The number of members attending East Coast rallies has dropped over the past few years, so presumably we are not providing the opportunities for sailing or meeting that people want. Please contact me, Stan Dean, (0621 856661) with suggestions for rallies by mid‑January 1991 for next year’s venues.

BLACKWATER SAILING CLUB 2—3 June

David & Jenny Jones were the first to arrive on the Friday evening in their 16’ Beaufort dinghy after a week’s cruising, but, as they had just broken their rudder, they were unable to do any more sailing over the weekend.

Saturday morning saw a small fleet of boats set off for a downwind sail in company from the BSC. They were Geoff Tibbs (Branson Gig), Peter Bick (Roamer), myself (Rebell), Graham Wadeson and Joyce Ball as crew, and Richard Hadlee (Salcombe Yawl), who diverted to Salcott Creek. After lunch rafted up on a mooring at West Mersea, Geoff wisely decided that his gig wouldn’t go sufficiently well to windward in the rising westerly, and left his boat on the pontoon and returned with Peter Bick. We had a good thrash to windward, joining up with Richard on Osea Island for a bit of shelter. Whilst on shore, the wind got up even more and we set out again with two reefs in the main and storm jib. Even so, with 3 of us sitting out, Rebell dipped the lee gunwale under several times. Much to my surprise, we passed Richard’s yawl, as apparently he was shipping so much water that he was having to stop and pump out every so often.

Peter and Geoff packed up the gig that evening. The weather reports for Sunday were not good, so Peter and Geoff headed for home early in the morning. Apparently David Smith in a GP14 had started up the Blackwater on Saturday morning and saw us, but decided that the weather was too rough and returned without joining up at the sailing club. As I had promised a sail to a friend on the Sunday, we did the same trip in Rebell. The wind was less strong, but the rain was very heavy. Basil said he couldn’t see the bow at times — I was looking the other way, as it was painful looking forward.

RIVER MEDWAY, 30 June - 1 July

Reported in the autumn Bulletin.

LANDERMERE QUAY, WALTON BACKWATERS, 28-29 July

This was the best site I have visited. Good winds and weather — what more could one ask? Ted Jones (17’ Skipper) came up from West Mersea, Peter Bick (Roamer) from Levington Marina, John Hadye (Cormorant) from the Titchmarsh Marina and myself from Heybridge Basin. On the way we met Charles Proudfoot out day-sailing in the Backwaters. As most of the local people were having a swim off the quay, I joined them, and it was delightful! A stroll along the sea wall and local lanes before turning in for the night. Ted made an early start, about 4.30 am, with the rest of us setting off at high tide, a couple of hours later, to return to our respective starting places (NB Cormorants are fast downwind).

SUFFOLK YACHT HARBOUR, R ORWELL, 1-2 September

Only 2 boats to this rally, although the weather was again kind. John Hadye again started from Titchmarsh Marina and myself from Heybridge Basin. I met Charles Stock near Pye End Buoy, but he went up the Walton Backwaters and met John on the Sunday morning. The marina didn’t quite know how to charge for boats 12’ and 17’ long, so called us 29’ total length. Joel Moulton came on foot on Saturday evening and again Sunday morning, but I’m sorry I missed him, arriving late and leaving early, i.e. about 5.30 am to catch the flood tide down the coast.