Saturday morning dawned clear but with no wind. I had arranged to meet Tony Hale with his Lugger off Heybridge Basin at 8am and eventually he appeared from Maldon under oars. We drifted slowly down the Blackwater with the tide and light wind until it was time to head south over the Raysand Channel. By now it was apparent that the Lugger was not going to get into the Roach before dark so Tony decided to spend the night in Brightlingsea. I tacked down into the Crouch and once inside the river realised that I would have to motor if I was to reach Paglesham before nightfall.

Just before Paglesham I caught up Hugh Riddle on his sailboard who launched from the beach at West Mersea. After cruising up and down the moorings and foreshore I saw no‑one else from the DCA and as I was not expecting anyone I picked up a mooring and Hugh joined me on Rebell for the night. I later learned that Jim Bailey in his Devon Yawl was there — sorry Jim!

The night was very still and the river in the morning was like a sheet of glass. However the forecast was for SE winds becoming strong by mid-day so we didn’t hang about. We motored to the mouth of the Crouch with Hugh’s sailboard happily accepting a tow from Rebell. By then the SE wind was sufficient to give us a fine sail along the Dengie coast and Hugh continued to West Mersea whilst I headed westwards back up the Blackwater. The wind was increasing all the time and by Osea Island I realised that the full genoa was far too much sail to be carrying even downwind. As I was unable to get back to my mooring at low water I was just deciding where to anchor for the afternoon when a fellow sailing club member hailed me and invited me over to his quieter Catalac. It was a very pleasant way to spend a wet and very windy afternoon before motoring back to my mooring.

Tony Hale did not fare so well as he sailed up to Mill Beach before anchoring and then, not having a motor, was unable to get up to Maldon on the late evening tide, so he spent an uncomfortable night about a mile and a half short of his destination.

Barry Parker who was to have hosted this rally has been struck down with a serious illness which is taking a long time to diagnose and treat. We wish him a full recovery and hope to see him at the winter meetings and at next year’s rallies.