In Company with Dave Smith & Crew in Magellan Cloud

SATURDAY — winds fresh westerly. Slipped in at Orford Quay, Suffolk. Sailed downriver keeping to the eastern side of Havergate Island. The intention was to make for the bar at the entrance to the river but off the southern tip of the island, Dove Point, conditions got a little uncomfortable. We therefore rounded the end of the island and made our way up the River Butley. Inside the said river conditions eased and the water was calmer but tacking upriver was tiring work being solo. The tide was flooding but handling a heavy dinghy in confined waters is not my idea of fun. Block and tackle on a 70 lb plate, main sheet, jib sheet and punt off the mud and all at the same time! Lunch of sandwiches was taken tied to the north bank, after which it was decided to abandon our attempt to sail any further upriver.

Wind was easing so again we sailed downriver where at the entrance I tried out my old Seagull O/B. It worked! This was the first time I had ever tried it. But back again to sail when we decided to spend the night in the Butley. Whilst sailing upriver once more on a falling tide and failing wind a nice 3 tonner on her moorings received my unwarranted attention. Tacking across her bows the tide carried me bumping down her port side. To add insult to injury I then clouted her dinghy as I bore away on the port tack! I don’t know what the owner thought since he made no comment. I tacked and went back and had another go, but this time I missed him.

Further upriver we moored against the north bank by a collection of boats. After dinner all three of us walked into Orford where we found the Jolly Sailor!

SUNDAY — wind light southerly. A quiet peaceful night. After clearing away our breakfast things we both headed out of the Butley into the River Ore. Sailed NE up the Gull round Chantry Point and so to Orford where we checked the cars and trailers were OK. On once again with the sun shining and a nice gentle breeze to fill the sails — what a life!

Past Slaughden Quay we turned west and whilst sailing this stretch ran into a fleet of National 12s tacking downstream and hugging the north shore. After leaving Cob Island we had the interesting Long Reach to navigate. When nearly across we joined company with a big old cruising yacht helmed by an elderly lady of about 70. But she had to anchor while the tide made good over Troublesome Reaches — aptly named. Magellan Cloud and I made it across but we must have left our plate and rudder tracks in the mud.

Off Iken, in the shelter of the trees we anchored, ate lunch and discussed our next move. It was now a fine sunny day with little wind. We chose to go upriver to Snape in my dinghy which had more room for three people. Also we could use my O/B for power. Accordingly we chugged off and reached Snape where we tied up to the quay. Went ashore and meandered around an art exhibition. Finally we made our way back to the dinghy to note that I had left the petrol tap on. When I started the engine I discovered there was no idle speed, full throttle or nothing, needless to say our departure was somewhat frantic. The return to Iken was uneventful — but noisy. I must admit that I prefer oars, but not against a foul tide, or for any distance. At the close of the day we again made our way to Snape but this time to the Plough and Sail and on foot along the river bank.

MONDAY — wind fresh southerly. It’s strange but whenever we visit Iken, the wind always causes us to beat back to Orford; this trip was no exception. As mentioned earlier the passage across Long Reach is interesting, one has to search for withies, some have rags, some cans and others have nothing so you take your choice, as the man said. At times one skirts across the loop in the channel — this manoeuvre is a heart stopper when the quarter wave starts to seethe and roll as the water shallows.

The day was a grey one as we turned south by Slaughden Quay and commenced the beat down to Orford. Tack and tack again, Magellan Cloud called across to inform me that my rudder was not fully down and the helm had become somewhat heavy. After this I had to heave to several times whilst I jammed the rudder down. I discovered on my next cruise that it was caused by the pivot bolt coming loose. Off Orford Magellan Cloud sailed straight onto the beach but I rounded into the wind to drop my mainsail then ran ashore. We recovered at 0900.

In the car park I had an interesting talk with a retired gent who used to sail Yachting World Dayboats years previously off this same coast. I must confess they are good sea boats if slow — still one cannot have everything.