In the old days of square rigged sailing ships getting to windward was even more of an achievement than it is today. So highly regarded was the ability to take a ship to windward that the old time sailors referred — slightly disparagingly — to a following breeze as ‘a soldier’s wind’.

Today it is generally accepted that small boat passages are slower against headwinds, and even slower again if the water is rough. One of my sailing trips last year pointed this out to me quite forcibly.

The Plan

I was sailing my wooden Mk 1 Gull dinghy (built 1961). The plan was to sail from Waldringfield on the River Deben to the DCA rally at Tollesbury on the River Blackwater in Essex. This passage of thirty miles or so is a goodly distance for a small boat on a single tide; on my own, in an eleven foot dinghy I was certainly not wanting a passage taking more than the time of a tide — about eight hours or so by ‘stealing’ a little at each end of the tide. Previous experience had shown me that by working the tidal current in my favour, and with wind strengths of Beaufort force 2-5, I could count on four to five knots over the ground. So the passage was, theoretically at least, possible — excluding headwinds. Naturally I followed the weather forecasts with even more than usual interest. Any wind direction from northwest through north to southeast would serve very well. The forecasts initially suggested northerly force 4 by the weekend — absolutely ideal. As the weekend came closer the forecasts suggested more and more west in the wind. I could easily have changed the plan to launch at West Mersea and even with a headwind made Tollesbury after a couple of hours. For some reason I cannot fathom I stuck obstinately to my original plan and launched at Waldringfield.

The Log

07.45 Departed Waldringfield, westerly force 2, sunny.

08.00 Off The Rocks, self-bailer sucking — this means over 3 knots boat speed. 1 mile

08.15 Ramsholt Arms abeam — closed, sadly! 2 miles

08.45 Felixstowe Ferry abeam. 4 miles

09.00 Haven Buoy abeam, wind a solid force 3. 5.5 miles

Now the wind was more and more against my desired course, and with the young flood against the westerly, the water was starting to get rougher.

09.55 Off Felixstowe pier. Wind stronger, force 4-5, water rough. 7 miles

10.15 Heaved to to put in a reef. The kicking-strap fitting broke away from the mast. Attached the kicking-strap to the toe-strap anchorage.

10.30 Off Landguard. Wind force 4-5, water rough, too little progress. 8.5 miles

I doubted that I could round the Naze before the tide turned, let alone make Tollesbury. I had little choice but to turn tail and head back for the Deben. Running, the difference was amazing; going to windward had been a real struggle even reefed down. Although the boat’s speed was much higher, especially down the surging waves, I could relax enough to have a drink and some food. I didn’t have all that long to eat it!

A true ‘soldier’s wind’!

11.20 We were in the river. I had landed at Felixstowe Ferry. 13 miles

I phoned the coastguard, advised the change of plan, and returned to the boat. I then had a very pleasant sail up the river before recovering the boat later in the afternoon.

Conclusions

1. Boat speed under varying conditions:

Wind Strength Direction Water Boat Speed F 2-5 Not close-hauled Rough or smooth 3-5 knots F 4-5 Close hauled rough 2 knots

2. Passage-making advice for trailer-sailers facing headwinds and rough water:

“I wouldn’t start from here!”