This is an account of my first mini-cruise in a dinghy. My boat is a GP14, No. 3081, with no special modifications (yet) for dinghy cruising, except for a topping lift, and a length of shock-cord running along the boom to assist in keeping the mainsail tidy when temporarily not in use.

For the first venture into dinghy cruising we (my crew Keith and I) had decided to accompany another DCA member, Jason Friend (sailing his Albacore), on a week-end trip up the Medway, Jason and his crew Derek spending the night ashore with relatives and leaving us to the river.

We left Leicester in convoy at 6.00 am on Saturday, 25th August, and after an uneventful drive, arrived at Queenborough Hard around 10.00. Loading, rigging and launching the boats took a couple of hours, and then we were away. The weather was warm and dry, with light to moderate winds.

This was my first taste of sailing on tidal water, my previous experience being limited to Rutland Water. Sailing out of the Swale over the flood and into the wind I was surprised at the amount we were set off course as we tacked between some moored boats; this is the way to learn, by practical experience; it beats all the books.

By now Jason in his Albacore was quite a way ahead, round Queenborough Spit and into the Medway. We followed on and, now sailing with the tide, made better progress. At the entrance to Stangate Creek Jason had hove-to to let us catch up. After a short discussion it was decided to head on up Stangate Creek and into Sharfleet Creek for a late lunch. A short way into Stangate Creek two big motor cruisers overtook us at full bore and gave us a few hairy moments with their wash; strangely they slowed down when ahead of us, perhaps to watch the fun. We anchored just inside Sharfleet Creek for a bite to eat, and then decided to finish off the afternoon with a sail out into the Medway, around Burntwick Island and back into Stangate Creek. This went off quite well and with the tide now ebbing we crept through Milfordhope Creek with the plate just touching the bottom.

After tacking up Stangate Creek we parted company with the Albacore and returned to Sharfleet Creek to anchor for the night. We anchored at a point which I thought would leave us afloat all night, but I wasn’t sure what to expect when the tide was right out. Whilst cooking our evening meal (cup-a-soup and pot noodles) we decided to have a swim after eating, the water being surprisingly warm. Unfortunately this was not to be as we took the ground about two hours before low tide, and this would have meant a muddy struggle to and from the water; still, we could try again in the morning.

The wind had now dropped right off and with the hazy sun setting it was time to try out the tent. This tent was really a makeshift affair due partly to not having enough time before starting out to make a proper one, and partly to wanting to try sleeping in a dinghy before spending too much cash on something that might never be used again. Basically it consisted of a fly sheet from a land-based ridge tent, draped over the boom and secured along each side by rolling the edges around the oars and resting these on the side benches. The back end was held in place on the stern decking with the buoyancy aids, and the front, open end, was laced around the mast. This front end did not close off too well and when the wind blew, the tent filled up like a balloon.

Before turning in we counted fifty other boats in and around the creek. It had been a long day and by 20.30 we were both sound asleep. Alas, this was not to last and a couple of hours later I was woken up by a lot of singing and shouting coming from three boats moored together with quite a party going on. The rest of the night was spent in short spells of sleep, and by 05.00 I had to get up and have a hot drink to warm myself up. Keith had a better night, having the benefit of a sleeping bag.

The morning was cold and misty, and all thoughts of a swim had deserted us; anyway we were aground again. After a ‘mixed’ breakfast of Weetabix, sweet and sour noodles, spaghetti hoops, tea, coffee and biscuits, we had a tidy up and made ready for our rendezvous with Jason and Derek at the mouth of Stangate Creek at 09.30. There was some delay whilst we waited for the tide to float us to the anchor, which was still high and dry.

Once out into Stangate Creek the wind died and we had to row against the tide to the mouth of the creek. We soon spotted our friends and headed up the Medway. Winds light and variable, but still four hours of flood to help. This next stage as far as Folly Point was uneventful, except for drifting through the middle of a power boat race in South Yantlet Creek. With the tide now on the turn we had to think about getting back, so rejoined the main channel and with a little more wind, began to retrace our steps, past Kingsnorth Power Station and a tack over Slede Ooze. By now Jason and Derek had opened up another big lead over us and were entering Sharfleet Creek. I decided to stick to the river and we eventually met up again at the entrance to Stangate Creek; there being little wind behind Burntwick Island, they had to take to the oars.

We sailed around taking photographs of each other and then, with the thoughts of getting the boats out of the water and a four hour drive home, we decided to head back to Queenborough. This was easier said than done; with the wind again dropping we had to start rowing. I foolishly refused a tow from a big trimaran, thinking we were closer to the hard than we actually were. We finally made it and joined a queue of other boats waiting to use the hard. It was at this point that Keith got his swim, he stepped over the side thinking we were positioned over the hard but, due to a slight misjudgement, found himself up to his chest in water!

Hauling a heavy boat full of gear up Queenborough Hard at low tide is not to be recommended, the hard is about 150 yards long with a bend at the bottom, several big potholes and an extra steep bit at the top. Without the help of a couple of extra bodies we would never have managed it. De-rigging the boat and stowing everything away took us until 20.30, and we arrived home again after midnight.

On reflection, we would have done better spending a second night afloat and getting away the next morning in the light, and after a night’s rest. However, we both thoroughly enjoyed our short cruise and are already talking about the next one, hopefully a little wiser, and with a better tent.