Strong winds dominated this rally, south-easterlies on Saturday afternoon and south-westerlies on Sunday. The weather was sunny and not too cold.

Four boats arrived in Holbrook Bay well before high tide from a variety of launching points. John Adye in his Cormorant and Charles Proudfoot in his newly acquired Roamer sailed from the Walton Backwaters, Ann and Dennis Kell plus their dog Emma came from Wolverston Marina and I sailed my Rebell from Heybridge Basin. The strong onshore wind caused some discussion over the best place to beach, Charles choosing the lee shore at Wrabness so that he could get an early start in the morning. The rest of us decided to go into Holbrook Creek where Ann and Dennis had the key to the toilets and changing room of the Royal Hospital School — what luxury!

In the morning, a strong SW wind made getting out of the creek very difficult, if not impossible, without a motor, and the Chief Naval Instructor very kindly loaned me an outboard. We had a very good welcome into Holbrook Bay, so the rumours of the locals being unfriendly are very definitely not true!

Each of the boats had a good tale to tell about getting back to their launching points. Ann and Dennis found that going to windward up the Stour was very wet and rather dodgy, so they ran back to Wolverston Marina. Charles had a very wet and difficult beat across Pennyhole Bay with the tide behind him early in the morning. He described it as line after line of white breakers all the way. Later in the morning, John beat against the wind and tide into the Walton Backwaters. The waves were by then less steep but still very daunting. I beat across Pennyhole Bay, round Walton-on-the-Naze against the tide, making very slow progress, waiting for the tide to be in my favour. When it was, the conditions became so bad that after seven hours (and only reaching Holland-on-Sea) I turned and ran back to Wolverston Marina under storm jib only. I returned home by road, towing Rebell.

Paglesham, River Roach, 17-18 August

Only two boats made the rallying point on this occasion, Ted Jones in his Skipper 17’ and myself in Rebell. We both sailed through the Raysand Channel in both directions. Saturday afternoon was very breezy on the Crouch, making beating up to Burnham rather miserable. I had a friend sailing with me on Saturday so, as our wives were meeting us at Paglesham, we enjoyed a good meal at the Plough and Sail Inn on arrival. I think I am beginning to get the hang of cruising in comfort at last!

The return on Sunday was mainly in very light winds, with SE sea breezes trying to overcome the NW wind, causing confusing 180º wind shifts.

Iken Cliff, River Alde — 31 Aug-1 Sept

Although four boats set out for Iken Cliff, only one arrived — John Adye in his Cormorant who launched at Orford. More ambitious sailors were defeated by the strong easterly onshore winds. Ann and Dennis Kell set out from Wolverston Marina on the Orwell but, after beaching near Felixstowe Ferry, got a stone jammed in the centre board slot on their Wanderer, so had to go into the Deben and ring for friends to recover them. Peter Bick, also starting from Wolverston, got as far as the Deben but, seeing the conditions over the bar, decided that discretion was the better part of valour and returned to the Orwell. Maurice Everson in his Wayfarer started from Southwold and reached the River Alde near Aldeborough, but ran out of time and tide before reaching Iken Cliff. The weather and distance also defeated me and I drove to the rally point. There were, however, half a dozen Wayfarers at Iken Cliff that night so John had company and hopefully quite a beach party. The Wayfarers all belong to a sailing club who apparently cruise together from time to time as a change from racing on an inland lake.