The following is an account, by way of extracts from the log, of a week’s cruise on the Blackwater in May 1971. The boat is a Tideway, purchased from Ian McCreary last year and re-named Never Never.

Monday 17th May. 0510. Pushed the boat into the water down the concrete ramp of the Blackwater S.C. at Heybridge. (I joined as a temporary member at £1 per week). Sailed round Osea Island and Maldon all day. Wind f3 or so, and drizzling on and off. 1930. Anchored just within sight of the boat club at the entrance to Maylandsea Creek. Nobody about, and only a few small boats moored in the creek. There is a slipway there and a dinghy park, so it is a possible launching site. Sunny evening; cooked a meal before putting the tent cover up. Bed at 2200. Lay for a while listening to the cry of the birds who seem to go on all night. Otherwise absolutely nothing. Lovely and peaceful.

Tuesday 18th May. My original 5lb CQR anchor had dragged in a f7/8 in Conway last year, and I had supplemented it with a 10 lb folding anchor — folding, to try and save space in a 12 ft boat. At the same time I had changed the warp from a ¾” circ. to one of 1½” circ. because the former, although probably strong enough, had cut into my hands in a hard pull. Two of the four flukes of the folding anchor stick upwards and could damage or hole a boat, which nearly happened to me. Also the swivel device locking the flukes either open or closed is loose and tends to come undone, so I am not sure it was a ‘good buy’. Sailed down to Bradwell in the afternoon. Only half a dozen other boats about. Near Bradwell, which I approached the ‘back way’, took the main down, partly to see how Never Never performed under jib alone, but partly because I thought it might otherwise be tricky picking up a mooring or anchoring in the narrow boat-congested channel with wind over tide. Went fairly well to windward, which pleased me. Going at about 2 knots. 1805. Picked up a mooring at the western end of Pewitt Island. Very breezy indeed, and had a job keeping the Gaz stove going for tea.

Wednesday 19th May. 1030. Set sail. Had to beat through all the moored boats at Bradwell. Not much wind but tide in my favour. Good launching ramp at the quay but it seemed as though one would have to pay because there was a locked drop barrier across the access road. Sailed round to Pyfleet Creek off the Colne. Beating down the Blackwater into a f3/4 with the boat chomping into the waves with a noise like a camel eating cornflakes.

Thursday 20th May. Decided to sail back to Bradwell today. Had anxious moments, particularly when thinking of stories of broaching. Waves probably 3 ft or so, and Never Never surges along on top of them, sometimes almost surfing and rolling badly. Goose-winging now — must be getting confident, or daring! Normally I would not sail within several points of a possible gybe. Will have to gybe soon to set a course for Mersea but keep putting the moment off. Want to avoid the shallows on a falling tide, but also don’t want to get too far out into the main channel where the strong tidal stream is. Difficult, when the eye is only about 2 ft above water level, to distinguish glistening brown water from glistening brown mud. Distance is deceptive too. Rounded Nass Beacon at 1753. Nice fast reach across to Bradwell Beacon but quite choppy on the way. Wind f4? Ate an orange to revive me. Arrived Bradwell 1807. 15 minutes for 1¾ miles which makes it 7 knots for a 12 ft boat. Surely not? Never never!

Friday 21st May. Pottered about in Blackwater all day and came back into Heybridge in the afternoon. I noticed during the week, and particularly this morning in the light airs, that the jib sheet jamming cleats are far too stiff, and there is no means of reducing the tension. From aft it is difficult (impossible in light winds) to get the sheets to jam, and I have to go forward and place them in by hand, which seems absurd.

Summary: Total distance made good — 6o½ miles (measured off the chart). Total sailing time — 21 hrs. Didn’t set foot on land or speak to a soul from Sunday night till Friday midday — 5 whole days. Completely self-contained. No wireless, no papers or other outside contacts. Marvellous. Must do it again.