With 55 years and one coronary under my belt, even my well liked Prout Seabird was no longer comfortable. Rather tentatively, a 15 foot Sunspot was chartered, and on August 15th Simon (14), Robin (10) and father left Uplees near Harty Ferry under sail at 12.30. We passed under Kingsferry Bridge at low water, spent an embarrassed hour aground on the edge of Horse Shoal near Queenborough, and anchored off the hard at 17.30.

Sunday 16th opened with what the radio described as a gale. The big yachts were coming in reefed half down and well heeled; we were slightly queasy, and at 13.30 — Simon having weighed anchor — we motored (superb Seagull) up the Swale to Long Reach, resting gently on the mud with three sighs of relief at 14.30. Anchor laid out ready for the rising tide, at 23.30 we moved over to the windward bank, ate hugely and slept log-wise.

Monday 17th 07.30 cleaned ship; 08.30 ate (Robin still asleep) and sailed jib only to the Medway mouth. We tried to tack up river, but the ebb was too strong on the short legs, causing a return to Queenborough hard where Simon anchored at 13.00. Disliking to waste time, Simon tried to weigh anchor. Simon and father tried; the anchor didn’t. A kind motor cruiser told the kinder harbourmaster, who dislodged the anchor lovingly embraced by a long and thick rope with tentacles under the hard. Followed harbourmaster buoy by buoy to Queenborough Creek, shopped and forced some small cigars on him. Still blowing, so we started the Seagull at 15.00 and tackled the interesting Medway buoys, mooring under Upnor Castle at 20.00 in welcome peace and calm.

Tuesday 18th 10.00 moved to Upnor causeway in time to see Simon’s English master arrive in a dinghy; a secret photograph awaits him next term. Shopped, replaced the spoon which slid from father’s nerveless grasp into the Medway, cleaned up and set sail (Robin much interested in M.T.B.s and wreck buoys). With increasing wind force 4 off the tug moorings near Burntwick Island, entered Stangate Creek and anchored off Slaughterhouse Point at 18.30 by barge Anglia, near yacht with parents and young teenage daughter. This creek is beautiful.

Wednesday 19th. Rain stopped, away at 10.30 leaving behind one barge, two yachts and one girl. To (guess where?) Queenborough Creek 13.00. Shopped (Guinness for the old man) sailed away 14.00. Reached across Kingsferry Bridge with our only bucket waving lashed to boat hook; bells rang, traffic stopped, we approached the span on a beat to be confronted with a large yacht running through the span. Continued grimly, and helmsman Simon cleared the leeward pier with a metre to spare. Grounded gently but inadvertently at the mouth of Faversham Creek 19.00: Simon weighed anchor 12.00 in thunderstorm 24.00; motored to Harty in semi-consciousness, anchored 00.10, asleep 00.15.

Thursday 20th. 09.30 under power alas to Faversham town quay. Moored 13.30. Primus cap slipped from father’s nerveless grasp; courteous river inspector replaced; good! Hot food again. Returned to Swale 17.00. “Daddy shaved with Simon’s new knife.” Cleaned ship.

Friday 21st. Last day. Sailed to Horse Sand, back to rifle range, and to Uplees moorings. Ate. Sails stowed, motored to Conyer, last seen 1963 in Prout dinghy. Another Guinness. Pork pies all round. Robin helmed us back, and picked up mooring. Made tea courtesy Simon. We then wrote log.

And next morning we cleaned ship and sadly awaited the owner.

Comments:

These Sunspots are good; sail well on all points, tack certainly even under jib, are comfortable and conscientiously fitted out from anchor and chain down to shaving mirror. Outside may be gales and thunder; inside one can cook, read and sleep in comfort.

The charterer, with whom I have no connection except that of appreciation, is Mr. Beckett of Swale Charters, P.O. Box 457, London, S.W.1. He has a good building on the shore, necessary supplies and, with his family and secretary, cannot help enough. He even visited the Swale to look for us and help during Sunday’s gale warning — someone else told me this. Much better than dinghy cruising at my age!