Start of Season

 

A few days at Coniston - with a DCA Rally

 

After 3 days of almost continuous rain, the lake was very high.

The Broads - on a traditional cruiser

Not really an adventure with Kathleen but an enjoyable 6 days on a traditional cruiser hired from Hunters Yard

Hunters Yard Website 

Hunters have produced a book, which includes some historical logs from hire trips, as well as drawings. Enough to make a RC sailing model?

East Coast with Storm Floris

 The trip coincided with Storm Floris, so two days were lost but there were some enjoyable walks, including a visit to Maldon, to see the Thames Barges. However, it did temper our plans to reach the River Deben. But we did manage to visit Maylandsea, Brightlingsea, Wiveton and Tollesbury.

Sailing down Tollesbury Fleet, after a visit to Woodrolfe Creek, which needs to be done at high tide.

A sail on the River Colne up to Wivenhoe coincided with the Wivenhoe One Design National Championships. There is a visitors pontoon at the sailing club and we were lucky to find space, which can not be relied upon.

The pontoons at Brightlingsea, easy to phone and book. The harbour master was very welcoming and you can get a lift to the shore, where there are toilets and showers, as well as the "luxury" of shops, cafe's and pubs.

The entrance at Heybridge Basin at low tide.

Thames barges at Maldon

The statue of Byrhtnoth was erected in 2006 and stands at the end of the Promenade in Maldon, overlooking the Blackwater Estuary towards Northey Island, the historically recorded site of a famous battle.

In 991 AD, he led a group of Anglo-Saxon warriors into battle against Viking invaders during the Battle of Maldon. Although he is believed to have fallen early in the fight, some accounts suggest it took three men to kill him. Despite the battle resulting in defeat, Byrhtnoth's courage and honour were immortalised in the famous Old English poem, "The Battle of Maldon." 

Sailing past the "Radio Caroline" ship Ross Revenge, which is anchored in the Blackwater.

Low tide at Bradwell Waterside