IWA SOUTH LONDON BRANCH'S SAILING BARGE CHARTER, September 1999

We set off from the quay just before 06:00 on the last of the rising tide and in the first pre-dawn light. As usual, Pudge was moored outboard of Centaur so we were first barge away with Centaur close behind us. Doug decided to motor for the first bit, until we were out of the most narrow and winding bit of the channel, and we saw the dawn some time later just about as the sails were being set and the engine switched off.

Round about 09:00 John & I served a "big breakfast", which was eaten in relays as we were sailing.

Looking forward PHOTO : Mark Zytynski

Looking aft PHOTO : Mark Zytynski

It was blowing 5 - 6, so we were clipping along quite swiftly under just mainsail and foresail, with the barge at quite an interesting angle on some tacks. Bradwell Power Station, an inseparable companion on any weekend sailing out of Maldon, was reached fairly soon and we continued out into the main Thames estuary to sail round some buoys in the Spitway.

Hauling the mainsheet PHOTO : Lesley Pryde

Taking a break PHOTO : Lesley Pryde

One earlier idea was that we might head down the coast to Pagglesham, but the weather forecast suggested that the weather could come up to quite a blow overnight or in the morning, so Doug decided he'd rather lie overnight in the Blackwater. We turned round, ate lunch on the move (courtesy of Bill & Richard), and anchored off Bradwell in the early afternoon. Later, Centaur arrived and anchored close to us.

Centaur anchors astern of us near Bradwell. PHOTOS : Left : Mark Zytynski Right : Lesley Pryde

Most of us spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on the previous night’s lost sleep, before an early evening run ashore to the pub. This involved clambering down the sloping lee-board into the boat to be taxied (by Cathy) to the mooring pontoons in Bradwell Marina. Two trips of the boat were needed each way, so poor Cathy only had a very little drinking time. At least this year we didn’t have to land on a mud beach in our wellies! The Green Man was very welcoming and provided some excellent beer. Last year it had just changed hands, and now the new people have settled in well and are doing a good trade in food, which looked most appetising.

The run ashore PHOTOS : Mark Zytynski

Back on board at about 20:30, we enjoyed a slap-up meal (Lamb Balti followed by pears in chocolate sauce) prepared by Lesley, Libby and somebody else. (The list says Mark, but I think there was a swap). Plenty of beer and wine was available, and a good time was had by all. Afterwards some silly word-games were played until the triumphant conclusion of a word-association game : "Bear …. Pooh …. Paddington … Euston … Mornington Crescent". Interspersed among this was discussion of how to name the teddy-bear that Libby had been given by Lesley’s mother on the way to the trip, and which, therefore, needed a name to commemorate the weekend.

After lunch it was "up anchor" and we headed back up-river to Maldon, once again in dry weather. Centaur was again in company. We were making better speed under mainsail and topsail than she was under mainsail and foresail, so, since she was due to moor inboard of us, we dropped the head of our topsail to let her cross under our stern and come ahead of us. A gentle sail up-river brought us to the point where Doug felt it prudent to use the engine, and we berthed outboard of Centaur at about 17:45.

SB Centaur PHOTOS : left, Mark Zytynski right, Lesley Pryde

We had planned to serve a fairly substantial tea, but were so full from lunch that we had to enlist Paul and Kevin, the Skipper and Mate of Centaur, to help us eat it, and even then there was still a lot of food left over to be shared between us to take home. Finally it was time to clean ship and depart.

Arriving back at Maldon PHOTOS : left, Lesley Pryde right, Mark Zytynski

It had been another good sail, and we're looking forward to next year’s charter.

The teddy-bear’s name was still not decided at the end of the trip, but the favourites were Pudgy and Bradwell.