Why can’t dinghy cruising always be like this?

After my tale of thwarted plans in the last Newsletter I had a browse through Dipper’s 1993 log again. Just four weeks on from being pushed back by headwinds, I found my record of a very different dinghy trip, mostly on the River Deben.

Firstly the plan was more modest, the occasion was mid-August, the weather was milder, and even better we were able to carry out the plan. Compared with the previous month’s trip the start time was a relaxed and civilised four hours later.

11.45 — Departed Waldringfield, force 2 southerly, sunny and warm.

12.10 — Passed The Rocks. Getting hazy and I was almost too warm wearing shorts, tee‑shirt and buoyancy aid. — 1 mile

12.45 — Arrived Ramsholt Arms. — 2 miles

As the tide was falling fast I landed my crew took the boat out again and anchored off a little way.

13.00 — Swam ashore and ‘dressed’ for the pub.

14.00 — Swam out to the boat, sailed in and collected my crew.

14.15 — Departed Ramsholt wearing a few more clothes in preparation for the North Sea.

15.30 — Off the Woodbridge Haven Buoy. — 5½ miles

Spoke to a coastguard rigid inflatable boat practising its manoeuvres. I had spotted a small yacht approaching from the northwards on the wrong course for the river entrance. The coastguard set off on a ‘real’ manoeuvre; their speedy boat soon intercepted the yacht before she piled up on the shingle bank.

16.00 — Departed the Haven buoy and set off for the river entrance. — 6 miles

17.00 — Arrived Ramsholt Arms. This time the tide was rising so we beached the boat and carried the anchor well up the beach from the water’s edge. Enjoying a cream tea on the law outside the pub in the sunshine we were in no particular hurry. — 9½ miles

18.30 — Departed Ramsholt.

19.15 — Arrived Waldringfield. — 10½ miles

Although some legs of the trip were relatively quick, the average speed for the day over the ground works out at little more than 2 miles per hour. When you consider that we were ‘working the tides’ it’s no wonder the day felt relaxed and leisurely! Quite a contrast with the previous trip.