WINTERINGHAM HAVEN — June 8-10th

This rally was severely let down by the weather as there were electrical storms each day during which the electricity supply to the whole area was cut off for some time. The three boats that turned up left for home in an exceptionally bad storm and the last glimpse of Merry was as she disappeared into the torrential rain with a blinding flash of lightning and a terrific clap of thunder.

BROUGH RACE — June 21st-22nd

The exceptionally strong winds meant cancelling the trip from Grimsby to Brough on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon Laertes and Haek sailed across to Stoney Creek and anchored off until the participants in the Brough Race passed. An amazing sight was seen when one of the Humber Yawls came hurtling past in the force 6-7 winds and following sea with all sails set. This was mainsail, towing foresail, spinnaker, mizzen and mizzen staysail.

STONEY CREEK, SPURN POINT — June 30th

The trip to Stoney Creek was cancelled owing to the lack of wind but at low water ten boats of various types were anchored in a line waiting for the tide. At 1200 Laertes and Barracuda and Teal weighed anchor and proceeded to Spurn Point via the Bull Fort and landed on the seaward side abreast the lighthouse, the first time we have ever done this. After sunbathing and a cricket match the other boats that had come across later and ourselves started back for Cleethorpes. The wind was still zero and at least four boats were unable to row against the tide and were grateful for a tow from Seagull.

SKITTER HAVEN - July 7th

This rally was cancelled owing to gales force 8. Laertes ventured as far as Humberstone, 4 miles south and returned soon after carrying only her foresail and laid over on her ear with a crew of three.

BRIDLINGTON July 19-21st From the log of Laertes:—

Friday 19th Zim, Teal and Laertes launched and set a course for Spurn at 2205. Vis. ½ mile. Wind 0. 2245 Exchange signals with Yacht Club. Zim turns back while land still visible. 2240 Weather Report: variable calm, force 0-2, occasional fog.

Saturday 20th 0200 Close on Clee Ness L.V. and identify, set course across main shipping channel, stand by with fog horn. 0215 Proceed to sound one blast every minute (starboard tack). 0235 Vessel approaching close on port bow. 0237 Can distinctly hear the sound of a bow wave and the thumping of a propeller. 0240 Port light sighted close on port quarter elevation about 30 degrees. Identified as a tanker (they must think we’re bonkers — perhaps we are). 0315 Skipper called out to see vessel pass about 50 yds astern. 0400 Sighted two vertical red lights. Try to decide which of nine points they are on. We decide it must be Spurn. 0425 Land at Spurn Point. Feel like Columbus discovering a new world. 0800 Weigh anchor, round point and tack clear of Dimlington Highland. 1050 Kilnsea abeam, wind 0-2. 1250 Passed by the fishing vessel Pilot Me heading for Whitby. Decide to land at Withernsea. 1305 Land on south slipway. Teal beached two groynes further south. Laid out anchor on full scope ready for pulling off in evening. 2130 Wind fresh, force 2-4, NNE, heavy swell on beach. Tested anchor to see if it was holding before launching. Pulled it through the shingle right up to the boat. Abandon all hope of getting off. 2140 Teal attempted to row off and was severely damaged by ramming groyne (stem cracked, bowplate buckled, rudder plate twisted, lower gudgeon ripped off). Managed to push Teal through breakers past groynes and on to slipway. 2300 Both vessels safely dragged up to top of slipway.

July 21st 0930 Wind force 3-4, NWN, heavy swell. 0650 weather report was variable calm force 0-2. The two vessels were hauled up and deposited in a builders yard, the crews returning by train. The boats were towed across to Stoney Creek the following weekend and sailed across to Cleethorpes.

FERRIBY SLUICE — August Bank Holiday.

This was instead of going to Brough. Hawk, Teal, and Laertes left Grimsby at 1735. There was a fresh SE wind and it was decided to set off while the tide was still ebbing. As the boats approached Immingham the first gigantic breaker raised its head. As usual the river kept up to its name and all the time we kept losing sight of the other boats and when in the troughs it was impossible to see over the next sea. Going thus with all sail set we were running when the Celtic Queen moved from the West Pier. It was impossible to alter course to avoid her and as it was quite obvious that she had seen us we continued on course. Laertes was in the worst position and as the Celtic Queen didn’t intend to give way Laertes let fly and while on the crest of a wave came onto the wind and in so doing lost a lifejacket and heaving line to the crest of the wave astern as it broke aboard.

It was more peaceful afterwards and the three boats rounded Redcliffe they all completely lost each other, eventually Hawk found Laertes and followed close astern. As they continued in the dark down what was thought to be the South Channel, Laertes’ crew said, “There’s not much wind on the water in front.” The skipper replied, “That’s not water is it?” “Yes, it is,” replied the crew but Laertes’ helm was slammed hard down and she came about just in time to avoid running into the mudbank. She came about so fast that Hawk who was only six feet astern piled straight into it. About a cable away a shape loomed up which turned out to be Teal hard and fast.

At 2232 the three boats entered the creek in line ahead and moored alongside a barge until 0030 when they rowed round on to some moorings in the south creek. It was a memorable night, Aurora Borealis was seen by the whole complement and as we rowed the boats round it was nearly impossible to hear oneself think for the noise of wildfowl of Read’s Island. Next day Barracuda joined us.

August 5th Wind force 5-6, NE. Occasional showers. During the morning the boats were all tidied up and rigged for the return trip. After dinner and a quiet drink the question arose as to whether it would be advisable to attempt the trip back. As the deadline for leaving was 1500 it was decided to take three skippers out in Laertes to sample the weather. It was a most lively sail but the trip had to be called off as it would have been a dead against tide with nowhere to put in for the night and everyone had to be working next day. The boats were locked into the river Ancholme and moored and the crews returned by bus.

Force 6-8 winds both the weekend before and for the date of the Lowestoft rally made it impossible to sail there. Three members did manage to get down by land to meet Eric Coleman from the East Coast.