RCYC Cruiser Fleet  –  Brightlingsea  – Friday 19^th, Saturday20^th & Sunday 21^st July 2019

Five boats were intending to make the trip to Brightlingsea but on Thursday evening on the famous White Harte Terrace beyond the sea wall in Burnham against the backdrop of a glorious sunset Sarah Sanders delivered the devastating news that ‘Simon has broken his Dipstick’.   Voyager would not be able to make the trip.  An engine service that ran beyond schedule meant Sea Hound was also unable to attend and so there were three.  To say that the crew of Vellamo were not keen on crossing the Raysand channel is an understatement so it was decided to cross the Spitway.

A similarly glorious sunrise recorded by James’ photograph below greeted the early risers on Friday. The SW wind F 3-4 meant a superb reach to the Spitway, a gybe and reach into Brightlingsea.  Tim and Sarah Mathews recommended mooring on the pontoons across the river as the Marina can be noisy and because of even more noise and difficult access the small South section of the Marina was to be avoided at all costs.  The Harbourmaster duly allocated us to the South section of the Marina, heart-rates increased as the hazards of cross tide, cross wind, sharp left turn, imposing concrete wall and tight cul-de-sac were successfully negotiated.

Saturday at the Brightlingsea Regatta did not disappoint.  Live music from the water, Raft Race, Jazz Band on the waterfront, RNLI demonstration of attending a yacht on fire and many other attractions made for a relaxing day.  Real Ale, Pimms and Gin & Tonic were just a few of the drinks consumed by the crews of Tamarisk and Verlette before James made the firm and undeniable case for moving the boats out of the Marina in the afternoon to enable a timely start of the journey back to the Crouch on Sunday morning. A large helping of freshly cooked Caribbean food had the necessary sobering effect and the manoeuvre was completed by both boats with great competence in front of a huge audience.

Arrivals by road meant we had a full complement of fourteen at the evening meal in the Colne Yacht Club at which the Commodore of CYC presented the writer (where are our Flag Officers when you need them) with a CYC burgee.

All boats returned to the Crouch on Sunday without any incident of note.

If you see Simon at the club please do ask him how his dip-stick is but only if you have some time to spare.

Steve Barham

Cruiser Fleet Captain

Tamarisk  –  James Napier & Corinna Gardner

Vellamo  –  Patrick & Gillian Rogers

Verlette  –  Steve & Katherine Barham

Many thanks to the crews who arrived by road to attend the event:

Emily Jane  –  Tom & Kathleen Keeper

Sea Hound  –  Tim, Sarah & Nick Mathews

Sea Haze   –  Iain Crombie

Voyager  –  Simon & Sarah Sanders