As this is my first year as rally organiser, perhaps I can indulge in my own experiences of the rallies as well as reporting on the boats and members who attended. Hopefully I can convey a little of the type of sailing available around the East Coast.

PAGLESHAM — 29 APRIL-1 MAY

As for all the rallies, my starting point is Heybridge Basin near Maldon, and on this occasion Frank and Joyce Ball came for the Saturday sail out of the Blackwater, across the Raysand Channel and into the Crouch and Roach rivers. We joined up with Barry Parker and Maureen in their Roamer at their club on the Blackwater and off St Peters Point we caught and passed Ted Jones in his Sharky, who was hoping to make Paglesham. However, he only reached the mouth of the Crouch due to ill-fitting sails and a nature reserve on the bottom of his boat. At the slipway, we were greeted by a seal who apparently met everyone. Jim and Rene Bailey came by land for a short chat during the evening. Barry and Maureen had stopped for a meal in Burnham and, as Frank and Joyce had left for a social event back home, we were rather short of members actually spending the night.

On Sunday, Barry and Maureen set off for the Blackwater, whilst I sailed up the Crouch to Bridgemarsh Island before sailing out to sea and through the Spitway to spend Sunday night in Tollesbury Creek and back to my mooring on Monday morning. Great sailing all weekend with moderate winds.

RIVER COLNE — 13-14 MAY

As Peter Bick was in the process of putting a cabin on his Roamer, he was boatless for this rally, so he joined me on Rebell. At this rally there was a wide variety of boats from a range of launching sites. David McClellan in his Leisure 17 and David Showell and friend in their YM Senior came from moorings at Heybridge Basin. Barry and Maureen sailed down from Stansgate Abbey on the Blackwater, John Buckley launched his Westerly Nimrod at Tollesbury Marina. Geoff and Penny Derby sailed from Brightlingsea in their self-built 14’ coaster, Ted Jones sailed round from West Mersea in his Sharky and finally new members, Tony and Kim Tkaczuk walked up from Brightlingsea with their children Ian and Hanna, having left their Falmouth Bass Boat at a camp site. Again, good weather and sailing breezes, except for a squall just as we were getting the evening meal and at the height of the tide. As it was a lee shore, one or two boats dragged anchors and were blown ashore unexpectedly.

HOLBROOK BAY, R. STOUR — 10-11 JUNE

For the first time this year, I sailed to the rally alone. The weather was again kind and the site as good as I had hoped. In all, four boats attended: Peter Bick with his new cabin-version Roamer, Tony, Kim, Ian and Hanna Tkaczuk in their Bass Boat (I’m still not sure how they all fit in) and Jason Friend and David Smith in Jason’s boat. The others had all launched from Levington Marina on the Orwell and sailed round through Harwich Harbour.

THE ROCKS, R. DEBEN — 26-28 AUGUST

For me, this was the best sail of the season, although I doubt if the others attending the rally would agree. Northerly winds of 6-8 were forecast for later in the weekend, but I had great sailing from the Blackwater up the coast, meeting Peter Bick in his Roamer off the Deben bar. Peter picked up David McClellan at Ramsholt and continued up the Deben. I moored up fairly early after a long sail and so remained dry when it started to rain about 5.00 pm. Other boats arrived with seabed crews. Tony, Kim and family, sailing in company with their friend Geoff in a 12’ homemade dinghy, arrived from Levington Marina, where Peter Bick had also launched. Barry and Maureen launched at the RAF slipway at Bawdsey Manor at the mouth of the Deben. The effect of the 1755 weather forecast was that Barry and Maureen returned to Bawdsey Manor and Peter left with David to retrieve his car and trailer so he could recover his boat from Ramsholt. Evan Gotto stopped briefly during the evening before going up to Sutton Hoo and planning to find a place to leave his 21’ open boat (now minus the mizzen mast). The weather forecasts were proving accurate and northerly winds 6-8 seemed likely. Geoff had intended to sleep wrapped in a ground sheet under the trees, but in view of the heavy rain accepted a birth on Rebell for the night. On Sunday morning Tony, Kim, family and Geoff left to sail to Felixstowe Ferry with the intention of getting a taxi to Levington to recover their cars and trailers. Crossing the Deben bar and going to sea was clearly out of the question. I had little option but to sit out the winds and hope for better weather on Monday. The midnight forecast gave hope of a drop in the wind before too long, so I planned to leave the Rocks at 5.30am and to hear the 0555 forecast on the way to the Deben bar. The morning wind was about 3, although the forecast was for rather more, but promising a drop. I left on the flood tide, motor‑sailing out of the narrows at the mouth of the Deben. The sail back to Heybridge Basin was superb and really something to remember and I was back at my mooring by 2 pm (38 nms in 8½ hrs). I had planned to take two days over it. Back at my club, I discovered that the cruisers had cancelled their weekend rally at the Walton Backwaters and remained in the Blackwater.

TOLLESBURY FLEET — 9-10 SEPTEMBER

As I had a family wedding to attend, I took no responsibility for arranging this rally. David McClellan felt that a gentle cruise for the last rally of the year would be nice, so he picked the date and venue. Needless to say, the weather was atrocious — wet and windy (his usual trick!). David did not try to get there, but I understand that David and Tony Showell in their YM Seniors did sail down on the Saturday, but on hearing the weather forecast, promptly returned to Heybridge Basin (after a brief, uncomfortable ‘bounce’ in Mayland Creek). If any others attended may I pass on David’s apologies.