(Mirror 16)

The plot was to depart from our sailing club at Thorpe Bay on Saturday, 29th August for four days dinghy cruising in the Medway area — we had Stangate Creek and Upnor in mind. A club member confirmed what I had seen on the chart, that Upnor had a beach to suit us. Wind was easterly 2-3, weather warm — ideal conditions. It was about 7 miles to the Medway entrance. The crew, Renee, got the chart out and we followed the main channel buoys — mostly on a run and reaching. This was great: I had seen the river from a friend’s cruiser several times but this was so totally different — from ground level as it were. Names became not names on the chart but reality.

With the tide up this is a vast area of water to cruise. One point though, there are a fair number of big ships and motor cruisers; ah — there’s the rub! With lots of power and no tacking they do tend not to give way to sail as per the book!!! A fleet of eight passed us outward bound and their wash gave us a very interesting time for a while.

Onwards we sailed between Hoo and Darnett Ness Forts, great round masses of stone from the days when the Dutch sailed up the Medway and gave us a real dusting! We were now in the Gillingham Reach, the last leg; round the bend and there it was, masses of anchored cruisers each side of the river; away to starboard the beautiful wooded slope with the beach in front. We pulled up on rollers above the tide line, then rigged the tent on the boat, brewed up and fed — man but that tasted good! Sailing time non-stop about 3 hours.

Sunday dawned bright and sunny. We packed and were away by 11.30 am. Had a very long roll down the beach; this meant we needed help. Said Renee, “These look like boating people walking towards us.” They were — club member Bob Jones and crew come ashore from his Invader 20. ‘Nuff said; we were in business.

Then up river on the flood tide past Chatham and Rochester to bridges, first Rochester Bridge and then the Medway. I had been told that I should be able to get under OK — well we had a go. I sat there with my heart going like a steam hammer as we slid under the bridge with a couple of inches to spare — phew! I think we both agreed it was a very scary few moments. The Medway Bridge proved no problem. Our target was the bridge at Aylesford, a long way under sail. The river became quite narrow and the wind fluky, and nonexistent at times. The boom went back and forth with the utmost regularity, hitting the skipper now and then — call me flat-head…

We had been sailing some time passing by a big paper mill and cement works with bends every few hundred yards. What with the high rushes each side and the slow progress, crew remarked it reminded her of The African Queen film — she wondered if she would have to do the Katie Hepburn bit!

Finally a small monastery hove in sight. I knew we were nearly there. No wind now and tide had turned — oh well — it’s all right being a purist but — on with Stinky (Yam) for the last 100 yards.

After some food and drink moored up at a willow tree it was about turn all the way back. Better sailing this time. Rolled the genny and used main only. Incidentally, quite a few motor cruisers to-ing and fro-ing, being a holiday weekend. Did a better job with the bridge; went through sideways on the tide; then we started Stinky and motored back to the same beach and another pull-up by some nice people; the end of a long day. Total time on water 7 hours.

Sunday was the time to retrace our route back down the Medway. There was a good breeze blowing and it meant pointing all the way (some point). After hummin’ and harrin’, I decided to sail agin the tide all the way, then stop at Stangate Creek, wait till the ebb, then out of the river and on to the Yantlet Beach. We had Tuesday off. It didn’t work that way, what with the enormous tacks we did and the wind and waves increasing we had a hard sail — Stangate looked untenable at high water so, still sailing, we had a quick coffee from the flask and a Mars Bar each, then bashed on. The only thing to do was to keep going, out of the river past Sheerness, then on to the Yantlet in time for high water. Wow — I know it’s skipper’s decision but when I saw the size of the waves and felt the wind force I mentally resigned me peaked cap. There appeared to be near gale conditions in the estuary. The wind in the NW was creating some real big ones. Oh well — I had full sail up — no question of reefing in these conditions; let’s get out and round the corner, then make a run for the beach. I thought it was quite near; it ain’t mate; it ain’t. We made the turn to port and surfed and broad-reached like crazy up and down the rollers. The trick is never to dig the nose in, otherwise you stop and mast goes on. The crew said afterwards she knew it was a bit much because I had gone all quiet!!

To be truthful, it was a mixture of fright and exhilaration; once I knew I was in control I enjoyed it. After a while we rolled the genny and were able to come about and broad-reach into the beach. A quick pull up as the tide was just away — and we were safe —where’s that wet of tea? Sailing time 3½ hours.

The wind whistled in the rigging all night. Eased off at dawn. We had a nice lie in with a cuppa and biscuits in bed (i.e. sleeping bags and lilos). It was a nice day again; weatherwise this trip had been good and dry. Up and leisurely wash and breakfast, eggs and bacon etc. Went out for a long walk. Saw a large grey heron over the saltings; one or two cruisers beginning to arrive. Time to go, full sail, nice breeze, NW on the nose. Took one good tack to the Leigh buoy, then a series of tacks back to the club. Heave Ho! Up the slip and we were home and dry. Distance sailed — 67 miles approx. Sailing time — 15 hours.

Mirror 16 No. 249 16’ x 6’ beam 178 sq. ft of sail

The boat is in standard trim. Additions as follows:

Side lockers have flip-over covers, cosmetic, but also useful to cover the contents; not waterproof. Fitted with mast hinge to assist in lowering down. Two big cleats, one on each stern quarter. Also fitted with standard cuddy tent, useful to pull over to keep the gear dry on occasions. Full green canvas over-boom tent used, windows and zipped door in one side added this year. Forward of the curved washboard two handles through bolted, one each side à la Wayfarer fashion. These have proved very useful in controlling the boat in the water and when using inflatable rollers on land. Three rollers are carried and used (very useful as fend-offs) — T. Foulkes second grade, expensive — £14.00 each, but worth their weight. When beached the boat has one roller under each chine half way along, and one under bows. Small folding shovel used to bank up sands, etc. to stop movement; the plywood bottom is very vulnerable to rocks and stones and must be looked after.

We cook on a Gaz stove; prefer Primus but Gaz is more convenient. Water is carried in several containers in case of any leaks. For sleeping we use plastic lilos, one each side of the centreboard, feet under the foredeck, Terylene sleeping bags. Last year we used a 12v motorcycle battery in a carrybox and a small strip light for inside lighting. The boat’s alloy mast comes in half by unscrewing twelve screws and can be stowed in the boat for long trips by road. Three tent hoops are used; plastic oval conduit; this gives more room and holds the canvas fairly firm. A 2 hp Yamaha outboard is carried; this with a full tank only weighs 22 lbs; an excellent little job and very economical.