Here are some of the highlights of this year's cruisng activities, arranged in reverse date order:
Orford 14th June
Weekend 7th June
Greek Cruise 18 May
Little wind meant slow progress to Little Japan, with several dinghies needing some help from outboards or the support boat to get there. During lunch the wind reversed direction so a beat back was necessary as well. However, a bit more breeze made the sail very pleasant.
Due to support boat problems the cruise was shortened to a trip down river with a picnic on the Ness.
Two boats, 100 tacks, lunch and then a long run home.
The day for the dinghy cruise to Orford came with a fair weather forecast, “but with risk of showers later.” The chilly wind was about force three from the north-west, which as we were planning to sail south-westerly and then back, this proved ideal. After a little confusion over starting times 9 dinghies set off, in intermittent sunshine, with 2 club support boats, 1 motorboat, and 4 yachts all bound for Orford. With a favourable tide good progress was made and the faster boats were there within the hour. The fleet made landing on the beach just north of the newly refurbished Orford Quay, and most people had chosen to take picnics which were eaten on the quayside. Over 30 club members and guests were involved with the sailing, and a few more came round by road. The journey home experienced more varied weather conditions, as no sooner had they set off and a heavy shower of rain came over bringing some vicious squalls of wind. There was only one capsize, just as the spinnaker was set. Although the lead boats had good wind back to Slaughden, the slower half of the outing were beset with a wind shift onto the nose just below Martello, and then becalmed as they approached the club, which was tricky as the tide was still ebbing. It was surprising how many of the dinghies had outboards ready to use just when they were needed. After a bit of a heave and some good team work all of the boats were recovered on the bottom of the tide, but sadly one new sandal was lost to the mud. Many thanks to Dawn Samuels and Mike Tyndale-Biscoe for manning the rib; and to Barry Skelcher for skippering the launch.
Saturday 07-06-08, started damp after continuous rain all day on Friday, with a wind from the west, and forecast to “Brighten up later.” Three Slaughden Sailing Club boats made journeys from different directions towards the river Stour in the rain, looking forwards to it “brightening up later!” Despite the rain there was some good sailing in the brisk wind, and the boats arrived in the Stour in the early afternoon and still it rained. Moorings or anchorages were taken near Wrabness handy for the Suffolk Offshore Cruising Association summer meeting that evening. Still it rained, but was to “brighten up later!” The crews went ashore in the rain and enjoyed a good and filling Chinese meal and a few drinks in good company. It was noted that after nine p.m. the rain stopped, just before dusk! Sunday morning dawned much brighter, and several of the SOCA boats set off on their journey home in company, enjoying the brighter conditions.
Twelve members of SSC have just returned from a week’s flotilla sailing in the Ionian Sea. Ted and Rosemary Draper, Peter and Bridget Chadwick, Rupert and Jane Hannen, Graham Silsbury, Liz Wright, Stanley and Lizzie Clark, Nigel and Pam Hemming joined two Beneteau Oceanis 393s (Hinitsa and Serifos) in Levkas. From here they sailed to the islands of Meganissi, Kastos, Cephalonia and Ithaca, anchoring for lunch and a swim in sheltered bays along the way. The wind was variable: often the mornings were quiet, with a strong breeze up to 25 knots developing in the afternoon. Both boats reached speeds of over 7 knots and it’s rumoured that one boat had a top speed of 8.4 knots. Averaging 25 miles a day, the total distance covered was more than 120 miles over the six days on the water.
For some crew members it was a steep learning curve in handling a yacht, under the capable and patient guidance from skippers Ted and Graham.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable week and thanks go to Ted for arranging the holiday.
Later in the season there will be an opportunity to hear more about this year’s sailing holiday and to discuss the possibility of organising another next year, if there’s enough interest from members.
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