HOOKED HOOKS… BEWARE!

If we had not altered our plans to set off in the dark on the early tide, our cruise this year would have been marred by an unpleasant accident, and this is to warn others. My wife, Jane, and I cruised Tethys (our wooden Drascombe Lugger — see issue No 87 also) on the east coast. On two occasions last week, on each anchor we found old, rusty fishhooks — a bundle and a single, larger one, embedded in the warp above the chain. Had Jane been handling the warp in the dark, or not looking, then she would have had one or more embedded in her hand. They were a bundle of separate hooks, not a long line we had fouled. Other members may have had the same experience, but I think we shall keep some gardening gloves for anchor work in the future, if we anchor close inshore where fishermen cast from the beach (and they cast quite a long way!). We were in Paglesham Pool — a sheltered inlet off the Roach, a couple of cables below the yard etc. belonging to Shuttlewoods — and a day later at ‘Stoneheaps’, the popular old bargemen’s anchorage on the west side of the Orwell opposite No. 1 buoy.

PILOTAGE INFORMATION

Members may like to know that there is now a good, firm beach a couple of cables up the east side of Lower Reach in the river Orwell, from No. 1 buoy. Shell has been thrown up by the ever bigger commercial craft and covered the old muddy foreshore here to give good landing. (Lots of driftwood for fires — or even taking home for making things — as a bonus when you land here!)

PILOTAGE INFORMATION (for the ‘DCA Pilot of the UK’)

We anchored at Orford in the gloaming in a gap just below the quay between the posts and the first mooring. Holding seemed good, and the pilot says so. We passed the night, but on the flood in the morning, possibly because of our tent, we found our 5 kg Bruce anchor had dragged, and we were alongside the next two boats. We also think that we had got into a circular eddy. A puff of outboard and anchoring fore and aft got the matter sorted out — but there is nothing, repeat nothing, like realising you have dragged for getting a body out of a sleeping bag and on deck!!!

LAUNCHING FACILITY

I can get permission for a member to use the slip at Shotley Sailing Club, to which I belong, if people want to go to the Orwell, Stour or out to sea for the Deben or up to Orford etc., if they let me know in time to contact the club. Parking is possible on the roadway. Tel (03598) Walsham-le-Willows 575. Launching is possible at all but bottom of tide.