancy-dress party at the Trophy. Again, this was first awarded in ‘Mersea Cadet Week is proof that not and social events for the in cadet sailing for a long time, since took part, with a staggering 144 boats Dabchicks Sailing Club - conplete with 1935. There are four short races in all treasure is Silver and Gold,’ I said. young sailors of West Mersea my daughter was eight - she turned 23 out on the water each day. a visit from Captain Jack Sparrow! On Sonata yachts kindly loaned by their ‘The true treasure is friendship. Sailing, Yacht Club and the Dabchicks this year. In that time I have been a Friday, the traditional water fight and owners. This year it was won by Tim and particularly sailing here, creates SailingC Club, which has been running fleet coach for the highly popular Chris Burr is the current Fleet ‘Walk Past’ (where Optimist sailors Crossley and Harry Chatterton, who life-long and deep friendships’. since 1935. As such, it is one of the Sunset Series at the Dabchicks, the leader, who has the unenviable job of decorate their boats) took place, sailed a brilliant series of races UK’s longest running and largest club Chief Instructor for all fleets and then coordinating everything for our followed by the much-anticipated throughout the week. A huge thanks must go to the hard cadet sailing events in the UK. This is was asked to join the Cadet Week amazing 91 young Optimist sailors. Parents’ Race, where relatives compete working, Cadet Week Committee for something we hope both clubs are Committee where I became the first in the small Optimist . Due to At the end of it all, the cadets not only organising a fantastic week very proud of. Inside Fleet Leader. ‘Mersea Cadet Week really brings high winds on the Tuesday, a 75-foot celebrated their hard work at the prize for the Cadets, but in recognition that everyone together, both the cadets and long water slide was organised and on giving and after-party, hosted by West it takes a whole year to plan and put In February this year I was caught in a This year, our theme was Pirates and the parents,’ says Chris. ‘The cadets Wednesday the cadets built rafts to Mersea Yacht Club. A big winner of the week together. moment of weakness and, with my everyone certainly got into the spirit: make great friendships that will last escape the Mersea shores! Fortunately the night was Charlotte Allen, who not arm firmly twisted behind my back, while some decorated their boats with them a lifetime. The parents, who all they all decided to come back and Lucy only came first in her fleet, but was Special thanks go to Micro-Scooter, agreed to step in and take over the Jolly Rogers, others chose to wear full volunteer, work hard to make it such a Newman’s team, ‘The Blackwater also awarded the new Cadet Week The Royal Hospital School, Mersea Chair of Cadet Week. I have loved pirate costumes. success and they really do enjoy the Bandits’, were declared victorious. Her Committee Trophy, this year awarded Island Watersports and West Mersea every second of it and have offered to week as much as the children. There’s team also went on to win the overall for Sportsmanship, due to her positive Dental Practice for sponsoring the do it again in 2020. Peter Clements looked very dashing on a very real sense of achievement and Team Trophy which combines results and helpful attitude towards others event as well as to all of the parents dress up day on board Serendipity, fun for everyone.’ from both sailing and social/non- throughout the week. who volunteered throughout the week. It’s either madness or brilliance, is how which he provided as Committee boat competitive events. I describe Cadet Week. The piles of for the week. Greg Dunn brilliantly set But it wasn’t all about the sailing: in At the prize giving I congratulated all Full results from the week can be sailing gear all over the house, garden the tone singing pirate songs and the evenings, the cadets took part in Each year there is a final race on Friday those who won trophies. But added: ‘if found at www.cadetweek.co.uk. and car and the warm feeling inside playing his accordion at both briefings many different social activities such as afternoon for the winners of Optimist you started a race and didn’t give up, For more information, contact the that is impossible to explain to the land on the Sunday evening and before the ‘It’s a Knockout’ at Mersea Outdoors, Gold, Slow, 4.7 and Fast you’ve already a winner. Cadet Week Committee at lubbers in your life, is proof of this! racing kicked off on Monday. roller-skating at Rollerworld, and a Handicaps for the prestigious Viking [email protected].

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 24 25 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Pictures by Chrissie Westgate 2019 Inside Fleet Results 2019 Outside Fleet Results

Trophies Diamond - Racing Emerald - Racing Ruby - Seamanship Slow fleet (overall) 1st Single Hander Charlie Jacobs James Brosnan-Wren Tomato – Kyer Jowers (most number of 1st Kyan Jowers 1st Sam Cook 1st Olivia Goodwin 1sts) 2nd Thomas Blackmore 2nd George Burr 2nd Seb Lingard 1st RS Feva Hannah Stodel (for endeavour) Diamond Seamanship – Henry Crisp 3rd Evan Ward 3rd Alexander Tyler 3rd Sonny Simpson Lucy aird brown /Amy Struth Lucy Aird-Brown and Lucy Struth Diamond Trophy – Kyer Jowers Emerald - Seamanship Emerald Trophy – Sam Cook Diamond - Seamanship 1st Izzy Kelly Gold - Racing 1st Sportsmanship Emerald Seamanship – Izzy Kelly 2nd Zara Yuzen Mary Richardson Laura Ferneyhough Most improved sailor – George Burr 1st Henry Crisp 3rd James Richardson 1st Charlotte Allen Ruby Trophy – Issy Bartlett 2nd Monia Bellomo 2nd Dominic Gozzett Seamanship Ruby Seamanship – Olivia Goodwin 3rd Will Grout Ruby - Racing 3rd James Blackmore Medium fleet/Laser 4.7 Johnny Barnes/Cameron First Bronze Sailor in Ruby Fleet – Gabby Clifton Charlotte Granger 1st Izzy Bartlett Gold - Seamanship Viking Trophy First non-traveller – Dom Gozzett 2nd Charlotte Granger Tim Crossley and Harry Chatterton First Gold – Charlotte Allen 3rd Sonny Simpson 1st Matilda Milgate Fast fleet Gold Seamanship – Matilda Milgate 2nd Dominique Granger Cadet Week Committee Trophy Endeavour – William Jones 3rd = Matthew Sanderson & Ruby 1st Double Hander Charlotte Allen Talbot Tim Crossley and Harry Chatterton

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 26 27 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE The Life and Times of the ‘Tollesbury Hilton’ By Greg Dunn became the waterside hub for dropping in for tea, coffee, beer, whisky and wine, and more than once hosted candlelit dinner parties for four. She became known as the ‘Tollesbury Hilton’, and it was in her kitchen that I honed my skills as a microwave food technician.

It was then I made the acquaintance of a neighbour in the yard who has become a firm friend. Axel Pedersen isn’t a man one meets every day. He is a polymath hailing from South Africa, and has been building a to his own design in Mouse’s yard for so long Trinovante on the saltings that he can’t remember when he started. At the time I met him, he and hollow keel, making some £500. But involved lashings of concrete around his extensive library were being evicted this made for a wildy yawing voyage the keel:hull joint, and that worked a from the roof space of one of the down Tollesbury Creek. Axel moved a treat. On the top of a disappointingly erroneously named Tollesbury ‘Sail large section of his library aboard, low spring tide, it took all 30hp of my Lofts’ – understandably, owing to the which fortunately survived and didn’t dory to wrench her out of her berth. incompatibility of paraffin stoves and turn to cheese before it was rehoused Like a cork out of a bottle, she shot wooden structures. So Axel moved into in his new home. The Hilton across the creek and planted herself the cold, dank Hilton for a cruelly cold subsequently served as overflow guest firmly on the other side. What winter, until a place came up in accommodation for Axel’s visiting followed was a pantomime of Axel taking up residence sheltered housing close to the Rec, family. gongoozling by the cream of the known as ‘God’s Waiting Room’. s Richard Hayden revealed and the most economical way of so swift I didn’t get the chance to MFOB fleet, who were on their way up

publicly when annointing me achieving it was sifting through eBay transfer my thermos and food to It was in September this year when the creek for post-race power drinking As Axel had de facto taken over the news reached me that the Hilton had in Tollesbury Sailing Club! as his successor as chairman of (then in its infancy) to find a reasonably Stiletto (which I had renamed Hilton, he decided to launch her and sunk in her berth. She’d rusted Mersea Week, I come from priced boat with a lid on. Trinovante and invoked the traditional put her in a mud berth out on through in front of the keel and had After a chronicle of minor disasters, we Tollesbury.A Although it didn’t feel it at bad luck in so doing), so off we tore Atkinson’s saltings. Some time before filled with an astonishing amount of floated her onto Black Diamond’s the time, I had an idyllic childhood My search took me to Faversham on an into a slate grey Thames Estuary. that, when we were both a bit hard mud, given the small size of the hole. launching trolley on Woodup Hard in messing about in boats. But it all unseasonably cold day in November up, we flogged the lead out of the Axel formulated a rescue plan, which the middle of the night, and I carted ended when I swallowed the anchor 2002, to look at a 24-foot steel Dutch The first casualties were the rather her back to my yard in Rushmere and came ashore for adult life. WIBO 2 class - complete with beautiful mahogany gunwales that I Close, Mersea. Whilst hauling some Wherever my career took me, I always everything bar engine and sails. Most hadn’t realised were only attached devilishly heavy chain out of her, I put kept a dinghy in Tollesbury Creek, and I of the worst decisions of my life were with plastic cable ties. I helplessly my back out, but struggled on to cart was never away for more than a taken in drink, and it’s a modern watched them disappear astern, my her to the dump on Colchester Hythe. summer month, as I always had the phenomenon to awake to an inbox full pleading look to David Weller being of successful bid emails one has no answered by a slow shake of the head She weighed in at 1.6 tonnes and legendary family seat of Great Downs netted me £90, which has been to return to. recollection of placing. This particular so wild were the conditions. The tow email informed me I was the proud rope parted twice, and re-attaching it entirely spoken for by two subsequent trips to the osteopath to fix my back. I have always felt life is like a pinball owner of Stiletto for the amazingly involved me dancing about on the modest price of £205! pitching foredeck with nowt to hang machine; one travels in a seemingly There are few places as depressing as a endless direction, and suddenly a on to. By the time we reached Shingle David and Mickey Weller were Head, I was in the advanced stages of scrap yard on a rainy autumn day, but bounces one off on a totally that was where I said goodbye to the different trajectory. One of the biggest engaged to tow my new holiday home hypothermia. But Tollesbury was safely from Faversham to Tollesbury with their made, and Trinovante was lifted out Hilton. As the closing scene of of these seismic shifts was the death of Terminator 2 came into my head, when my father, Gerald Dunn, in 2002, and trawler, on what turned out to be the and put on hardstanding in Mouse coldest Saturday in February 2003, Green’s yard. Arnie lowers himself into the molten the realisation that the family would vat to recycle himself, it seemed most have to sell Great Downs to fund care with a wind chill factor that was off the scale. Not wanting to get neaped And that was the start of my new appropriate to whisper ‘Hasta la vista, for our sainted mother. I therefore baby’. needed my own roost in Tollesbury, in Faversham Creek, our departure was social life in Tollesbury, as Trinovante Hasta la vista baby DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 28 29 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Mersea Week Photo Competition Winner ‘From Maria’ By Cally Stubbs

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 30 31 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Some Lovely Islands By John Kent

Fru Petersen’s cake buffet

café, near Osterlars, where we stopped used as his canvas to depict the history at ‘elevenses’ time. The waitress and legends of the island. The fairy explained we could have a coffee and tales of Hans Christian Andersen and cake or, for just a little more, we could Norse Gods are among his subjects. Bornholm. Ianassa in Hammerhavn on a rainy day have unlimited coffee and cakes from the cake buffet. Naturally we went for In addition to mooring in Ronne, any years ago I read a book Bornholm formations and the weather is quite the island has an especially large the buffet! The choice, variety and Bornholm’s main city, we have also entitled ‘Some Lovely warm until October. The island's number of Danish ‘round churches’, quality of cakes were stunning – there moored in Hammerhavn, a ‘refuge’ Bornholm is a Danish Island, well Islands’, written by Leslie topography consists of dramatic rock which were built as both a defensive were even watermelon slices to refresh harbour on the north west tip of the known for its harbours, hospitality and Thomas. Mersea did not get formations in the north, sloping down structures and places of worship. the palate. We eventually staggered island, useful shelter from those holiday atmosphere. Located well to aM mention, but the book helped me towards pine and deciduous forests, out to the car and could not face the east of the rest of Denmark, south start to understand the attraction of farmland in the middle and sandy During our several visits to Bornholm sweet carbohydrates for several days! One of Slau’s Stones of Sweden and north of Poland, it islands. beaches in the south. we have never managed to stay in any Other gastronomic delights of occupies an area of approximately 600 of the pretty and atmospheric harbours Bornholm include (in common with square km with a resident population Having cruised the Baltic for the past Strategically located in the Baltic Sea, on the islands east coast. These much of the Baltic) delicious smoked of almost 40,000. Bornholm is a centre three seasons in Ianassa, our Najad Bornholm has been fought over for harbours are small and in high summer fish and the mini smoked sausages, or for dairy farming, arts and crafts, such 380, we have passed many, many centuries. Usually ruled by Denmark, crammed with visiting yachts. They are ‘beer sticks’ as they are colloquially as glass and pottery production, and islands and visited quite a few. Some but at times also by Sweden and also exposed to strong easterlies and known - as consumption encourages tourism during the summer. have been little more than a rock while Germany. Bornholm was surrendered the first time we visited were all closed drinking too many beers! others have been substantial, with by Denmark to Sweden in 1658 but by storm gates for three days. So we their own towns and even cities. Most The island is also known as Solskinsøen after a local revolt was regained by did what all sensible cruising sailors do The atmosphere of Bornholm attracts have had that ‘island charm’ that (Sunshine Island) because of its Denmark in 1660. The ruin of in such circumstances and hired a car and encourages artists. On another sailors are familiar with, but I thought I weather and as Klippeøen (Rock Island) Hammershus in the north is the largest to tour the island. This helped us find windy day, while cycling through the would share four of my ‘stand out’ because of its geology, which is medieval fortress in northern Europe some of Bornholm’s many charms. countryside, a local lady showed us Baltic islands. predominantly granite. The heat from and testament to Bornholm’s strategic ‘Slau’s Stones’, a collection of rocks the summer sun is stored in the rock importance. The turbulent past means The first delight was Fru Petersen’s that a local farmer, turned artist, had

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 32 33 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

the Latvian coast. The response was: archeological remains and deserted moved between Sweden, Russia, Latvia ‘Oh, then you should go to Lauterhorn fishing villages, makes Faro quite and Germany. Historically the island on the island of Faro. It is very special!’ unique. has been closest to Sweden but at the end of World War I, the islanders, who This small port was not even on our Ruhnu were nearly all ethnically Swedish, radar – Ianassa draws just under two elected to become part of the newly metres so we tend to focus on larger, I have saved the best until last. We had independent Estonia. deeper harbours. To begin with we originally planned to bypass the could not even find it on the chart, but Estonian island of Ruhnu on our way Until World War II, Ruhnu continued soon found out enough to confirm it to Riga, as we were concerned (again) to be inhabited by ethnic Swedes who was a viable option. After a sparkling about the depth in both the harbour managed their own affairs, continuing 23nm sail, where we touched eight and the approach channel. But the to use Swedish law and making knots on occasion, we moored up. owner of Vagvis, a 17-metre yacht decisions by consensus. Families lived There was just Ianassa, a fishing boat drawing 2.25 metres, assured us we in thatched ‘longhouses’, with the and the local lifeboat. would be fine and could always follow animals kept at one end and the living him (if we could keep up!). We left the quarters at the other. During the war, Faro’s most renowned resident was Latvian port of Ventspils about four Ruhnu was initially occupied by the Ingmar Bergman, the Swedish film hours ahead of him and beat Vagvis to Soviet Union and then later by director, who spent the latter part of the harbour by only 30 minutes! The Germany. In November 1943, 75 his life living there and who shot a entrance was daunting, as there was islanders relocated to Sweden and number of his films on the island. He very little water under the keel and the then in August 1944, as the Red Army first visited in 1960, when shooting leading marks and recommended advanced again, all but two of the ‘Through a Glass Darkly’. Bergman had plotter track did not quite match up. remaining families organized a ship to wanted to film on the Orkney Islands, We elected to follow the leading marks move the community to Sweden. The but his financial backers thought that and were soon berthed safely in a islanders asked Estonians on the was too expensive so he ended up in newly refurbished harbour. nearby island of Kihnu to look after Hammerhavn sunset Faro. He fell in love with the place and their homes and livestock. The island moved there with his fourth wife Ruhnu is small, approximately twelve was then populated by ethnic easterly winds. The harbour sits southern Sweden and Stockholm, During our first visit to Utklippan I Ingrid. They are both buried on the square kilometres. The population has Estonians and some Red Army units. beneath the medieval castle of saving a three hour diversion in and vowed never to return – what was I island in a very peaceful corner of the generally been around 100-200, During the Communist era there was Hammershus and we have been one of out of Karlskrone, a large town and doing on this deserted rock? But church yard. Many islanders worked on though at times has dipped much significant hardship on the island and the only boats there on a rainy day and naval base with a good guest harbour. Linda’s enthusiasm rubbed off and I the films, either as extras or in lower. Evidence of the earliest human all but one of the long houses was also rafted in the high season, enjoying started to see the beauty of the technical roles, and would protect activity on the island, probably burned for fuel. By the 1970’s the an evening with Swedish neighbouring Utklippan is more of a rock than an seascapes, the wonderful flora and Bergman when visitors arrived asking associated with seasonal seal hunting, population had fallen to around 50. boats. Ashore, a larch-clad kiosk serves island. In addition to the fauna and the fabulous sun-sets. We where he lived – apparently no-one dates from 5,000 BC. There has been a After the fall of the Soviet Union in the best sandwiches on the island, and decommissioned lighthouse, there are have met some charming cruising could remember. Now there is a very permanent settlement on Ruhnu since 1991, land and buildings in Estonia, local beer – what more is needed! We only a few disused buildings, previously sailors there, enjoying conversations interesting museum dedicated to his the Middle Ages and up until the end including the island of Ruhnu, were have seen otters in the harbour and accommodation for the lighthouse with Danes, Poles, Germans, Swedes life and work. of the 19th century control of the island returned to the pre 1944 owners. enjoyed some lovely walks, particularly keepers. The small rectangular harbour and Dutch crews. It is a very up to the castle. Best of all though is is blasted out of the rock. There are cosmopolitan group that sits down to Faro has some fascinating geology, Faro rauk. ‘Dog Rock’ the sunset, a spectacular sight in mid- two entrances, one facing west and barbeques each evening and to watch including ‘rauk’, rock columns formed summer. the other east, so entry on the lee side the sun slip into the sea. by erosion during the last ice age. The is always possible. Mooring here is akin island is also the home of many sea So Bornholm really has it all – towns, to mooring in a swimming pool. Timing is everything when visiting birds and we made the mistake of villages, remote places, beautiful Facilities consist of a couple of Utklippan, I would only want to be cycling just 100 metres from the scenery and some lovely harbours. composting toilets and one or two there in settled weather. If you want nesting site of a tern colony. My small electricity points. Self-sufficiency is solitude, then avoid visiting in high backpack had to double as protective Utklippan essential. season. Out of season, when visiting head gear as the clacking terns dive- boats are few, you really do feel close bombed us, while we cycled as fast as From the largest of my four favourite The original 1789 light was a basket to nature and the sea. we could. Baltic islands to the smallest. Utklippan light, the current tower was built in is the name of a lighthouse, built 1870 and it replaced an earlier tower Faro The small harbour of Lauterhorn is a originally in 1789 on Södraskär (South built in 1840. The light towers were delight. One of the former fisherman’s skerry). There is also Norraskär (North built on top of an original fort. In 2007 We found ourselves in Faro almost by huts contains a library where visiting skerry) and together with the outlying it was decided that the lighthouse was accident. On Gotland, in the small sailors can take and leave books. The rocks this rocky complex now takes the no longer needed and the light was harbour of Lickershamn, we got harbour master visited each evening to lighthouse’s name. Utklippan is located de-activated. It can still be visited, and chatting to the crew of the collect the modest fee and was happy about 50nm due north of Bornholm from the top seals can be seen basking neighbouring boat - it turned out that to chat and share his knowledge of the and about four miles south of the on the outlying rocks that have both the yacht had sailed in the 1979 island. The only challenge of Faro was island of Utlangan, which forms the claimed and protected many vessels Fastnet. We told them we were finding a store to restock the boat. But south east corner of Sweden. It is an over the years. headed to Farosund (on the main the varied scenery and the wonderful ideal stop when travelling between island of Gotland) before going over to light, together with some medieval

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 34 35 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Sam’s Race Oli Grogan reflects on a ‘Big Day’

Utklippan flora

Most of the original islanders stayed in landscapes and, of course, the sunsets. we met. In every case we did not feel Sweden, though many visit the island For Linda and me, it was the people like visitors, but honoured guests. regularly and some have established holiday homes there.

Today Ruhnu has seen growth and regeneration. The small harbour, Singing and dancing in the rain incorporating a ferry jetty, has been built, a power plant installed with a hy is it always so serious, major issue with this year’s event in his time, limited resources and a near grass air strip nearby. The one why can't it be more FUN?’ eyes. He'd be adamant that it needed a impossible schedule to fit it in to, they remaining Longhouse has been That was a sentence Sam running commentary - from a pursuit really were the catalysts for making it restored and contains a museum. The used often - and not just craft with a massive speaker attached. happen for us. I'd say the race, or islanders are charming and welcoming Wwith sailing. It was the verbal summary perhaps the 'event', was one of the and all we met spoke good English. of lots of things he'd get involved with. When the Lightfoot Gang asked the wilder afternoons of my life. While it When I arrived at the museum and I'm yet to meet anyone who suffered yacht club about putting on an event in certainly delivered on many levels, I'd asked a lady working in a nearby more from FOMO (fear of missing out) memory of Sam, the club thankfully say the biggest thing for us to take strawberry patch when it was open, than Sam. But then I'm also yet to meet thought of the Brig fleet. Not only was away, after perhaps the hangover, was she said: ‘Tell me when you want it someone who cared more about the Sam very involved in the fleet - having how much fun was had by all. opened!’. It was the same story with taking part rather than the result. The recently bought, then quickly become lunch, when the small café was purpose of the 'doing' was, without immersed in the never ending fettling As many people said on the day, Sam specially opened up and soup question, the fun for Sam – results were (half being in pursuit of performance, would have loved it. prepared, and when we asked to visit just the by-product. the other half being just the effort of the two churches, one of which is the keeping the thing afloat). 'Wooden oldest church in Estonia and is a It is a sentiment that participants in the 'pets' he called them, in reference to wooden structure dating from 1644. first version of 'Sam's Race' seemed to the constant attention racing By the end of the day, we felt take very much to heart! require. privileged to have gained a small insight into a unique island Sam loved getting many people Looking back after organising the community. together and arranging something fun, event, it was one that required the two his time on the water was a cents from so many of his dearest I hope readers have been able to get a personification of that. The more friends. Credit is also due to the club, sense of our wonderful experiences ridiculous and less serious, the brighter which went well and truly above and visiting these unique islands. We have it shone for Sam. Brighter still when it beyond in trying to satisfy our barrage reflected on what makes them so involved his mobile speaker with of seemingly impossible (and quite special, aside from the seascapes, Ruhnu. Wooden church dating from 1644, the oldest church in Estonia 'microphone attachment'. That'd be the frankly ridiculous requests). Limited Prizes for all

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 36 37 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Celebrating Prince’s win

Left to right Robert Lightfoot, James Faulkner, Paul Jowers William Montgomerie and Sue lightfoot

Pictures by Stuart Cock

Tom Bowman on the race their sailing finery mid-Mersea Week from a few, it is a spectacle to behold. With all agreeing this would be the boats, the borrowing of sails before The race itself managed to deliver, with 2019 and all looking as bemused as What a start! race of Mersea Week, the plans were the start and even the talk of water even the most honest of competitors It's getting close to 10:00 and the me, it dawns on me - is this a world set in motion. PJ would be race officer pistols and dancing on board were all cheating at every opportunity. Water anticipation is building before the start first? The horn sounds again: ‘Four For us to understand where all this and create the notice of race, mentioned. The key was to get as cannons, music and dancing onboard of arguably the most important race of minutes’. The countdown continues began, we need to go back to a mid- considering the quirky set of many out on the water as possible, and points being deducted from any the year, then the 5-minute horn and the room becomes more and more winter committee meeting of the parameters requested. The race just sailors, non-sailors friends and family. boat’s handicap that was not sounds. However, this time the horn excited with each passing minute until greatest fleet of them all - the Brigs. As had to get signed off by the committee And boy, did it deliver. overloaded with people and drinks was blasted from inside the yacht club PJ reminds competitors that after the a member of the fleet, Sam Lightfoot so we could hold it under the banner were the key highlights. Lucky we've by race officer Paul Jackson, standing ‘one minute’ he will hand the room would patch up his beloved boat and of the WMYC. With confirmation As the week approached the forecast got a few months to recover - before on the first step just to the left of the over to Steve Johnson for the ‘tot’. join in the antics of a busy schedule of coming within a couple of weeks, and looked shocking, rain and heavy winds the tots line up for next year’s race. bar. Clearly enjoying the novelty, but races. He was also a key member of a draft notice of race interestingly forecast, in contrast to Tuesday’s also trying to remain serious he As that horn sounds, all eyes turn the youth joining the fleet. The banter stating that the racing rules were solely windless drifting. announces: ‘You are in sequence’. The towards Steve. Now for anyone that was arguably better than the sailing at the discretion of the race officer, we But all were keen. countdown has started. At the front of has not experienced a tot with Steve, and he would always be ready for you knew this was race on! To add to this It seemed that the the room stands a man behind a table you should. He undertakes this task after the race, in true Sam fashion, we heard that three of Sam’s friends race perfectly covered with an inordinate quantity of with true vigour and poise that holds grinning from ear to ear if he had were resurrecting his brig via the hands captivated the ‘tots’, and the room looks to him for the room. He does a great job once beaten you. of a local boat builder and it would be fleet’s core values guidance. But still there is an almost again and with glasses raised, water fit to sail this race in her new livery of getting these embarrassed silence. Finally, someone and rum in each hand, we all drink to After the loss of Sam, his closest under the name Prince. old lumps of shouts ‘Starboard!’ and the room our friend Sam. friends wanted to ensure they marked furniture out becomes alive with chuckles and chat his life in a way to be remembered. In true brig fashion, the race sailing in the surrounding the reality that the Le With that the air horn blows for the With that Oli Grogan voiced his plans communication was left more to creeks of the Mans start to this race is going to start and competitors run, scramble for a race, not just a race for winning rumour than truth, with several of the Blackwater, and begin at the bar. and bundle out of the bar, making but for race for Sam, a race with a Le fleet taking on the challenge of turning for a great cause their way to their boats at speed in Mans start, a tot and a safety boat full an ordinary Wednesday of Mersea nothing was As I scan across the bar at the other true Le Mans style. With laughing, of refreshments for competitors on the week into a spectacle for everyone to going to stop the 100+ finely honed athletes, clad in shouting and some heavy breathing way round. What could go wrong? remember. Buckets tied under the fast race. Sam

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 38 39 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

A young crew of Cameron Dix, Amy Haines and Julian Herbert jumped aboard for the trip back to the Hamble river, ready for the round the Isle of Wight race. We had a Smack on Tour good rounding of Start Point and a static night off Portland Bill, until the tide turned fair and we fetched up the Solent By Richard Haines at 9 knots.

A crew of 14 gathered for the IOW race, including an old WMYC friend Damian Byrne. We were first gaffer to the Needles, where all became becalmed. Going offshore in search of wind did not pay off and the fleet became becalmed again off St Catherine’s point. The wind filled in at 7pm, but the cut-off time of 10pm caused all the other gaffers to retire. Alberta raced up the Solent in the dark, but sadly we missed the cut-off time by just 18 minutes.

A young crew of Conor Wey, Rob Crossley and Cam Dix stayed aboard for the trip back to the east coast. Brighton was too dangerous to enter and Newhaven was full, so we pressed on to Eastbourne before heading back to the Orwell for the Pin Mill race.

Next up was Mersea week, which was won by Ross Wey and his crew. This was despite suffering a breakage Cowes racing during Tuesday’s race. The crew repaired it overnight at Peter Clarke’s yard, with help from shipwright David Mills, The Cowes spring classics, over May 18/19, was our first and returned to win two races the next day. racing event and the boat was joined by more Mersea sailors, including Ross and Conor Wey, Will Crossley, Tom Finally Alberta tackled the Colne smack race. After a knock- Brown and Dave Mallet. Taking a win in the first race and down from the squall affecting the whole fleet, Alberta 4th in the second was good enough to win the gaffers class, prevailed in a tacking match up the Colne with Maria to after Sunday racing was cancelled due to a lack of wind. take the Cock of the Colne pennant.

From there Alberta pressed on to Falmouth, with Jonathan So lots of miles sailed, with many crew new to smack Latham and Julian Herbert aboard, stopping in Weymouth sailing aboard and some success in the racing, made for a and Dartmouth en route. The is a beautiful river and memorable year. And a boom to replace. Dittisham a favoured spot for lunch. Rounding Portland Bill via the inshore route to avoid the overfalls was nerve The other thing we picked up on our travels - was another racking but successful. boat! While in Restronguet Creek we visited Ashley Butler’s yard, which was looking after Bonaventure of Salcombe for Sailing up the Carrick roads to Restronguet creek Alberta the family of the owner who had sadly passed away. Built Passing Beachy Head drew some confused glares from the local working boats in 2013 and featured in the Channel 5 series ‘Britain by peering at the CK fishing number. Foreigners in town! Boat’ with John Sargeant and Michael Buerk, she was very ith the luxury of time on my hands this summer, I much for sale. We brought her back to Mersea in decided to take my smack Alberta on an A large crew descended on Falmouth for the classic September, covering 350 miles in 52 hours non-stop. extended tour of ‘foreign’ waters, with the aim regatta, which was held over the international Sea Shanty of entering as many regattas as possible and weekend. This included local Mersea sailors: Johnny French, gettingW as many Mersea sailors on board as possible. Gerard Swift, Chis Conway, Mark Farthing, Dave Mallet, James and Amy Struth, Chris Green, Leafy and Hatty Alberta CK318, to give her her full title, is very much a local Dumas, plus boat builders Dan Tester and Nick Relf. boat – being built at the Aldous yard in Brightlingsea in 1885. She was rebuilt in 2004 by Dan and Barry Tester at Alberta won the first gaffers race with Gerard at the helm Hollowshore. and then came second in the next two races, to take second overall. There was some close racing and start line Leaving Mersea in May, she set sail for the Hamble with local excitement with the Laurent Giles gaff cutter Dyarchy II. sailors Scot Yeates, Rob Crossley and Colin Garnham aboard. After a quick survey of the Maplin sands, we pressed on past We were also awarded a prize for best presented vessel at Ramsgate - enjoying a trailing 20 knot breeze. After the the parade of sail and Alberta was the furthest-travelled Zodiac inflatable had broken away off Dover, we rounded boat in the regatta.The crew enjoyed Neptune Rum, the Beachy Head at dawn and headed to the Elephant boatyard Fisherman’s Friends shanty band and the hospitality of the in Hamble River after a 36-hour passage. Cowes Spring Classic Royal Cornwall yacht club to a full extent! Racing at Falmouth

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 40 41 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

often having clear air for most of the four and nine boats racing, but five race. The leading ‘Fast’ fleet boat boats did complete at least the five Bananaman placed third in the series, races needed for a series score. Only ahead of Toby Ramsay’s self-designed three White Sail boats raced in the DSC Racing Roundup and built sportsboat Mojito, Tony Commodores Regatta, Hannelore Hawkes and Pat Hill’s Sonata Aubie winning this race. Richard and Sue By Julian Lord Too, with Alan Brook’s Mexican Train Taylor won the Coronation Cup race the leading Cork 1720 in sixth. with their Hustler 30XM Rimfire, ahead of Raggerty and the Moody 31S Cirrus WHITE SAIL RACING of Dave Lewis. White Sail racing All White Sail racing continues to be finished as usual in mid-October with scored on the RYA’s NHC system, the Finola Cup race, contested by where handicaps change from race to eight boats, with Malcolm Clark’s race. The eight race White Sail Series UFO34 Odessa winning from Alan was won by Alan Jones Beneteau 29 Mason and Shirley Swan’s Sigma 29 Raggerty, with the Bavaria 34 Dura and Raggerty. Hannelore of David Curtis and Vic Prior’s MGC27 Skybird in second and OTHER RACES (LH) third. Turnouts appeared to be Eight boats raced in the DSC’s somewhat influenced by the Commodores Regatta, with conditions, with anything between Blackjac’s two second places enabling

Raggerty Photo: Chrissie Westgate

Humdinger Photo: Chrissie Westgate

IRC RACING Championships – saw only a few boats the trophy. The September combination of a short sharp race, a Following a meeting of owners in early regularly racing, and the separate IRC Championship rather tailed off, with few beers and a tasty but inexpensive 2019, the decision was taken to revert Sportsboat Series was dropped strong winds seeing the final race supper is a proven winning formula. to the use of the internationally through a complete lack of support. firstly postponed and then cancelled. DSC continues scoring the series on recognised IRC handicapping system The May Championship was won by Bananaman took the win in this series, Local Handicaps which, wherever for most club racing. Nearly 30 West Julian Lord’s International H Boat followed by Humdinger and Blackjac. possible, are precisely based on IRC Mersea-based boats obtained 2019 Humdinger, ahead of Joe Billing and ratings by the five-man Handicap IRC ratings. While this gave our main Bruce Woodcock’s Projection 762 DSC FRIDAY SERIES Committee. With a win in the final racing better standing, it sadly had Bananaman and WMYC Sailing As usual, the DSC’s Friday Series saw race, Humdinger clinched the series little impact on the numbers of boats Secretary Jack Davis with Blackjac, the the most competitive racing of the after a close battle with Simon Farren’s actually competing. The opening and leading Sonata. Raced in June, the season, with excellent turnouts of close Sonata Camel, both boats benefitting closing series of the season – now Centenary Cup saw just three boats to 20 boats for most weeks in the 14 from having regular scrubs and making with just four races in each, and on the start line, with Leo Knifton’s race series, and seven different good starts in the ‘Slow’ fleet, then renamed the May and September Melges 24 Brandyhole taking home individual race winners. The

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 42 43 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE her to win the trophy ahead of usual with the Autumn Trophy race years of 13 Smacks made a Dark Horse Photo: Chrissie Westgate Brandyhole. Mojito beat Richard and the Sailing Committee took a last spectacular sight, and despite suffering Matthews Ker 51 Oystercatcher XXXIII minute decision to maximise entries by a broken boom on Tuesday, Ross Wey on tie break for third. Having been running this not on IRC but on Local sailing Alberta won the class from postponed on its original date, a Handicaps. A decent nine boats raced Richard Haines’ Kate and Richard blustery Saturday afternoon in July saw with Starfall II coming out on top Robinson’s Martha II. Nick Purdie’s Raggerty win the Ancient Mariners ahead of Ed Taylor’s J80 Java and Jack Gracie was the leading smack in the Race ahead of John Clifton’s Sigma 33 Berry’s Sigma 8M Sorcerer. slow group. The IRC Sportsboats Starfall II. The following afternoon, needed a tie-break to determine the Scot Yeates with his little R18 Framett MERSEA WEEK overall winner – Richard Matthews in won the Wallet Cup race by just 10 Except for racing being abandoned on his Melges 24 What A Blast drawing seconds from Mike Berry’s Finngulf 33 the second day through lack of wind, level on points by winning the final Rendezvous, with Steve Johnson’s Mersea Week was held in the windiest race by just 27 seconds from Toby Morrison Micro Spot Marley in third, all weather for many years and Race Ramsay’s Mojito, and this enabled three sailing single handed. The Ladies Officer Brian Bolton and his team did What A Blast to take top slot from Regatta cruiser race was contested on well to complete the full programme of Mojito, with Martin Gozzett the another windy Saturday, Frances keelboat races. The first day saw gusts leading Cork 1720 in third, just ahead Meason helming Humdinger again of over 30 knots, with a Cork 1720 of Mexican Train. Humdinger won the winning the Molliette Bowl, ahead of dismasted and a Sonata losing a man IRC Cruisers from Scot Yeates sailing Rimfire (Sue Taylor) and Tish Woulds overboard through broaching on a his Holman classic Stiletto and John with Hannelore. The season finished as spinnaker leg. The best entry for some Munns Nicholson 43 Dark Horse, whilst in the 10-boat Sonata class, Bananaman Photo: Chrissie Westgate Camel dominated with four firsts to win from Aubie Too and Wet Endeavour, the Gozzett Roberts & Shipton partnership. There was a close tussle in the Locally Handicapped Cruisers, with Paul Harrison’s Beneteau 33.7 Maverick winning from Steve Johnson helming the late Frank Reed’s Hustler 32 Tramp. Paul Harrison also took the prize for the best overall performance in the cruiser classes. Barry Ashmore’s Algonquin was third up and winner of the division for the slower boats in this fleet, with Starfall II in fourth. A second place in the final race gave Peter Clarke with Tasman top prize in the Classics and Gaffers class, ahead of Richard Bailey’s Cornish Crabber Lahloo and Timothy Howes Buchanan Saxon Aelfwyn. Finally, the White Sail fleet was dominated by Jon and Penny French’s Oyster 26 Sea Pie with four race wins, ahead of James Millar’s sister ship Pipedream, with Hannelore best of the fast boats in third and Raggerty in fourth.

THANKS Thanks as ever go to Brian and Wendy Bolton and their team on Blue Horizon for officiating again in a very professional manner for a good number of club races, also to Vice Commodore Paul Jackson who did the same job a number of times when he was not away assisting with the running of events both in the UK and abroad.

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 44 45 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Anna, ½ barrels can be transported via the ‘dumb waiter’ and all tastes can be catered for in the upstairs bar. House Notes Please be mindful that the Long-Room Steady as she goes and Molliette Bar are for the use of members and can be booked for By Alan Jones, Rear Commodore House private functions through the office. By Richard Sharpe, Rear Commodore Moorings and Boatyards October 1 marked the start of the Sunday Carvery season and your House This winter’s main job is looking at the integrity of YC1’s Committee experimented with using wooden hull. It is also very likely that a new engine will be the Long-Room for service. That has required, subject to a full assessment from Peter Clarkes not proved to be too popular so Boatyard and Malcolm and I. Once the old engine is carveries have moved, once again, to removed, our very own boat builder Geoffrey Hunt will give the downstairs bar area. Where the us a thorough report on the boat’s structural condition. Long-Room has remained popular is with the larger evening functions, such The City Road car park, come winter layup boat-yard, is as lecture suppers and themed Friday proving ever more popular as a safe and clean place to store suppers. boats over the winter season. Only one issue keeps rearing its head, and that is the lateness of some members vacating As the year comes to an end we think their boats space after re-fit. More new taps are planned for of the AGM. To those thinking of this coming spring, on both sides of the site, to further ‘doing their bit’ on Committee, I’d only enhance this important facility. say: ‘Your Yacht Club Needs You’.

A note for your diaries, ‘RIIS’ celebrates We hope all members and visiting yachtsmen appreciate the her Centenary next year and August 1 late night launch service during summer weekends. We Staff summer party and 2 are the dates for that celebration certainly do.(Also see photo below of our planned ‘Extreme e have gone through a We are lucky to enjoy the attentions of when, hopefully we will be joined by High Tide Launch Service’ provided by Zac Clarke, pick-ups period of change with our a team of dedicated staff and I am sure several of the other ‘Dunkirk Little from the lawn or the Coast Inn!) kitchen staff and hopefully that all members would join me in ’ and their crews. we can now look ahead to thanking them all for their service to I am looking forward to next year and its challenges A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has aW long period of stability in the kitchen us. I have certainly learnt, during my whatever they may bring. Wishing you fair winds and worked with me over the past two - with our Head Chef Ben ably time on Committee, that a friendlier following seas for next season. years on the House Committee, supported by Sous Chef Michael and team one could not wish to meet. especially for all your ‘behind the Pastry Chef Rachel. Ben hit the ground scenes’ work. I’m now standing down running, having joined us at the start Draught in the Molliette? Yes, finally from ‘House’ and I wish my successor of Cadet Week, which soon evolved we can serve a lager and bitter in the every success. into Mersea Week. upstairs bar. Thanks to the research by Phil and Ollie with YC1 Talking of the latter, Wednesday his being my first year as Rear Commodore, I’d like to moved from Round the Island Race think that the handover has been pretty smooth - as and the RNLI Pursuit Race to a day of Malcolm Clark and I basically changed places from celebration and remembrance for Sam our previous roles! T Lightfoot. The MFOB Fleet and his friends did full justice to the occasion Most of the success, we feel, is due to having a very good and, thanks to the generosity of the team of launchmen, which comprises of Philip Cheatham, Marfleet family, rum flowed like water. Ollie Jarvis and Zac Clarke supported by an equally The band-stage was suitably stress- dedicated M&B team. Philip is doing fantastic work as head tested! launchman. Ollie has settled back in very quickly and is doing a sterling job turning his hand to any task required of July’s Summer Party, although it rained, him. Zac Clarke is just a brilliant young man, who has was an enjoyable event. Dancing on excellent skills on and off the water and always glad to help the lawn, barefoot in the drizzle to the without hesitation. They are all very helpful and polite. music of ‘Better Than Your Boyfriend’, daunted few. New for this season was the introduction of the very popular RIB dock. We are hoping to extend that for next The three evenings when bands were season, for which we already have a full waiting list. booked during Regatta Week, it also rained! However spirits were not A decision was made, at a fairly late stage before relaunch, dampened and those who attended to fit a well-deserved new engine to YC2. For many years it the functions enjoyed the music of has been used as the primary launch, which has contributed three great bands. (Very) High Water Springs to excessive engine hours. Zac takes a road trip

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 46 47 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE Funny name - great pedigree

By Phil Plumtree

Sorry state in Rhodes

Week. I looked about for regattas and zero would have helped in the when Ramsgate came up on the radar marginal reaching conditions, but we I made some inquiries and heard good do not carry one in our inventory. We things. We were not disappointed - 20 even spotted a Westerly Fulmar with knot south-westerlies, a fierce tide one up in the cruising classes division. producing large waves to punch They all knew something we didn’t - through and surf down for a couple of 21 miles of reaching for the Gold Cup days, plus some testing light winds is always the course set. Our coupled with big tides. Ramsgate considerable haul from Ramsgate Week is many regattas in one. concluded with an additional cup for Ramsgate Week itself, an IRC regatta ‘Yacht of the Week’, a final surprise using mid-week results, and a two-race from an incredibly friendly and series on Thursday for the Queens cup. welcoming Royal Temple Yacht Club. A Swuzzlebubble leading the pack All culminating in the Ramsgate Gold huge thanks to them for organising Cup single race shoot-out on Friday. At the regatta and to my crew who wuzzlebubble was and wooden centreboards. In this Trophy for overall success. In the 80’s Swuzzlebubble came under my the prizegiving, it is fair to say we were continue top sail flawlessly and make it commissioned by Ian Gibbs, a configuration, Swuzzlebubble started she was sold to Switzerland. But then guardianship in 2017. I had teamed up kept pretty busy! The only day we look, from where I sit, so easy. New Zealand businessman, to the 1978 Sydney to Hobart, but the trail goes cold until 2012 when with Mersea man Jerry Hill, a brilliant stuttered was Gold Cup day. A code compete in the 1977 Half Ton withdrew late on the second night as Swuzzlebubble was found by Peter tactician and mainsheet hand, and we SCup in Sydney, where she placed 5th Gibbs considered the conditions in Bass Morton in Rhodes, Greece in a very headed off to Kinsale, Ireland for that to Bruce Farr design No.65. Ian went Strait were just too extreme. Although sorry state in. Her hull was largely year’s Classic HTC. Together with a on to own a long line of boats of the the 31-footer had not broken any gear intact, although the bow was strong crew, and despite our lack of same name, which comes from his pet and her Kevlar-reinforced hull had damaged, and her keel was in very bad hours practice, we came back mission names for his two daughters – withstood the pounding without shape and she had been stripped of all accomplished, as winners!. Keeping ‘Swuzzle’ and ‘Bubble’ . He achieved difficulty. Although she did not make it gear. Morton had rescued the same core crew was key for 2018, his highest accolade of top Individual to Poole for the ’78 HTC, incidentally Swuzzlebubble from what might have where we came away from Poole boat in the Admirals Cup of 1981. attended my many competing WMYC otherwise been her final resting place, Regatta as IRC Southern Area members, she came to the northern and after a complete refurbishment Champions and won our class in The first Swuzzlebubble was designed hemisphere for the ’79 HTC in was fully prepared to compete in what Cowes Week. This followed a sparring to meet the parameters of the IOR Half Scheveningjam – placing 3rd. is now called the Half Ton Classic Cup match with Harry Heijst's superbly Ton Cup (HTC) level rating rule, at a sailed under IRC ratings. Morton won sailed Winsome, an S&S 41. time when the Kiwi designers Bruce Sold away to Ireland in 1980, she this in 2104, dominating the series, but Farr, Paul Whiting and Lawrie Davidson placed 1st in the UK Half Ton Cup and then sold to Greg Peck, a hardened On to 2019, and an administrative were breaking the mould by producing 1st in the Irish HTC and competed in west country campaigner, who lifted error on my part meant that most of The Ramsgate haul offshore yachts with pencil thin masts many ISORA races, winning the Wolf the trophy in Falmouth in 2016. my crew were unavailable for Cowes

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 48 49 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Sunday dawned bright and with a light breeze. After A pleasant surprise was the wind veering as we travelled up breakfast another walk was planned on the same route as the Wallet, making for a pleasant close-reach all the way. Friday, on this occasion some of the party turned back Going into Harwich harbour meant almost a dead run, before the chapel and others carried on to take in the which somewhat spoiled the enjoyable weather. Club Cruises chapel and the pubs in Bradwell - The Cricketers, the Kings Head and The Green Man. New participant in the cruising section, Grapevine, was joined by Kittiwake, Rendezvous, Odessa, Stargazer, Brian Warwick the Cruiser Captain introduces another memorable summer The barbecue started at 5.00pm. It had been arranged for Hannalore, French Mistress and Sea Breeze. Already at the bar to be open so there was no need to bring drinks. Levington for repair was Sea Weasel. A diverse and lively Another convivial evening was had and again two of the barbecue was enjoyed by most, others being a little under e were very fortunate this year - not only to have involved a 1.1mile walk there and back. A convivial evening party drove round from Mersea to join in. A few decided to the weather. a very full cruise programme, but also to have was had by all, although the food was not as good as when carry-on enjoying themselves on Clockwise, with the last very favourable weather to go with it. last we visited. The moonlit walk home rounded-off the turning-in about midnight. The next day several of our group moved to Royal Harwich evening - recommended for future visits. Yacht Club and walked to the Butt & Oyster at Pin Mill for a W On Monday another bright day dawned and preparations late Sunday lunch. As usual the food and company were Saturday morning dawned bright and clear, with a The sun made an appearance for the shakedown cruise in were made for returning to Mersea at about midday when excellent. Others had to head home to be in time for work moderate breeze, perfect for yacht racing. Sea Breeze acted April and stayed with us for every cruise up until the last there was enough water to leave Bradwell. The West the following morning. as start boat and set-off four contestants from the southern weekend in Tollesbury. Even then, when strong winds and Mersea Yacht Club lawn was the destination for some, an start line for a long beat towards No.1 race mark, followed rain brought our great cruising weather to an end, a number indication of continuing glorious weather. The rest of the fleet headed back on Monday morning and of boats were not deterred from attending and having fun. by another across the spring tide to No.2. The boats were had a good but slightly wet motor/sail. Only when we Tollesbury, along with Bradwell and Heybridge, showed that not making much progress towards the next mark, so the Kevin Mullins arrived home did it rain properly and we went to WMYC for short cruises are very popular – all three venues saw course was shortened to finish at the North Cardinal beacon lunch, again delicious. additional members arriving by car to join in the partying. at Bradwell entrance. The winner was Seahawk II with Clockwise second. On balance this was a good weekend that turned out With this in mind, and hopefully to encourage people who better than expected, given the weather forecast. It goes to may be unable to participate in the longer cruises, we have At 6.00pm the pontoon party got started. Some 21 of the show if you make the effort things can turn out to be added more short weekend cruises for next season. So look invitees decided that the pontoon was on the boat, so again enjoyable. out for the programme, which is now available in the the self-draining cockpit became a self-filling one. Canapés cruising section of the club’s website. were enjoyed by all and afterwards we all went to The Kevin Mullins Green Man for dinner. This was a riotous affair as the initial Hope to see many of you cruising next year. booking had been for 14 people. In the end there were 32 people and one dog, sitting down in the Family Room. Four had even driven round from Mersea to join us. The staff Bradwell Cruise and Shake-Down Shield pursuit race rose magnificently to the occasion and food was served in good time. Date: 20-22 April It had been a long day for some, so they went back to their On Friday 19 April, in beautiful weather, a small forward boats while others went for a drink to to Bradwell Quay raiding party braved the broad seas of the Blackwater to Yacht Club. This gave the opportunity to examine the Bradwell, with the idea of making an extra-long weekend of facilities on offer for our planned barbecue on Sunday it. A group of stalwarts explored the sea-wall walk towards evening. We were made very welcome and the Club St.Peter’s chapel, taking-in some great views of Mersea Secretary offered the club’s cutlery and crockery for us to Island. use. For future reference, the yacht club bar is open every Friday and Saturday night during the summer. Call in and Having had a drink at the marina bar, we set off to the support them, you will be made very welcome. King’s Head at Bradwell-on- Sea for an evening meal. This Pre-Heybridge Cruise

Date: 29-30 May

Harwich Pursuit Race and Cruise The plan was for a short sail to Pyfleet or Brightlingsea, stay overnight there and then take the tide up to Rowhedge Date: 18-23 May next morning for a pint in one of the pubs. We’d then make our way back to anchor overnight on Thursday at Osea, so This event commenced at near high tide on 18 May. The that we could take a leisurely trip to Heybridge for an 11am forecast was not very promising, in that the wind was NNE lock-in. against an ebb spring tide up the Wallet. Graham and Karen from Colchester Oyster Fisheries offered Odessa, having the biggest handicap, acted as start boat. to show us round the fisheries and let us have the use of a Those who did not race left before high water at about mooring for the night. We had a wonderful sail around to 1200 and the race started at 1300. The three boats racing the Pyefleet, then at around 6pm a fork lift truck lifted a finished in their starting order, completing the course in 'packing shed' type work boat into the water and it came time for a barbecue at Suffolk Yacht Harbour. over to pick us up for our tour.

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 50 51 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Graham explained how Colchester provided men to help Chatham and Limehouse Cruise On Wednesday we explored more of London again with our build Dover Castle and how King John gave Colchester very own tour guides, visiting St Dunstan’s and All Saints Oyster Fisheries the rights to the river Colne. Karen and Date: 23-30 June Church, Stepney (the Sailor’s Church). We then took a short Graham explained how and when the spat is laid and how walk on to a delightful inner city farm, returning back to many oysters are taken from the river. He also explained Five boats left Mersea early on the morning of Saturday 23 Limehouse for dinner at the Cruising Association with a talk that the two yellow Fishery buoys near Inner Bench Head June taking the last of the ebb tide through the Spitway by the always informative Jeremy Batch. are there to mark the boundary of the Colne. I’d always ready to catch the start of the flood tide to Queenborough, thought they were put there for my benefit to mark where I our intended overnight stop. We were due to leave for Chatham on Thursday, but with should turn and take the short cut back to Mersea! We strong winds forecast we elected to stay put and continued were treated to a beautiful sea food supper - many thanks Clockwise, Seabreeze and Matilda navigated the Spitway via our exploration of even more of the not-so-well known to Graham, Karen and Colchester Oyster Fisheries. the usual safe water mark transit. Kittiwake and Stargazer parts of our capital. We are indebted to Julian and Chris for opted for a new route across, surveyed and recommended guiding us and whose knowledge of the area is absolutely Unfortunately the weather decided not to play ball for the by Roger Gaspar who assured me he did this especially for outstanding. rest of the week, so we decided to sail back to Mersea on Kittiwake’s two metre keel. the tide next morning - eventually joining the other crews Saturday required an early lock out from Limehouse for our heading for Heybridge. On arrival at Queenborough we were all able to raft return journey to Queenborough, where we all rafted on alongside the all tide landing, making our shore excursion one big buoy to enjoy and end of cruise drink or three. Mel Daniels for dinner an easy exercise (no trot boat for us!). Brian Warwick Heybridge Basin Weekend Sunday morning saw an early start to take advantage of the flood tide that would take us to Limehouse (why are all the

Date: 1-2 June most favourable tides always early morning?) arriving ready Summer Cruise to France to lock in by mid-afternoon, after which we had plenty of Having (loosely) organised the WMYC and Dabchicks chill-out time with a drink or two to finish the day. Date: 7-27 July Heybridge Basin weekend cruise for four years, I was clearly becoming a bit complacent. So when I phoned Grant Monday was spent exploring the lesser known parts of Our start was delayed by a day, but three boats left Mersea Everiss, the Lock Keeper, in the new year to book us in for London with our unofficial tour guides Julian and Chris. On at 07.15 on Monday July 8 in perfect sailing weather mid-June, I was surprised be told that there was no room in Tuesday we visited the Sky Garden in Fenchurch Street, heading for Ramsgate. Clockwise, Matilda and Kittiwake all the lock - as another club had beaten us to it! I was straight posed for a group photograph and enjoyed a coffee whilst sailed through the Spitway using the newly charted, deeper on to the 'hot line' hoping our glorious Cruise Leader would taking in the London skyline. To finish the day we had an channel and on through Gaspar’s Gat in the SW Swin and come up with some inspiration and Brian duly consulted the enjoyable dinner in the company of the members of the arrived in good shape at Ramsgate in the early afternoon. In tides and came up with the 1-2 June. Little Ship Club. Ramsgate we were joined by Freya from Medway YC, old friends of Brian and Jill. After a pleasant evening in the local On the due date the sun blazed away and it was going to Italian restaurant, the four boats made an early start to carry be a scorcher, perfect for the evening BBQ. But not the tide down the Stream, across the shipping lanes to everyone was feeling so blessed. Dave and Debbie Amass Cap Gris Nez and then on down to Boulogne. on French Mistress were gilling around the Quarters, waiting for everyone to convene, when they developed We decided that a short rest was in order so stayed two engine problems. As the weather was so exceptional it nights in Boulogne. We discovered another good restaurant seemed a pity for them to miss out, so Dave accepted a tow called ‘Le Comptoir’ and had a pleasant time meandering from Matilda. We all arrived in plenty of time for the lock-in round the old city. The forecast remained good for the next and once tied up were ready to party! week or so, so we left the next morning for Le Treport. We had originally meant to visit St Valery Sur Somme, but with There was no pursuit race this year as the start time would neap tides and two yachts drawing over two metres, we have been around 8am, which deterred even the most decided to leave it until our return trip. stalwart racers. You can get a bit 'pot bound' on board so a few of us wanted to broaden our horizons with a canal We arrived in Le Treport to find the little harbour quite full side walk into Heybridge and chance to top up the already and had to raft up with two boats at one end of the excessive supplies at ASDA . harbour and two at the other. A quick shuffle around next

They say the Fastnet race is dangerous, but it’s got nothing iconic red and white , and the hard-partying on the Heybridge Basin weekend cruise! This year's man Haynes's. Alan Mason's wonderful guitar playing was also overboard was the intrepid Malcolm Clark who attempted, missed. and failed, the tricky manoeuvre of stern to prow boat jumping. Even more points awarded than to his partner, The weather was so marvellous that many boats opted to who a few years before managed to slip down a 6-inch gap stay another night and by Monday Grant-the-lock looked between the quayside and our boat. Malcolm duly bobbed relieved to send us on our way. French Mistress dumped up from the swamp quite a few shades darker and Matilda in favour of some serious motor towing from Great squelched off to the showers to clean up. Who knows, Escape and we all arrived safely, tanned and refreshed, back maybe next year Tilly the dog will make it a hat trick? in Mersea.

Heybridge weekend didn't quite seem the same without the Christine Lane

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 52 53 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE morning got us all together again. Another lovely French Saturday 27. Off at 7.00 local time for Ramsgate. Weather a meal that evening, then off for a long motor-sail down to little windy with occasional rain but arrived in good order Fecamp in good time for Bastille Night. On our arrival on and managed to book into the Thai restaurant for an July 13, we noticed a large number of motor cyclists in excellent meal. town. After dinner at ‘La Forchette’ all became clear, as hundreds of people started lining the streets and we found Sunday was even worse with strong winds and more rain, a ourselves watching a parade of 3000 motorcycles which welcome back to England weekend. However, we recovered drove down from the hilltop overlooking the town to arrive on the Yacht Club lawn and all agreed that it had been a alongside the marina basin with serious noise levels at terrific cruise with near perfect weather. 11.00pm. After an hour of parading, much to the delight of the audience, and us, the town lapsed into silence at Jack Davis midnight. you!’. It transpired that you should not believe all that you Lowestoft and the Suffolk Rivers Cruise Sunday was surprisingly quiet, so we explored the town read on Tripadvisor. The meal was average and a little The harbour master Peter Simmonds, as usual looked after with the inevitable visit to the Benedictine distillery and in expensive. Date: 24 Aug-1 Sept us really well with berthing next to his office and the the evening watched an amazing firework display right next showers, with a generous discount on the berthing fees. to the harbour. Another noisy but very enjoyable evening. On Sunday morning we left Dieppe for St Valery sur 24 August. Matilda, Clockwise, Kittiwake, Sea Breeze and The weather continued to be hot and sunny so more Somme. A delightful town with a challenging entrance Playpen left Mersea at 10.00 for a steady motor up the swimming in the sea was called for. We enjoyed an Monday, a day of warm sunshine and we visited the Abbey complete with seals. Arriving on the evening high tide we coast into an eight-knot wind on the nose, to arrive at excellent lunch in the fish restaurant on the riverside and and cathedral and had a long walk around town. After a dined in a restaurant overlooking the bay and consumed a Felixstowe Ferry at 16.00. John White the harbourmaster also had a grand BBQ on board. By popular demand we good meal on board and a decent, quiet night’s sleep we vat of mussels. Lovely. led us to five buoys all close together and we settled down stayed in Southwold for three days and moved on directly to left on Tuesday morning at 08.30 for the 15-mile journey to to an onboard BBQ and a lovely sunset. Woodbridge. St Valery en Caux. For the first three quarters of an hour we Monday 22 July. Kittiwake and Lyra, who both draw two sailed on a close reach in a cold Force Three. Thereafter the metres, were a little uncomfortable with the odd shallow 06.00 the following morning saw us cautiously navigating 29 August arrived in Woodbridge, still in fantastic weather wind swung to the NE and on went the engines. We waited patch coming in and decided to decline the offer of four the Deben entrance in thick mist, but all got out into the and we had a grand BBQ ashore one night and dinner at for 20 minutes for the road bridge at the Marina entrance days for the price of three and left for Dieppe and Boulogne sunshine in good order. More motoring with a short sail, the Gallery Restaurant on the other. After a relaxing couple to open and motored in through the tidal gate at 11.30am. on the evening tide. Clockwise and Matilda, unable to turn arriving at Lowestoft at 13.00 where we were allocated of days, we left for Levington and had a poor meal in the down a deal, remained. berths all together right outside the Royal Norfolk and lightship. Maybe somewhere else next year? St Valery en Caux is a charming French town of which 70% Suffolk Yacht Club. Hot (30 degrees) sunny afternoon found was flattened in 1940 during the defence against German We did the obligatory train ride round the bay to Crotoy, some of us swimming in one of the little bays created by Sunday saw the fleet sail back to Mersea after a marvellous tanks by the French cavalry and the 51st Highland Division. involving a leisurely lunch, some cockling and relaxing in the recent introduction of thousands of tons of Norwegian summer holiday week. Not a huge amount of sailing but The four yachts stayed here for three nights and explored front of a closely-fought boule match. With temperatures granite to prevent coastal erosion and protect Lowestoft’s enough, good food, plenty of wine and good company. the historic part of the town, sampling the excellent local now in the mid 30’s we cooled off and settled for an early beaches. Quite delightful. Dined in the RN&SYC - they have What more can one ask? produce in its fine restaurants. The fine weather continued night. Wednesday was cooler so another day tripping in the a new chef with a good menu and we enjoyed a good value with temperatures up in the high 20’s. Last night supper in sun. We left early in the morning for Boulogne. meal. Le Relais de Fleuri, a small restaurant run by a young Temperatures forecast at 40 degrees for St Valery but Jack Davis Algerian couple who specialised in Couscous and Tagine. Boulogne would only be 34 degrees, with the odd thunder 26 August. Another hot sunny day. Swims in the morning Spectacularly good food and lovely people. storm due in the afternoon - so off we went! plus a visit to ASDA then leaving at 13.45 for Southwold. Burnham Cruise

Friday 19 saw us heading for Dieppe, aided by the spring Departure was delayed until 05.20, when the first signs of Date: 14-16 Sept tide. dawn appeared. We had, the afternoon before, at low tide, noted that there was a shoal bank immediately before the Blessed with sunshine and no wind, Playpen led a fleet of Saturday 20 we visit the large Dieppe market, which goes fifth port-hand marker on the way out. Having successfully seven boats, including Clockwise, Sea Breeze, Grapevine, on for miles and miles. Buzzing until the rain storm arrived. negotiated the shoal we followed the buoyage chart Great Escape, Stargazer and Golden Fleece, on a somewhat We had fortunately nipped into a café for an early beer and scrupulously, never having less than 1.2m under the keel (it nervously anticipated trip across the shallows of the Ray avoided the worst. In the evening, the eight of us branched was neap tides and there were concerns!). Sand. However in the event we were all encouraged by the out and went to a recommended Thai restaurant a 15- detailed chart and navigational notes produced by Roger minute walk from the port. ‘Table for eight?’ we inquired. Six hours later we arrived back in Boulogne to find that the ‘Certainly monsieur, I will just move this family of four, and beach was the best place in 37 degrees with a sea breeze their meal, into the corridor and rearrange the room for providing some respite. However, we were all relieved when the temperature relented a bit and we strolled into town for supper at ‘La Maison’. Having grabbed a table just under the canopy and in the cooling breeze we ordered our meal. A moment later the thunderstorm arrived, good solid rain, a display that lasted a good hour and at last a real drop in temperature! We enjoyed our meal and set off to walk back to the boats. As we arrived the rain started again. What timing!

Friday was cooler and we enjoyed some more tourism in the ancient part of Boulogne followed by our last French meal at ‘Le Doyen’.

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 54 55 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

Tollesbury Cruise Date: 12-13 Oct A Week on Ocean Scout After a summer of fine weather the forecast for the Tollesbury weekend was dire – lots of wind and rain. Not Member’s daughter Mary Richardson takes a voyage with Mersea-based group what we wanted.

A total of 12 yachts made the intrepid journey to the marina and were rewarded with dry weather on the trip. e boarded Ocean Scout at Town Quay, But then the heavens opened and it poured down. This put Southampton on Saturday 24 August. As my paid to a planned walk around the Tollesbury Wick Nature parents left us for the beginning of our great Reserve. Instead everyone hunkered down on different adventure, we all introduced ourselves and Wlearned the rules of the boat and about everybody’s past boats for tea and cakes, or something stronger. sailing experience. The second mate needed to fix Kevin and I were disappointed that we could not finish the something up the mast, so afterwards we were offered a season as we had started - with a warm and sunny pre- trip to the top in the bosun’s chair. This gave me a great dinner pontoon party. Instead 40 people gathered in the view of the harbour and neighbouring boats plus the entire Harbour View bar at 6pm for pre-dinner drinks followed by length of the yacht. I was quite nervous, but did manage to another excellent meal, served by very efficient Harbour get within a foot of the very top. View staff. A great night was had by all. Unfortunately the other Adventures Offshore (now renamed On Sunday morning 25 people returned to the restaurant Offshore: It’s Your Adventure) boat had suffered engine for a full house English breakfast, to fortify themselves damage and so was not able to do the journey with us. On before setting off on the return journey, in very windy Sunday we travelled down Southampton Water to Gosport conditions, back to our moorings. to pick up four crew from the other boat, who were doing their Duke of Edinburgh together. This made for more of a Although the weather could have been better it didn’t squeeze down below, but in the end it was well worth dampen peoples’ spirits and a great time was had by all. having them on board! Lesley Mullins Mary (centre back) with young crew Sunday evening was my first ever Channel crossing in a yacht, motor sailing due to lack of wind and it being in the afterward in the local supermarket to shop for the wrong direction. The following morning we learnt to helm ingredients we planned for the crew supper. and to trim the sails and to alter course. We were heading for Dieppe in France. Throughout the week we learnt to On Thursday we left Dunkerque and sailed to Ostend as our plot courses and to navigate at night as well as day. We final continental port. We berthed in the Jachthaven learnt about navigation marks and shipping lights and lanes Mercator and visited the moored in the as well as the ‘rules of the road’. We learnt a little about ‘col neighbouring basin – admiring the amazing yachts that regs’ and why small yachts have to give way in small were all around us. We were briefed on how to row here Gaspar, following his extensive survey of the area in July. channels and harbours. Also, about life rafts and how the and then had a mini-race in the marina. During our sails I This updated the previous survey of 2011. Thank you Roger boat was designed effectively to maximise the little space learned how to plot a course in a ships log and I learned the for your dedication to this task. It was much appreciated. there was. name of a completely new sail called the mizzen staysail. We didn’t explore the town very much but right next to the All arrived on schedule in Burnham and were joined later in We arrived in Dieppe at lunchtime on Monday and were marina was a supermarket where I bought some really nice the day by Brian and Gill Warwick travelling by car, having taught how to moor up in a harbour. We went ashore and Belgian waffles. just flown in from abroad. Following one or two (or maybe explored the town and walked along its long sea wall and three!) cockpit parties we made our way to the Royal equally impressive big, rocky beach. The harbour was lined On Friday evening we left Ostend at sunset, making our way Corinthian Yacht Club where we all enjoyed a warm with little coffee shops and restaurants, whose fragrances across the North Sea overnight. We had a curry supper on welcome, good food and good company. beckoned. We departed Dieppe bound for a long haul to departure which, with hindsight, was not so clever as I saw Boulogne, where we stayed Wednesday night. On exploring it all again somewhere off the coast of Belgium. We arrived Following drinks and nibbles on board Playpen, Sunday was this busier town we found a really smooth sandy beach next into the Orwell and I awoke to see we were rafted up next spent at leisure exploring the local area on foot or, in the to an aquarium that had a big glass window where we to Offshore Scout, our sister boat, on a buoy in the river. case of Jack Davis and Sue, on their impressive folding watched the seals being fed. In the morning we awoke to After breakfast we motored past the big container ships in bicycles. Crews split up for their evening meal in town or the smell of fresh buttery French croissants. Felixstowe, which I recognised from my last sail with the marina. And so to bed. Adventures Offshore. We were towing Offshore Scout, On Wednesday we left Boulogne and headed past Cap Griz which still had engine problems, up to a small lock where The return journey across the Ray Sand on Monday held no Nez for Dunkerque. Here we visited the Dunkerque war we left her and continued to our berth at Ipswich, being terrors now as we all realised good timing was of the museum ‘Operation Dynamo’, which tells the story of the careful not to run aground as the tide was very low. After essence. All in all a very enjoyable cruise despite the lack of British Expeditionary Force’s evacuation at the beginning of mooring up for the last time, we wearily began to pack our wind. the Second World War. Afterwards we went into the town - things and clean the boat inside and out. We cleaned where I left my mark with my head on a lamppost everything from top to bottom, so that by the end of it all I Colin Campbell somewhere near the centre! We split into groups and met was definitely cream crackered!

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 56 57 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE

because their hats were too tall for the entrance! As a The Centenary Regatta. This event also included The East result the four drum/buglers held centre stage with the Coast Old Gaffers and the Europe Classic Yacht Association. band on the steps. Somehow this was doubly effective (Committee members went to Hamburg to persuade some WMYC Centenary – when the buglers played ‘Sunset’. Finally they played the of them to attend!). ‘Arrangement of Sea Songs’, including ‘Hearts of Oak’ and the ubiquitous ‘Land of Hope and Glory’. The place went The result was again extraordinary. Over 180 boats took bonkers by the end. part, including probably the greatest number of old gaffers 20 years on seen on the Blackwater in generations. A Thames barge was The Casino closed at 2.30am, but breakfast was then served chartered to take members out to watch proceedings and in from 2.40am at the buffets of both marquees. Dancing to the evening there was an aerobatic display in front of the By Peter Clements the two second bands finally ended at 4.00hrs. club, and a traditional jazz band playing on the ‘Molliette’ balcony. When you read this you will either have seen, or will have I cannot think that anybody who was there will ever forget just missed, the showing of the extraordinary film of the that night; somehow 4am arrived too quickly. Members and It ended with a firework display, where £3,000 of fireworks remarkable events that were arranged for the centenary their guests had spent a total of over £40,000, but whilst went up in, what the Company described as ‘a total Blast’, celebrations of the club 20 years ago. ‘the Ball was over’, there was still plenty to look forward to in 10 minutes! with all the sailing events: There were six specific events, both social and sailing, that The Sail Past before the Lord Lieutenant. He took the made up the celebrations and they were entirely in addition salute from the balcony in this September event. Over 80 to the normal programme, unless you also include Round yachts took part in various forms of dressing overall, and it The Island, where Steve Scrutton ran his BBC Radio Essex concluded with Geoff Wass in the club launch, in blazer and afternoon show from the club lawn. Work started with a tie, waving the club ensign. separately formed committee three years before the date and there were many hours of planning, construction work The Trafalgar Dinner in the Moot Hall in Colchester, held and detail that went into the preparations. It is fair to say on the 21 September, was the final event. that the result will probably never be repeated. Guests gathered in the Mayors Parlour in all their finery for The luncheon on the actual day, a champagne reception, followed by the dinner upstairs in Thursday, 24 April 1999. A Starlight night the Moot Hall. The 22 large round tables were named after member’s luncheon in the Long ships in the action and arranged in battle order. Room with the cutting of the cake We had the ‘Starlight’ Marquee covering the front lawn by the Commodore, Frank Reed, (which had been levelled since it previously sloped down The 220 guests, including the Lord Lieutenant and High with his ceremonial sword, and the towards the road). The ‘ lights’ were made up from 177 Sheriff of Essex, and lots of Mayors, were marshalled by our launching of Nick Greville’s book of metres of black exhibition serge in three wide bands, with MC Mervyn Rutter. They were then entertained by a string the history of the club. This was 200 lights hand stitched into each. They were constructed quartet as they sat down to a ‘Talbooth’ dinner. After key followed by the EAORA Pattinson on long tables in the Long Room by a small band of speeches the quartet played their party piece, the ever Cup Race pre-party on the Friday evening, (with another volunteers and the job took weeks. There were over 300 popular ‘Sailor’s Hornpipe’, that speeds its way to the end cake/sword brandishing!) guests seated in that marquee together with further tables Tense start as at the Last Night of the Proms. in the dining area of the main bar. The RORC Race from the Lower Pool (below Tower Bridge) What is poignant about the film is the fact that so many of on the Thames to West Mersea, via various points in the At the appointed hour two boatswain's whistles sounded the people who were there are no longer with us. The ‘Palm Court Marquee’, decorated with free-standing Thames Estuary, took place in early July. To start an offshore from the high balcony, the lights dimmed, and the story of palm decorations and flowers on the tables, was on the car race in the Thames with commercial shipping and the the Battle of Trafalgar, written specially for the event, The Summer Ball, 26 June. Superlatives can hardly park. It included a band stand and dance floor, plus an Thames Barrier, was no mean achievement, in fact it is a unfolded as told by a ‘member of the crew’ on each table. describe this monumental event. There were over 560 additional tent for a bar, plus separate toilets and another surprise that we ever got permission! Before the event all guests in two marquees. Four bands, three bars, over 100 marquee, for food preparation. The big boat shed was yachts moored in St Katherine’s Dock, and there was a It was indeed a fitting end to a remarkable year in the staff, and The Royal Marines Band in immaculate uniforms. reserved as a ‘green-room’ for the bands. reception on the balcony of HMS President the night before history of WMYC. the start. There was Casino and Cocktail bar in the Long Room, where guests played roulette, craps and black jack under A total of 36 yachts sailed from two starts, and the first the eye of professional croupiers. The big ‘winners’ cashed thing they had to do was squeeze between a large cruise their chips for some wonderful prizes. Finally, there was an liner that suddenly arrived during the night and parked in Oyster Bar in the conservatory. the middle of the river, and the South shore, a gap of only some 70 yards! The fleet was at this point going to A four course dinner, with a smoked salmon and trout windward, making it an interesting moment. starter followed by Beef Wellington and three choices of pudding, was served. There were separate buffets for This excitement was witnessed by over 100 members on cheese and coffee available from buffets in both marquees one of the Thames river cruisers, organised by Rae Bailey, ‘til late’. who was able to donate £200 to the Centenary fund from the proceeds. After dinner the Royal Marines played first in the ‘Palm Court’ and then in the ‘Starlight’, although when it came The event was won overall, very appropriately, by Marine salute to it, the band could not get to the centre dance floor Commodore Frank Reed. Trafalgar tribute

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 58 59 MOLLIETTE MOLLIETTE Committee Members 2019 New Members 2019

Commodore: Ian Shay Full Members Associate Members Crew Members

Sailing: Paul Jackson (Vice-Commodore) Paul Adams Hilary Austin Hamish Cock Jack Davis (Hon Sailing Secretary) Sue Taylor Richard Austin Mavina Baker Victoria Lewis Tim Hurst Christopher Baker Nick Beavis Dominic Barnes Kevin Bentley Cadet Members House: Alan Jones (Rear Commodore) Jane Barnes Karen Bentley

John Munns, Richard Bailey, Robert Hill, Maggie Haddow, Carole Britton Terence Bowen Connie Bowen

Tony Brown Francesca Brooke Rosie Barnes Moorings & Boatyard: Richard Sharpe (Rear Commodore) Rosie Brown Raymond Buick Jonathan Barnes Malcolm Clark (Hon Bo’sun) Max Davonport Julian French Paul Burt Mary Burt Scarlett Maclennan Paul Tucker Chris Harris Sarah Doyle-Smith David Hopkins Sandra Easy Joe Purdie Honorary Secretary: Tim Wood Liz Kingsford Jayne Eyers Matthew Purdie Graham Larkin Claire Francis Ruby Richardson Karen Lavender Ann-Marie Gasson Finlay Richardson Mark Leigh Jacob Hambridge Jonah Richardson Simon Mansfield Julie Harris Mollie Rocks In Memorium Deborah Mansfield Martin Hughes Rocks Anne Marfleet Claire Jarvis Amy Struth Tom Struth Sandy Davis passed away in December 2018 John Mastin Samuel Jarvis Sandy was a member of the club since 2013. Adrian Mathie William Ketley Alexander Tyler Gary Moore Jacinda Love Colin Lawler passed away in February 2019. Colin was a member of the club since 1999. Margaret Mursell Hazel Maclennan Young Adults Robert Mursell William McAllister Jeremy Knox passed away in February 2019. Rebecca Newman Martin Mears Jeremy was a member of the club since 1987. Erin Boyd Nick Purdie Peter Millar Fergus Cock Jean Undrerwood passed away in February 2019. Andrew Rosser Matt Minnis Archie Harris Jean was a member of the club since 1995. Adam Rowe Susan Moore

James Moore passed away in June 2019. David Sapsford Doreen Pegram James was a member of the club since 2008. Laura Sharpe Alison Purdie William Sharpe Paul Rocks Frank Reed passed away in July 2019. Frank was a Long Serving member of the club since 1975. John Welham Sophie Rocks Paul Smith Shirley Trollope passed away in August 2019. Jackie Smith Shirley was a Long serving member of the club since 1948. Lee Tyler Don Pye passed away in August 2019. Jeni Tyler Don was a long serving member of the club since 1952. Hannah Vinter

Eric Pegram passed away in September 2019. Lianne Wheeler Eric was only a member of the club since January 2019. Paul Wheeler Gavin Whittaker Wendy Whittaker

DECEMBER 2019 DECEMBER 2019 60 MOLLIETTE Sailing Honours 2019

HUMDINGER SPIRIT RENDEVOUS Julian Lord Paul Scott Mike Berry 1st Taxi Lewis Salver 1st Jack Ellison Trophy 2nd Wallet Cup (Club Championship) 1st Coulton Cup 1st Quest Trophy 1st Sir Travers Humphries PARODY (Spring Series) 2nd Trophy Roger Sydenham 1st Cirdan Trophy 2nd Pattinson Cup 2nd Lewis Powell 1st Lewis Powell Cup 1st Peter Vince Trophy GOLDEN FLEECE JAVA 2nd Knight Hall Trophy Michael Wheeler Ed Taylor (Autumn Series) 1st Carronade Trophy Ed Taylor 3rd Ancient Mariners Salver 1st Lawson Trophy 2nd Autumn Trophy 2nd Buckley Goblets BANANAMAN 2nd Perkins Cup SALT Bruce Woodcock & Gareth Jordan Joe Billing RAGGERTY 3rd 43rd Light Infantry 1st Knight Hall Trophy Alan Jones 1st Ellis Cup 1st Blackwater Trophy SPOT MARLEY 2nd Quest Trophy 1st Ancient Mariners Steve Johnson (Spring Series) 2nd Coronation Cup 3rd Wallet Cup 2nd Taxi Lewis Salver 3rd Finola Cup (Club Championship) CIRRUS 2nd Peter Vince Trophy STARFALL II Dave Lewis 2nd Centenary John Munns 3rd Coronation Cup 2nd Cirdan Trophy 1st Autumn Trophy 2nd Ancient Mariners Salver Ladies Regatta BLACKJAC MOLLIETTE ROSE BOWL Jack Davis DARK HORSE 1st Frances Meason 2nd Ellis Cup Barry Ashmore 2nd Sue Taylor 3rd Lewis Powell Cup 2nd Lawson Trophy 3rd Taxi Lewis Salver 3rd Buckley Goblets SILVER TILLER (Club Championship) Jack Grogan 3rd Cirdan Trophy ODESSA 3rd Quest Trophy Malcolm Clark Round The Island (Spring Series) 1st Finola Cup Coconut Trophy 3rd Peter Vince Trophy Brian Sargent 3rd Knight Hall Trophy RIMFIRE (Autumn Series) Richard & Sue Taylor 1st Coronation Cup OYSTERCATCHER XXX1 Richard Matthews FRAMETT Carrington Cup 1st RORC Salver Scott Yeates Ian Low 1st EAORA Plaque 1st Wallet Cup 1st Martin Slater 1st Buckley Goblets HANNELORE 1st 43rd Light Infantry David Curtis 3rd David Brook trophy 2nd Blackwater Trophy (White Sail Series)

DECEMBER 2019 Inside back: Angus Milgate in Peace balancing act

Back cover: Farewell

All cover pictures by Chrissie Westgate West Mersea Yacht Club, 116 Coast Road, West Mersea, Essex CO5 8PB tel: (01206) 382947 (office) (01206) 384463 (restaurant) fax: (01206) 386261 email: [email protected] website: www.wmyc.org.uk launchman mobile phone: 07752 309435

Designed by: DBA Graphic Design Tel: 07980 195713 email: [email protected]

Printed by Printwize Witham