Capturing the essence of the East Coast and its rivers
Tidemill Yacht Harbour
Tidemill Way
Woodbridge
Suffolk IP12 1BP 01394 385745
info@tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk
www.tidemillyachtharbour.co.uk VHF 80
Tidemill Yacht Harbour is a long-established marina in Woodbridge where you can moor your boat safely and relax and enjoy the gentle, unspoilt surroundings at your leisure. Our team are on hand for berthing, lifts, cleaning, winter storage and all the running repairs and maintenance your boat may need. We also boast a new travel hoist, impressive shower/washroom amenities and fully-equipped workshops. We look forward to welcoming you
• Annual & visitor moorings available all year • Winter storage packages available • Full boatyard services including lift & crane • Engine installation, servicing, diagnostics & repair • Electronics sales & installation • Osmosis treatment & resprays • GRP repairs, painting & varnishing
Welcome...
The names are the same, the faces different. After several successful years at the helm of the Coastal Guide and its sister website www.coastal.events, Gill Moon and Tim Allen have handed over to another Gill and Tim – that’s us on the left! We’ve spent a lifetime in the publishing industry (so the business is in safe hands) but, more importantly, we have a long-term love for the East Coast and its rivers. For us, nothing beats the joy of being on or by the water; whether we’re sailing up the coast or simply walking at the water’s edge, it’s all about making memories to treasure.
As sailors we’ve made many friends here: fellow bertholders in our ‘home’ marina, those we’ve met in the sailing and yacht clubs we visit, the Harbour Masters who might not recall our names but always seem to remember our yacht and, of course, all those in the local sailing schools, chandleries, specialist suppliers and boatyards who’ve offered guidance, goods and advice.
Having lived, worked, sailed and holidayed here over many decades, we know that the coastal community is key to making this a region in which people and businesses can thrive. The Coastal Guide aims to support that effort, encouraging readers to use and enjoy the East Coast and its rivers in all manner of ways, all year round.
We’re especially grateful to the clubs and organisations that share their events details with us and ensure that the Coastal Guide gets into the hands of their members and customers each year.
A huge thank you, too, to the advertisers whose support means we can bring you the Coastal Guide free of charge. Please do take the time to see what they’re offering and, if you make contact, be sure to say that you read about them here.
If you have any news or views to share with us, you can find us on social media, or email info@coastal.events – we’d be very happy to hear from you!
Gill Bendall
Tim Sandall
With a skilled workforce using traditional methods of boatbuilding, at Robertsons Boatyard in Woodbridge we provide the following:
• REPAIRS AND RESTORATION TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY IN ALL MATERIALS
• ALL TYPES OF RIGGING SUPPLIED AND FITTED
• ENGINE, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN
• PAINTING AND VARNISHING
• MOORING – SWINGING AND JETTY
• NEW TRAVEL HOIST & EXTENDED HARDSTANDING
• WINTER STORAGE PACKAGES AVAILABLE
• OSMOSIS TREATMENTS AND RESPRAYS
• THE LARGEST SLIPWAY ON THE EAST COAST
• HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION
• EXPERIENCE AND PASSION FROM A FAMILY-RUN BOATYARD
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Lobster pot campaign continues
Sailors out on the East Coast waters this summer are being urged to report any incidents caused by fishing gear as part of the Cruising Association’s campaign to improve small craft safety by securing the better marking of lobster pots.
The CA petition calling for the better marking of lobster pots closed in March with 10,767 signatures – enough to officially require a written reply from Government. Cruising Association President Judith Grimwade says: “We believe we have established that something needs to be done about badly marked gear and that the wider boating community strongly supports what the CA is trying to do.
“Our view is that constructive consultation including all interested parties is the way to find a solution that is practical and affordable for our fishermen. We are looking to the Government to sponsor and support that consultation. We are not naïve and don’t expect instant answers. All along we have said we are in this for the long haul.”
The CA is now pressing for the consultation that the petition demanded and says the strong relationships it has established with the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations, British Ports Authority and many other stakeholders during the campaign will be sustained. •Entanglements and general observations of poorly marked gear can be reported by email at lobsterpots@theca.org.uk.
Burnham’s Swallowtail flies high
TheSwallowtail Restaurant and Bar at Burnham Yacht Harbour has been refurbished and reopened under the management of the marina, after several years of being run by tenants. A revamped menu focuses on locally-sourced produce where possible. Located just a 10-minute walk from the town centre of Burnham-on-Crouch, the bar offers an extensive selection of drinks, including beers from local brewery Wibblers. The restaurant seats 100 and can cater for groups, functions and families. •www.swallowtailrestaurant.co.uk
The Maldon Mud Race promises to be bigger and better than ever this year, with new attractions for all the family to enjoy and additional sponsors including Essex & Suffolk Water. Taking place at Promenade Park on 10 June, the event features 300 entrants competing in a 400m dash over the bed of the Blackwater. Last year 15,000 people attended the event and £30,000 was raised for charities. •www.maldonmudrace.com
MDL’s Woolverstone Marina hosts a day of family fun on 9 June – all are welcome at the River Orwell site where entertainment will include water taxi rides, cream teas aboard sailing barge Victor, MOB demonstrations, lifejacket clinics and nautical-themed competitions. • www.mdlmarinas.co.uk
NEWSand notes...
Norfolk trio to row the Atlantic
What happens when a business analyst, a councillor and a postie decide to row an ocean together? Three members of the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club will find out next year.
Helen Hogan, Sandra Squire and Kate Palmer have entered the 2019 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge under the team name The Norfolk brOARds. The 3,000-mile race will take them from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua, in a boat just seven metres long and less than two metres wide.
Designated skipper Sandra – not unused to extreme challenges, she is doing the final leg of this year’s Clipper Round The World Yacht Race – says: “We all share the same attitude: life is short and precious and we should make the absolute most of every opportunity we’re given. We want to prove that ordinary people can do amazing, extraordinary things; that anything is possible.”
The trio joined the King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club last year and Chairman Bob Panrucker says: “These three rowers make their club proud and are a real inspiration to anyone who has ever thought ‘I
Brokerage news...
Precious Marine which has offices at Woolverstone and Bradwell marinas, is charging a guaranteed fixed fee of £1,500 plus VAT regardless of the value of the vessel, with no upfront payments and a ‘no sale, no fee, no cancellation charge’ promise. •www.preciousmarine.co.uk Clarke and Carter has confirmed dates for its October Used Boat Shows. The agent’s Essex event will be at Burnham Yacht Harbour on 12-14, Chatham and Gillingham Marinas will host the Kent event on 19-21, and Suffolk Yacht Harbour will host the Suffolk show on 26-28. •www.clarkeandcarter.co.uk
Thames Trafalgar Race cancelled
The Thames Trafalgar Race has been cancelled after organisers Erith Yacht Club and the Little Ship Club failed to reach agreement with the Port of London Authority over ‘sufficient space’ in the upper parts of the river. The race, brainchild of Sir Robin Knox-Johnson, was due to take place in September.
wonder if I could…’ ”
The team – who will be raising money for five charities – believe they are the first from Norfolk to enter the race. But first they have to get to the starting line – with total race costs estimated at over £100,000, the trio are offering adventurous companies the chance to get involved and support their campaign by providing sponsorship in exchange for various promotional opportunities. • www.norfolkbroards.co.uk
Bruntons celebrates
Bruntons Propellers, one of the oldest propeller manufacturers in the world, celebrates its 150th birthday this year. Based in Clacton-on-Sea, the business is a part of the Stone Marine Group, a group of companies specialising in all aspects of vessel propulsion.
Propeller production started at Bruntons in 1908 and increased rapidly so that by the start of the First World War a significant part of the firm’s turnover was coming from it. Today, with state-of-the-art design and manufacturing processes, the firm’s Autoprop feathering and Varifold folding models are acknowledged as world-leading, and its fixed-blade propellers for motor yachts, commercial and naval craft are all designed and manufactured to the same exacting standards.
• www.bruntonspropellers.com
NEWSand notes...
Open Day marks RNLI launch anniversary
May is a cause for celebration at the RNLI’s Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat station, with the crew hosting a special open day to celebrate the 140th anniversary of their boat first being launched on service. The Hastings Avenue station will be open on 6 May, as well as during the Clacton Airshow which this year is on 23 and 24 August.
Later in May, one of the most successful of the RNLI Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat’s fundraising events
takes place: Open Gardens at The Hall, Tendring on 27 and 28 May from 2-5pm.
•For information or group bookings, contact Steve Cole via e-mail at clactonrnli@gmail.com
Decking specialist is new area agent
Suffolk-based Rofix Restoration is the new East Anglian approved agent and manufacturer for synthetic decking specialist Flexiteek. Oliver Rofix has been fitting decks since 2012 and started manufacturing from his Stanton workshop two years ago. •www.rofixrestoration.com
Clacton
Lifeboat Station
BROKERAGE NEWS
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For example even if a special deal on a very high value vessel was agreed at 4% this would still represent a fee of £5000 plus VAT on a £125,000 boat. How It Works
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Estuary Vessel Management
Push the Boat Out
Want to have a go at sailing? It’s free to try at many East Coast clubs taking part in this year’s RYA campaign
The RYA’s Push the Boat Out campaign is all about helping people discover the joy of sailing and windsurfing. Around 400 sailing and watersports organisations across the UK – including many in our area – have signed up to be involved with Push the Boat Out in 2018, opening their doors to the public and offering newcomers an opportunity to get afloat this May. Make a date to go along and meet the people who are so passionate about their water-based pastimes at this selection of venues. All you need to take along is a sense of adventure…
5 May
Blackwater Sailing Club www.blackwatersailingclub.org.uk
Eyott Sailing Club www.eyottsailingclub.org.uk
6 May
St Edmundsbury Sailing & Canoeing Association www.westsuffolksailing.org.uk
6 and 7 May
Clacton Sailing Club www.clactonsailingclub.org.uk
7 May
Royal Harwich Yacht Club www.royalharwichyachtclub.co.uk
12 May
Royal Corinthian Yacht Club www.royalcorinthian.co.uk
Hickling Broad Sailing Club www.hicklingbroad.com
Wilsonian Sailing Club www.wilsoniansc.org.uk
Cam Sailing Club www.camsailingclub.org.uk
12 and 13 May
Blakeney Sailing Club www.blakeneysailing.co.uk
13 May
Aldeburgh Yacht Club www.aldeburghyc.org.uk
Snettisham Beach Sailing Club www.snetbeach.co.uk
19 May
Alton Water www.altonwater.co.uk
Gravesend Sailing Club www.gravesendsailingclub.co.uk
Medway Yacht Club www.medwayyachtclub.com
Walton & Frinton Yacht Club www.wfyc.co.uk
20 May Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club www.ffsc.co.uk
26 May Marconi Sailing Club www.marconi-sc.org.uk
Eat, drink… enjoy!
With a wealth of top-notch food, tasty tipples, friendly hostelries and fun festivals, the East Coast’s the perfect place in which to indulge your taste for the finer things in life. Alexandra George suggests ways to whet your appetite
Afun-filled weekend of delicious riverside feasting, The Woodbridge Shuck is an annual fish and shellfish festival, this year held over the weekend of 22 and 23 September.
The main arena is at the newly-developed Whisstocks Quayside, where freshly cooked seafood meals will be available, along with a variety of stalls, music and children’s entertainment. Elsewhere in the town, participating restaurants and pubs will also be serving dishes using locally-caught and grown fish and shellfish, including River Deben oysters and mussels.
First held in 2012, the event is organised by the Woodbridge Shuck Festival Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation solely for the intention of promoting and encouraging the consumption of genuine local seafood as close to its point of production as possible, educating the general public and the catering industry as to what is genuinely in season, local and where it can be sourced from, and encouraging local shops and businesses to support local seafood producers.
Prime examples of local seafood are Deben oysters, mussels and whelks, lobsters from Felixstowe, Aldeburgh and Southwold, skate, bass, whiting, Dover sole dogfish, – often referred to as rock eel – and flounders, along with crab from Aldeburgh, Southwold and Cromer, herring, and cockles from Leigh-on-Sea or Kings Lynn.
Throughout the town, many restaurants will be offering special seafood options on their menu over the Shuck weekend.
There’ll also be a ‘seafood safari – enjoy a threecourse dinner at three top Woodbridge restaurants. After meeting at The Crown for fizz and canapes,
groups will then alternate between The Crown, The Table and The Galley for each course. •www.woodbridgeshuck.co.uk
Historically great rivals, the Norfolk coastal towns of Cromer and Sheringham unite to create a friendly and entertaining weekend event, the Crab and Lobster Festival. Dedicated to promoting the local seafaring heritage and active fishing community, the event takes place 19 and 20 May and begins with a traditional seaside variety concert at the famous Pier Pavilion Theatre in Cromer. A feast of fun, food, art, heritage and music, highlights of the weekend include a Cromer Crab Sandwich Competition, cookery theatre and Art Trail.
Later in the summer, a World Crabbing Competition takes place on Cromer Esplanade over
Food from the source takes on a whole new meaning when you know how to forage for your own tasty treats. Author and naturalist Tiffany Francis offers an engaging guide in Food You Can Forage (Bloomsbury, £16.99) – packed with photos, illustrations and useful information it will help you identify and find food in the wild, while recipes suggest some delicious new ways to eat, drink and enjoy the fruits of your labours.
Far from being just for foodies, this paperback explores a range of habitats and offers advice to help all the family make the most of time spent outdoors. It’s full of interesting facts too: did you know that marsh samphire was historically burnt to make soda ash, a vital ingredient for the glass-making process? Or that sea purslane is, on some Caribbean islands, used to treat wounds caused by venomous fish? There’s lots here to whet your appetite…
the August Bank Holiday weekend. Open to teams and individuals, competitors try to catch the most crabs or the biggest crab to earn the title of World Champion.
•www.crabandlobsterfestival.co.uk
A fantastic end-of-summer celebration, this year’s Aldeburgh Food & Drink Festival takes place on 29 and 30 September in the atmospheric setting of Snape Maltings. A not-for-profit event which sticks firmly to its ethos of celebrating locally grown, reared, foraged and sourced foods, it’s a feast for all the senses where stallholders make the time to share the stories behind their fare, and food miles are at a minimum.
With a backdrop of the river Alde and reedbeds, the historic Victorian maltings at Snape are the best-preserved brick malt kilns in Britain and are home to the world-famous concert halls of the Aldeburgh Festival of Music as well as a collection of shops selling food, kitchen-ware, crafts, art, books
and much else. In this uniquely beautiful setting, the Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival has become established as one of the foremost food festivals in Britain, with celebrity chefs, and food and drink lovers travelling from far and wide.
Tickets are available on the day, or in advance via the website.
•www.aldeburghfoodanddrink.co.uk
There’s something about the sea air that always works up a thirst, whether the day’s been spent strolling along the shoreline, lolling on the sands or standing at the helm of a sailboat.
This ‘boozy book’ serves up an expert look at the drinking culture in key sailing spots around the world, looking at what locals like to drink, how it’s made, and what best to eat with it. The Boat Drinks Book (Adlard Coles Nautical, £16.99) gets in on the making too, with over 30 cocktail and drink recipes to inspire you, plus a few of author Fiona Sims’ favourite boat nibbles recipes for accompaniment.
The perfect follow-up to The Boat Cookbook which Fiona wrote a while back, this entertaining tome aims to encourage the reader to enjoy ‘a different tipple in every port’.
Tipples from the Suffolk coast
Gin’s still very much ‘in’ this year and – to my palate at least – locally-distilled Fishers is the perfect evocation of the Suffolk coast. Capturing some of the forgotten flavours of the coastline, Fishers’ botanist James Firth has sustainably sourced and foraged wild botanicals native only to a small number of locations, including the marshland that divides the North Sea from the River Alde.
Each botanical is carefully considered, picked and dried at the optimum time for the best impact on the gin’s flavour and aroma. They include spignel – so rare that Fishers has cultivated its own source, the location of which is a closely-guarded secret – along with rock samphire, wood avens, and bog myrtle.
Fishers will have its own distillery on the East Coast later this year, but is currently created at the home of another fine local gin, Adnams – famed for its Copper House and First Rate brands. Elsewhere in the region, two other local brands are worth raising a glass to...
Created by cabinet-maker Ed Rodger, Carpenter’s Gin, a London Dry, is made in batches of just 80 bottles and features an infusion of orris root, coriander seeds, French angelica root, almond powder, Spanish lemon and orange peel, juniper and cardamon. White oak chips give this gin – distilled at Suffolk Food Hall – a lovely buttery smoothness.
And Black Shuck gin is a delightful fusion of local ingredients – the botanicals of bitter orange, juniper and coriander are incorporated with Norfolk lavender while the addition of sea buckthorn gives it a Scandinavian twist.
• www.fishersgin.com
•www.carpentersdistillery.co.uk
•www.blackshuckltd.co.uk
A summer of boating fun
Our region plays host to a number of races, festivals and regattas… here’s a selection!
Medway Regatta
Blakeney Regatta
Located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Blakeney Sailing Club offers competitive classes in tidal waters, plus a warm welcome for all. Protected by a spit of land leading to Blakeney Point, the harbour will see plenty of action in the annual race week that leads up to the ‘Blue Riband’ Blakeney Regatta on 1 and 2 September, with starts at 10am on the Saturday and 10.45am on the Sunday. A few weeks before, on 18 August,
Medway Yacht Club hosts one of the South East’s premier regattas, which this year takes place from 19 to 22 July. The event promises competitive racing for cruisers and one design classes, and with racing under the IRC and NHC handicap systems there are opportunities for both the serious and occasional racers. A varied format including estuary races and windward/leeward courses plus plenty of shoreside fun and entertainment including a final-day prizegiving event make this a regatta for all the family.
•www.medwayyachtclub.com
another of Blakeney Sailing Club’s premier events takes place, The Morston Regatta. Earlier in the season, Blakeney Sailing Club hosts the Seafly Nationals on 19 and 20 May. And on 15 and 16 September it hosts the Streaker Class Association Southern Area Championships (left), with results counting towards the Southern Paddle, East Anglian and Rooster Super Series. •www.blakeneysailing.co.uk
Steve Soanes
Karen Langston
Mersea Week... and beyond
Mersea
Island’s summer of fun kicks off with the East Coast’s very own Round the Island Race on Sunday 12 August. Significant changes are in store for this year’s event, with the challenge being opened up to a wider variety of boats than ever before. Dinghies and catamarans have competed for the coveted Coconut Trophy for a number of years, but in 2018 the event officially welcomes windsurfers and rowing boats.
•www.wmyc.org.uk
The sheltered waters of the River Blackwater provide perfect conditions for one of the most popular of the Essex coast’s sailing regattas – Mersea Week, which is organised jointly by West Mersea Yacht Club and the Dabchicks Sailing Club. Friendly and family-oriented, Mersea Week 2018 starts on Sunday 26 August and runs through to Friday 31 August.
•www.merseaweek.org
A week later, the separately-run West Mersea Town Regatta will take place on Saturday 1 September, with competing boats including Smacks, racing yachts and classic yachts. Other watersports events include rowing races, an outboard motor balloon race, a swimming race and a ‘walking the greasy pole’ challenge. With a wealth of waterside attractions and a grand firework display at dusk, this 180-year-old event is entirely self-financed and always fun for both competitors and spectators alike.
•www.mersearegatta.org.uk
Brightlingsea counts its blessings
Brightlingsea is the setting for a centuries-old traditional Blessing and Reclaiming of the Waters ceremony which takes place on Sunday 20 May. This colourful custom pays homage to the town’s heritage – Brightlingsea is the only community outside Kent and Sussex with a connection to the Confederation of the Cinque Ports which, prior to the Norman Conquest, were England’s most important Channel ports. Named after the French word for five but pronounced ‘sink’ not ‘sank’, the ports – Hastings, Sandwich, Dover, Romney and Hythe – were charged with providing ships and men for the service of the monarch. Under the Norman kings this ‘cross-Channel ferry service’ became the essential means of keeping the two halves of their realm together, but after the loss of Normandy in 1205, their ships (the for-runners of the Royal Navy) suddenly became England’s first line of defence against the French.
As a thriving ship-owning port, Brightlingsea became a Limb of the Head Port of Sandwich. A useful half-way house for the Portsmen en route to and from the annual Herring Fair at Yarmouth, it also provided excellent oysters and the Lord Warden has his own official layings in Brightlingsea Creek until the 1670s
Today, this heritage is celebrated when dignitaries of the Cinque Ports and civic officials in their regalia attend a brief religious service at the Town Hard, before taking to the water to lead a
Wroxham Week
Hosted
by the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, Wroxham Week features seven days of racing and a full programme of land-based evening entertainment. Taking place from Monday 30 July to Sunday 5 August, the regatta is open to all single and double-handed dinghies, and rounds off with the Norfolk Broads Yacht Club Open Regatta which has racing in all classes.
•www.nbyc.co.uk
flotilla procession along Brightlingsea Creek, past the Town Hard to West Ness for Reclaiming the Waters, a boundary-marking custom akin to Beating the Bounds on land which asserts the rights of the people of Brightlingsea to use the waters in their Liberty.
This year’s civic procession will assemble at 12.45pm outside St James Church in the High Street before the robed mayors, clergy and others follow a band to the top of the Hard, where the service begins
Burnham Week
Hailedas the East Coast’s most challenging regatta, Burnham Week celebrated its 125th anniversary last year with 155 entries – almost 20 per cent up on the previous year. Organised
by representatives from the four sailing clubs in Burnham together with other members who have specific responsibilities during the week, the event raises funds for Essex Air Ambulance and the RNLI.
Burnham Week is arguably the longest-running annual yacht regatta on the UK mainland, a real treat for sailors and spectators alike – classes share
at 1.15pm. The Blessing of the Waters takes place on the hammerhead and on board historic Pioneer, relayed by loudspeakers for all to hear. Pioneer is unique, the only surviving Skillinger – a larger version of the coastal Smacks – that could travel further around the British Isles and to Holland with a larger hold to bring back oysters to Brightlingsea.
•www.cinqueportliberty.co.uk
the same start line most days so the River Crouch is filled with sail colours and some spectacular manoeuvres. On the final Saturday of the event, the coveted Town Cup race finishes at the Royal Corinthian so everyone can watch the action before a spectacular firework display brings the proceedings to a close. And on the Bank Holiday Monday Burnham’s annual Quay Day takes place – Gig rowing races and the prestigious Commodores Cup are highlights. Burnham Week 2018 will run from Saturday 25 August 2018 to Saturday 1 September 2018.
•www.burnhamweek.com
Fambridge River Festival
Anannual celebration of all things maritime on the East Coast, the Fambridge River Festival returns for a fourth time this summer.
Fambridge Yacht Haven is once again organising the free one-day event, which this year takes place on Sunday August 26. More than 1,000 people are expected to make their way to the River Crouch where there’ll be a range of activities both on and off the water.
Highlights include a range of classic, historic and traditional boats which will be opening their hatches to the public. Participants already confirmed include the historic Dunkirk Little Ship Motor Torpedo Boat 102 that was involved in the famous Operation Dynamo, Thames Sailing Barge Ironsides which dates from 1900, and the beautiful 31ft Gravesend Bawley, SY Marigold.
Along with live music, arts and crafts, food and drink and other stalls, the festival promises fun for all the family, and takes place from 10am to 4pm at Fambridge Yacht Station, Ferry Road, North Fambridge CM3 6LR.
•www.yachthavens.com/fambridge
Ipswich Maritime Festival
Addinga carnival atmosphere to the already magical county town’s waterfront, the Ipswich Maritime Festival takes place over the weekend of 18 and 19 August this year.
With a ‘pirate and sailor’ theme for 2018, the event sees the waterfront lined with stalls proferring all manner of foods, drinks, crafts and gifts, along with a fun fair, a programme of live entertainment and, on the Saturday night, a spectacular firework display.
In addition there’ll be a market area and an exhibit zone which will include historical reenactments and, of course, on the water there’ll be a variety of vessels which visitors can explore.
The Ipswich Maritime Festival is open from 10am to 10pm on the Saturday, and 10am-6pm on the Sunday – book your berth early if you plan to travel up the Orwell to join in the fun!
The Rotary Club of Harwich and Dovercourt hosts its popular Sea Festival on Sunday 29 July – as in previous years it will be a grand finale for the Lifeboat Week that’s organised by the Harwich branch of the RNLI. Expect lots of activities and attractions on and off the water, including Thames barges, a ‘retired’ lifeboat, model yachts, a kayak race and, if operational commitments allow, a coastguard helicopter display. The historic Halfpenny Pier and its surrounds are the setting for a day of family fun. •www.facebook.com/HarwichSeaFestival
Now in its 69th year, North West Norfolk Week started when it was suggested that the coastal clubs between Brancaster and King’s Lynn should pool their resources and organise a regatta that involved all the clubs in the area. In the postwar austerity of 1948/9 it was also conceived as an event that could fit in with a family holiday in an attractive and unspoiled area of the country –an ethos which still prevails.
One of the first regattas to introduce class racing for Lasers (in the 1970s), over the course of the week there is one race per day, providing a good balance between sailing and holiday time. Short tidal windows mean there are no long postponements and though the racing is competitive, the atmosphere is always friendly.
A near-unique feature of North West Norfolk Week, which this year takes place from Saturday 28 July to Saturday 4 August, is the variety of sailing on offer. Hunstanton and Snettisham Beach SCs are in the Wash, offering large open sea courses. The Ouse Amateur Sailing Club in King’s Lynn offers tidal river racing with smaller waves and big tides. And the largest coastal salt marshes in the world stretch between Brancaster Staithe and Blakeney, carved into which are various natural harbours and creeks, provide a further range of courses, some on the open sea, some in estuaries, some in both.
Daily and weekly trophies, plus lady and junior helm prizes mean there is something for all sailors in the week and the facilities offered by the host clubs - entrants are honorary members of all of them for the week – are as varied as the sailing. •www.norfolkweek.co.uk
East Coast Piers Race
Open to fast dinghies and catamarans, the East Coast Piers Race is a major charity event raising funds to support The Cirdan Trust and its important work with disadvantaged children. The race takes place on 8 July and is organised by Marconi Sailing Club on the River Blackwater in Essex and goes up the East Coast to Walton and back again.
Three course options are available: the Bradwell Race which is 13 miles long and open to fast dinghies, the Colne Point Race which is 27 miles long and open to fast dinghies and catamarans, and the full ECPR which is 48 miles long and open to catamarans only.
Pin Mill Sailing Club Regatta
Situated on the south bank of the Orwell, this sociable little sailing club makes the most of its easy access to international destinations as well as the beautiful local rivers. Sailors flying the club burgee compete in the annual Combined Clubs River Series each year, but Pin Mill hosts two flagship events of its own too – an open Regatta and the highly-regarded PMSC Smacks and Working Boats Race. The latter is held this year on 30 June, and the 2018 Regatta takes place on 29 September – last year racing featured more than 20 boats competing in four classes.
•www.pmsc.org.uk
The courses are easy to follow and ‘mother boats’ (cruisers) are anchored at every mile to keep an eye on everything. These fly orange flags and at any time competitors can moor behind a mother ship and not be disqualified. There are also a number of support boats spread out along the course who are able to assist if needed.
Sailing starts at Osea Pier and continues down the Blackwater Estuary to Bradwell, across the Estuary, and then along the coast passing Clacton Pier and turning at Walton Pier. •www.eastcoastpiersrace.com
Every year the Norfolk town of King’s Lynn celebrates its Hanseatic history with a Hanse Day, and this year there’ll be a series of rowing races designed to showcase the location’s maritime past. The Festival takes place on 20 May, and King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club is organising a series of two-mile dashes starting and finishing off at the historic Purfleet Quay and Customs House. Other craft will be on show on the water, and there’ll be stalls and music throughout the old quarter of King’s Lynn.
•www.kingslynnhansefestival.co.uk
•www.klcrc.club
King’s Lynn Hanse Festival
The Great River Race
Known as ‘London’s River Marathon’, this spectacular rowing race attracts more than 330 crews competing in a 21.6-mile dash upstream from London Docklands to Ham in Surrey. Crews range from serious racing rowers to those who don fancy dress and raise funds for charity – and this year the fun takes place on 8 September. Debuted in 1988, The Great River Race is doing for rowing what the ‘road marathon’ did for running. •www.greatriverrace.co.uk
Brightlingsea Regatta
With easy access, free entrance and some free parking, Brightlingsea is the place to enjoy boat races, displays, rescue demonstrations, competitions and fun on the water on 2 and 3 June this year.
There’ll be try-a-boat sessions for power boats and sailing boats courtesy of Brightlingsea Sailing Club and Colne Yacht Club, plus paddleboarding and kayaking. Model boat races will take place at the boating lake and there’ll be entertainment on dry land including street dancers and live music from local bands. Lots of fun for younger visitors is planned too, and on the Saturday night there’ll be a fantastic fireworks display – enjoy great views all along the waterfront and beyond. •www.sailbrightlingsea.com
London On-Water
The Nore Race
An open race for all classes of sailing dinghies and cruising yachts, the Nore Race starts and ends at Southend Pier and is organised by Benfleet Yacht Club. Covering a 20-mile circuit of the Thames Estuary, this event has been held since the 1920s and, for many competitors, is the only race they will compete in.
This year’s Nore Race takes place on 23 June and a prizegiving evening is held the following Friday.
A total of 25 trophies will be presented between the four main Groups and 12 individual Classes.
•www.benfleetyachtclub.org
Fox’s Two Rivers
Now in its fourth year, London On-Water is held at the iconic St Katharine Docks, right next to Tower Bridge. The capital’s newest boat show, festival and supercar showcase will be held from 10 to 12 May and will feature a floating village, motor boats and sailing yachts, corporate sailing, holiday companies and RIBs and tenders. Two-forone tickets are on sale online for £10.
•www.londononwater.com
Sailing can be thirsty work – most yacht and sailing club bars are busy at the end of a day on the water. But the events team at Fox’s Marina Yacht Club in Ipswich have come up with a fun way for sailors to quench their thirsts whilst competing: the Fox’s Two Rivers challenge. This annual event involves sailing a course on the Rivers Orwell and Stour, starting at Levington and with stopping points at Harwich, Shotley, Suffolk
The Medway Dinghy Regatta is on 14 and 15 July at the Wilsonian Sailing Club at Hoo in Kent. Around 80 entrants are expected to enjoy racing on the tidal estuary, with camping and catering available all weekend at the club. There’ll be separate starts for handicap classes as well as Wayfarers and 2000s, and live music to entertain on the Saturday evening. •www.wilsoniansc.org.uk
Yacht Harbour, Pin Mill, Royal Harwich Yacht Club and Fox’s Marina. At each point on the course at least one crew member must row ashore, dash to the designated ‘local’ and down a drink before rowing back to his boat, with a token to prove his drinking prowess. One of the main fund-raising events for the Fox’s Marina Yacht Club, the Two Rivers takes place on 4 August this year. The day ends with a party and prize-giving back in the clubhouse. •www.fmyc.org.uk
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A pier no longer in peril
Community spirit is helping save an important East Coast landmark
The East Coast is home to many historic piers; from the photographers’ favourite in Southwold to the grade II Listed landmark at Southend – which is reputed to be the longest pleasure pier in the world – they’re an important reminder of the region’s past as a holiday hotspot and remain popular tourist attractions today.
Possibly less well known but making its own mark nonetheless is the 123-year-old pier at the tip of the Shotley peninsula, currently the focus of a major community restoration project.
The Victorian pier has the River Orwell and River Stour to each side and is sheltered from the open sea by the curve of Harwich and Felixstowe, which means it’s an estuary pier rather than sea-facing.
It dates back to when the Marquis of Bristol owned land around Shotley and decided to build a railway pier there, to convey the Royal Mail by
ferry between Shotley Gate and Harwich. Work on the pier was completed in 1894 but the railway was never built, due to landowners refusing to sell the land that was required for the route – Manningtree and Harwich gained train stations instead and the narrow gauge rail was used only for pushing mail trolleys and later loading munitions from the historic armoury.
HMS Ganges, then a Royal Navy training establishment, used the pier during and between the World Wars. Small boats from the area went to help the Dunkirk evacuation, and part of the German submarine fleet surrendered in the Harwich Haven waters, floating off the pier area.
The British Rail Motor Boat Service had a scheduled service to link trains to boat services between Harwich, Shotley Pier and Felixstowe right up to the 1960s, and the remnants of this service survives in the foot ferry service which operates April to October nowadays.
A testament to the Victorian values of construction made to last, the 600ft-long pier fell into disrepair only at around the turn of the 21st century. Put up for sale for £100,000, its future looked uncertain until locals got involved, and in 2017 a ‘community shares’ offer proved so successful that the pier was purchased in February this year by Shotley Heritage community group, a charitable community benefit society.
It’s thought that around £300,000 will be needed in total to restore the landmark to its former glory, making it a working attraction where people can
stroll, fish and enjoy the views. The plan is to build a visitor centre and café on the pier, where historic photos will be displayed and updates will be available on the development project.
As the community group continues to raise funds to refurbish the pier, a number of events are scheduled, such as coffee and cake mornings at The Red Lion in Chelmondiston, and Pier Rum taster sessions at local hostelries including the Shotley Rose.
In return for a donation to the community group, small groups can go out on a boat to see the hammerhead up close from the water, and enjoy the beauty of the River Stour and its visiting wildlife.
The shoreline around the pier is accessible at low tide, and there is a coastal path to use when the tide is high.
As an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the River Stour has amazing views and peaceful waters much of the time and ‘Walkers are Welcome’ volunteers have spent a lot of time ensuring there are plenty of pleasant walking routes round Shotley – the riverside route from Pin Mill to Shotley Pier is designated as an Arthur Ransome trail, with marker boards commemorating moments from the book We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea.
•For details of fundraising events and how you can help save Shotley Pier, log on to www.shotleypier.co.uk or email shotleypier@gmail. com to enquire about boat trips and volunteering and funding opportunities.
Local art and the finest hospitality combine in monthly fundraising events held at the Michelin-listed Red Lion at Chelmondiston. Art and Coffee mornings are held regularly at the popular peninsula hostelry, with a different local artist featured each month and proceeds from the sale of their work going towards the Shotley Pier project. Tickets, which cost £5 and include coffee and cake, are available direct from The Red Lion or on 01473 780052 – booking is advised as places are limited.
These events take place from 10.30am to 12noon on the first Wednesday of each month April to October, and then on Thursday 1 November and Saturday 1 December.
The pier was designed to convey mail between Shotley and Harwich
HMS Ganges used the pier during and between the World Wars
At Fox’s Marina & Boatyard, our team is a great mix of experienced cruising/racing sailors and time served engineers and craftsmen. Whether you own a dinghy or a superyacht, we understand our customer’s problems and how to resolve them quickly and cost effectively.
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Whether you’re a land-based day-tripper or a visiting sailor, the East Coast offers plenty of opportunities to step out at the water’s edge. Here we select three of our favourites...
Walks by the water
Along-distance footpath stretching for 81 miles right across the county, The Essex Way officially starts in Epping and ends in Harwich but, as it’s signposted both ways, it’s just as easy to start at the coast and head inland too.
The full route includes sections along the Rivers Blackwater, Colne and Stour. This final section (or first, if you’re starting at the coast!) is particularly lovely and has lots to look out for, including the home of the Master of the Mayflower, the Harwich ship which carried the Pilgrim Fathers to America in 1620, Britain’s oldest purpose-built cinema and the famous Halfpenny Pier.
Nature-lovers are well catered for on this walk – saltmarshes are the most natural of all the Essex wildlife habitats, and among their rare species are the Essex Emerald moth and sea purslane, a plant
Enjoy stunning views along the Essex Way, including this one (below) of the Royal Hospital School which sits beside the River Stour at Holbrook, across the water from Wrabness
thought extinct in Britain for 50 years before it was rediscovered in Essex in 1987. At Wrabness Nature Reserve you might see owls, yellowhammers, whitethroats, turtle dove, song thrush, nightingales and bullfinches. Wrabness is where you can also get an ‘up close and personal’ view of the exuberant House for Essex (above), designed by FAT Architecture and Grayson Perry to evoke the tradition of wayside and pilgrimage chapels. Here, specially-commissioned artworks including furnishings, pots and mosaic floors celebrate the story of Perry creation Julie Cope and her life in Essex (for details of holidays there, see p54).
•The Essex Way is marked with a white disc featuring poppies and is the setting for a popular relay race which this year takes place on 2 September. A guidebook is available for free download at www.essexway.org.uk
The mighty River Thames has long been key to making London the city it is today. A vital trading route, it’s played a central role in many of our country’s most historically-important moments, and remains a strategic as well as an increasingly busy location for both commerce and leisure.
The Thames Path National Trail – at one end a narrow rural waterway, at the other, a massive expanse of industry and commerce – runs for 180-plus miles from the river’s source at Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Thames Flood Barrier at Woolwich.
One of the delights of The Thames Path is that, in the city, it offers a choice of walking routes either side of the river – the Tower Bridge to Thames Barrier section, for example, on the south bank route is 10 miles, while the north bank route to Island Gardens is 5.5 miles. The start of the latter skirts St Katharine Docks, ahead of Wapping and the inland water basins of Shadwell and Limehouse (below) before reaching Canary Wharf and the final stretch to Island Gardens, mostly along broad promenades beside modern apartments. In contrast, the south bank route starts with a glimpse of how the Victorian docklands would once have looked, before passing through residential areas on the way to historic Greenwich, the ‘home of time’. Highlights include Rotherhithe, from where the Pilgrim Fathers departed to America in 1620, plus Greenwich itself, where working wharves give an industrial flavour to the area, and decaying warehouses serve as a reminder that London once was the busiest port in the world.
Greenwich to the Thames Barrier is a further 4.5 miles and from here a 10-mile trail extends the walk further east, linking the Thames Path to the London LOOP at Erith, after which these two routes join the Cray Riverway, to the Ness.
•For more information and downloadable guides see www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thames-path
One of the finest Suffolk walks is the Sailor’s Path, which wends its way through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Legend has it that this six-mile leg-stretcher was first trod by the seamen who used to ply their trade along this part of the coast – when their boats got stuck in the Snape Maltings mud at low tide, the sailors would abandon their craft and head back to their Aldeburgh homes on foot. Unfortunately for them, gangs of smugglers also used the path and
The Thames Path offers views of London old and new
would attack anyone suspected of spying on them.
Like many Suffolk walks, the Sailor’s Path forms part of the Suffolk Coast Path, a 50-mile route stretching from Felixstowe to Lowestoft. The Sailor’s Path follows the meandering course of the River Alde, one of the most beautiful estuaries on the east coast, and was reopened in December 2012 after a major restoration and upgrading project. Walking it should take between three and four hours and highlights include Snape Marshes, a vital wildlife
habitat containing reedbeds, wet woodland and marshland where there are freshwater dykes which are home to an otter population and a variety of plants and insects. Another must-see for wildlifelovers is the Snape Warren Nature Reserve. Managed by the RSPB, it provides a habitat for many birds including woodlark, yellowhammer and the elusive nightjar.
•For a guide, search for Sailor’s Path at www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org
Photos: Gill Moon
Classic revival
Whether you’re a sailor or a spectator, there’s something very special about the sight of traditional craft out on the water…
The Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta is a highlight for sailors from across the UK
Thames Traditional Boat Festival
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Thames Traditional Boat Festival claims to be the largest gathering of traditional river craft in Europe. Held at Fawley Meadows in Henley-on-Thames on 20 and 22 July, this celebration of all that’s best in boatbuilding and traditional craftsmanship features a fleet of Dunkirk Little Ships, Her Majesty’s rowbarge Gloriana and amphibious craft, along with Search & Rescue displays and skiff races. •www.tradboatfestival.com
Thames Barge races
Thames sailing barges are synonymous with the East Coast – flat-bottomed barges with a shallow draught and leeboards, these hard-working vessels were perfectly adapted to the shallow waters and narrow rivers of the Thames Estuary. Today there’s little call for them as cargocarriers, but thanks to the hard work of organisations such as the Thames Sailing Barge Trust and a number of dedicated enthusiasts,
The Thames Barge Driving Trust runs events throughout the year to showcase the considerable skills required to pilot unpowered barges.
Commemorating the lightermen who moved freight along the Thames in this way up until the 1930s, barges are propelled by ‘sweeps’ – 20ft-long oars – rowed by two of the crew, whilst a third uses a sweep at the stern to steer the
several of these traditional craft survive. Available for charter, charity work and as training vessels, they remain a common sight along the East Anglian coastline and every year, several compete in a series of races on the local rivers. Dates for the 2018 Barge Match series are:
• 9 June – Medway, based at Queenborough
• 23 June – Pin Mill
• 7 July – Blackwater
barge with the tide. As a further test of their navigational skill, each crew must collect at least one pennant from barges moored along the course.
This year’s Thames Historic Barge Rowing Event takes place on 30 June and covers a seven-mile course between Greenwich Pier and Westminster Bridge.
•www.thamesbargedriving.co.uk
• 21 July – Thames
• 4 August – Swale
• 15 September – Colne
Get out on the water (but not in their way!) for a great view of the action or pick a spot on land and have your camera and binoculars ready – Landguard Point and Shotley Marina on the River Orwell are good locations, along with Brightlingsea on the Colne and Maldon on the River Blackwater.
Aldeburgh Classic Boat Festival
Hosted
by Aldeburgh Yacht Club, this popular Suffolk event goes from strength-to-strength and this year has been extended to include the Dragon Class Classic and Vintage Championship too. The Festival – open to dinghies and dayboats in classes designed before 1965 with the actual boats having been built before 1985 – takes place on 16-17 June, with the Dragon events starting a day earlier and continuing over the weekend. There will be starts for handicap dinghies, Flying Fifteens, Dayboats, Loch Longs, Aldeburgh Lapwings and of course the Dragons. There is free camping and motorhome parking on-site.
•www.aldeburghyc.org.uk
Suffolk Yacht Harbour Classic Regatta
Assummer approaches, the anticipation begins to build for another exciting regatta season. And for those with a passion for the beautiful boats of yesteryear, all sights are on Suffolk Yacht Harbour, which this year is hosting its 17th annual Classic Regatta.
A calendar highlight for classic yacht owners across the UK, Suffolk Yacht Harbour’s Classic Regatta is a great way to begin the season. The weekend event is set to take place on 9 and 10 June this year, and will feature two days of coastal racing in Dovercourt Bay, Harwich Harbour, and the Orwell and Stour estuaries.
SYH Managing Director Jonathan Dyke says: “The regatta enjoys a reputation for being relaxed and providing an opportunity for classic boat owners to come together and enjoy a weekend of sailing. After a day of racing, we often spend Saturday evening socialising with fellow competitors at Haven Ports Yacht Club (HPYC) on-site, followed by a regatta party held on board the HPYC lightship with live music and supper. It is tremendous fun and there is a great spirit to the celebrations.
“Once racing has finished on Sunday, we invite competitors to attend a prizegiving in the Harbour Room, enjoy a cold beer or two and find out more about the services available for classic yachts at Suffolk Yacht Harbour.”
Last year’s Classic Regatta enjoyed beautiful
‘Champagne sailing’ weather with a breeze, brilliant blue skies and more than 50 classic yachts competing.
Suffolk Yacht Harbour’s annual Classic Regatta welcomes boats and yachtsmen of all abilities across fast, slow and Stella classes.
•To find out more and secure your place contact Jonathan Dyke by email at jonathan@syharbour. co.uk or by calling 01473 659465.
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A quiet revolution
One Norfolk firm’s novel new craft is continuing the region’s boatbuilding tradition
Oncethought to be home to the UK’s highest concentration of boatbuilders, East Anglia has traditionally been a base for everyone from small, specialist craftsmen to internationally-recognised production builders, plus all the supporting trades of GRP moulders, stainless steel fabricators, sail-makers and designers.
Those businesses may have dwindled in number these days, but for one local firm the future is looking bright... and pedal-powered.
Norfolk-based Dad’s Boats has been afloat since the 1950s, when David Williams first built a first pedal boat in his teenage years. A single-seater, it was designed as a ‘hands-free’ means of following his remote-controlled yacht, its drive mechanism an old hand drill. ‘The Sieve’, as it was affectionately named, was mothballed when David was called up for National Service; when he returned home two years later, he found it had been cut up for firewood.
Determined to progress his idea, the next generation of pedal boat started to form in David’s mind and this time a more sociable two-seater, The Cyclone, was born. This boat accompanied David and new wife Jean on their honeymoon around the Norfolk Broads in the 1960s, as well on later family holidays there. The Cyclone was also pedalled around the Isle of Wight in the summer of 1968, when David and friend Jeremy Buckland completed the journey in 12.5 hours.
Since then two other designs of pedal boats have been created. Cyclamen, built in the 1980s, was longer and faster but less stable, while Lifecycle, added in 2002, is a design now being developed further through the business named in David’s honour, Dad’s Boats. As Stephen Pitkethly from the family-run firm explains:
“Production has started and The Pedal Boat is finding its way out into the world.”
Hand-made by skilled craftsmen in Norfolk, The Pedal Boat is designed for inland, non-tidal, flat waters. Powered by two people who sit facing each other in the boat, both pedalling in a forward direction, a sophisticated gearbox assembly transmits the power through to the propshaft via chain drives. The person facing the bow steers the vessel with an upright tiller and the seats adjust to each user’s leg length.
Stephen says: “The benefits of using the pedal boat include the fact that it’s good exercise, it’s good for the environment, it’s quiet and sociable. You will be surprised at how easy it is to pedal – with little effort you can travel through the water at a good speed.”
Prices for the ‘deluxe’ model start at £10,600 plus VAT, and the firm is currently working on a cheaper ‘Classic’ model for around £8,000 plus VAT. “Lead time is six to eight weeks,” says Stephen, “and we would always recommend that potential customers come and try The Pedal Boat for themselves – we’ll be at the Horning Boat Show on 5 May, or people can hire from Belaugh Boatyard.”
•www.dadsboats.com
Woolverstone Marina
Creating the ultimate leisure destination
Woolverstone Marina’s luxury lodges accommodate up to eight guests. Facilities include modern open plan living areas, hot tubs and free WiFi
Woolverstone Marina is set in 22 acres of glorious parkland overlooking the picturesque River Orwell. It is part of MDL Marinas, Europe’s leading marina operator, who have 19 sites across the UK.
Last year MDL Marinas opened a new, on-site luxury lodge park, specially designed to extend Woolverstone Marina’s appeal as a destination for both on-water and land leisure pursuits, as well as attracting new visitors seeking a family-friendly retreat.
Kelly Sharman, Woolverstone Marina Manager, says: “The lodges are ideal for those looking for a taste of the outdoors with a touch of luxury. With their clean, modern aesthetic and open plan living space, they provide accommodation for up to eight guests. Some lodges have hot tubs, and all of them have spacious living and dining areas and woodland balconies plus free WiFi, multi-channel TV and the latest appliances.”
The Marina has 235 berths, first-class facilities and an on-site chandlery as well as excellent boatyard facilities for boat repairs or maintenance work. There is storage ashore for over 250 boats and yacht stores and undercover mast storage.
Lifting facilities are available, alongside a wide, easy-access slipway and ample space for car parking and trailer storage. There is also a main
Volvo Penta dealer on-site, and an electronics and engineering specialist, plus a broker, sail and cover maker and camping company.
“Visitors can enjoy a great range of watersport activities, including an RYA-accredited sailing school for both sail and powerboat courses,” adds Kelly. “For those who like to keep their feet firmly on dry land there are beautiful walks and plenty of on-site activities for younger guests, including a children’s play area and many walking and cycling trails that are suitable for all ages. The marina restaurant is a wonderful place to chill too, with stunning views across the water.”
Woolverstone is an excellent base for cruising as well as enjoying the local rivers. Beyond the Orwell and the Stour there are numerous creeks in Walton Backwaters to explore. To the south, the Colne and Blackwater estuaries offer varied sailing, while turning north takes you along the coast to the River Deben, where leisure sailors can cruise upriver past Ramsholt to the pretty town of Woodbridge.
A little further up the coast is the Ore/Alde River, where a fast tide sweeps past Havergate Island, on to picturesque Orford and then to Aldeburgh.
If you’d like to go further afield, Ostend in Belgium is only 92 miles away from Woolverstone, whilst Holland and France are also within easy reach.
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Amazing Grace
Stacey Belbin and her launch have worked the West Mersea waters for seven years
There’s no such thing as a ‘bad day at the office’ for Stacey Belbin, owner of the Lady Grace launch at West Mersea. People, wildlife, the water and weather all combine to make hers a life filled with variety and contentment.
It was, perhaps, inevitable that Stacey would seek out a living on the water. A fisherman’s daughter, she says: “I skipped nursery and preschool, and only when I had to go to school did my time on the water limit me to just weekends, evenings and school holidays. Looking through my baby books, I read how when I was learning to walk I would judge when the next wave would hit the boat before I took my next steps.”
A teenage Stacey submerged herself in study, and after leaving school she worked in finance for just over six years. “Not the most natural and obvious career based on my childhood growing up on the water and being outdoors,” she admits. But meeting her ‘first boyfriend and distraction from work’ at the age of 18, Stacey says she realised ‘life is for living and not just for working all the time’ and before she and Scott had a house or got married, they decided to buy a boat, taking people out rod and line fishing. “We used to run the boat together at weekends but as my career in the finance world progressed my
weekends were spent occupied with work much of the time,” she says. “Once our weekend fishing business started to establish itself, we had more frequent and experienced anglers on board who didn’t need my help crewing, baiting up and casting out, so I became a little surplus to requirement. I decided I wanted my own little ‘toy’ to play with at the weekends and let Scott continue running the fishing business on his own. There’s not enough room for two skippers on one boat – it’s a bit like having too many chefs in a kitchen. So we spent a long time searching for the right little passengercarrying vessel for my trips. We wanted something substantial enough to take the poor weather but not too big that I couldn’t operate on low tide.
“After much searching we came across Lady Grace – at the time she was unnamed and rotting under a tarpaulin in someone’s garden. We spent most of the summer before and after work on her, gutting her back to the bare hull, grinding off the cuddy, building new seats, new decks, new gunwales, new engine box, new console, new engine – everything. Lady Grace was stripped and rebuilt completely to make her what she is now: perfect!”
Stacey started off by running Lady Grace at weekends while still maintaining her day job, then in her second year she took unpaid time off work to run the boat during the school holidays. “In year three, after a health scare with my heart and being fitted with a pacemaker, I decided that every day should be lived like it’s your last,” she says. “That’s when I decided to take the plunge and give up my day job.”
Never one to look back, Stacey says: “I now work in the best office in the world every day. When I started up Lady Grace she was just a hobby that paid for itself, now she is my sole income. When I started I just used to run 20-minute trips round the harbour and ferry people in and out to their boats, but
giving up my day job in probably the worst possible year – it was bitterly cold up until July – was when I started to develop the business most. With all the spare time on my hands, sitting waiting hopefully for passengers whilst also worrying how I was going to make my next mortgage payment, I could think about what other things I’d like to offer on Lady Grace. I started coming up with ideas like pirate parties for children’s birthdays, hiding chocolate coins as treasure amongst the creeks, tying the bags of coins to other boats (with their permission of course!). The children dress as pirates and come on a proper treasure hunt and they love it. I do a similar Easter egg hunt, as well as a Christmas chocolate reindeer hunt too. Then parents started complaining that the children had all the fun and there wasn’t anything for them to do, so I started offering my sunset boat trips – they book the whole boat, bring along a picnic and we moor up the quiet, secluded Salcot Creek to watch the sun go down.”
Making things possible
Stacey reckons the Sunset Picnic trip ranks among her most popular, along with the ferry trip she offers across to Bradwell Chapel. “There are three options for this trip,” she explains. “We can walk to the Chapel very early morning to get there in time to watch the sun rise over it, we can do the same trip in the evening and come back to Mersea at sunset, or I can drop people over in the morning and leave
them to explore all day before picking them back up in the evening. I think it’s enjoyed so much because it’s a real pilgrimage to the Chapel, there’s so much history and wildlife to enjoy, the sounds of birds are accentuated on the early morning trips when there’s little light and it’s just generally a peaceful relaxing walk and a great way to escape the world for three hours or more. I think what people love most about these trips is just how you can ‘zone out’ and forget all your troubles; being by the sea is medicinal and works wonders for your spirit.”
Stacey definitely finds that working Lady Grace raises her own spirits. ”I had a lady once come out with me, just on my general 20-minute trip. Her husband had worked on the water most of his life yet he had never taken her out with him. When she was diagnosed with terminal cancer she made a ‘bucket list’ and on it was to go on the Lady Grace. It really choked me up that something so simple – that most boat owners take for granted – could mean so much to someone in their dying days.
“I have another lad who is now one of my most regular customers. He is deaf, autistic and in a wheelchair. He asked his mother to try and get him on board my boat and after chatting about his requirements, I spoke with the local boatyard and lifeboat crew who agreed to lift him on and off Lady Grace whenever he wanted. His mother told me that when he was younger he used to close his eyes when he went to the park, because he couldn’t hear the birds or walk up and feed the ducks like the other children. But one act of kindness – to make the effort to lift this lad onto my boat – means that he can enjoy his life much more; we have made the impossible possible.”
New streams
Stacey works Lady Grace seven days a week for much of the year. “The only days I don’t work are Christmas Day and roughly 12 days in September when I go away for a holiday to recover from the school holidays,” she says. “And yes, I do spend my entire holiday on a boat!” But always busy, Stacey
has now developed new income streams inspired by her boating business – as a photographer and author.
“When I first started I knew the winter would be a difficult time but knew that the migratory birds and winter visitors would be key to keeping my business ticking along. Yet I didn’t know any of the birds wading amongst the mud or flying overhead – I had spent my life so focused on fishing with my dad, we never had time to learn the birds. So my first plan of action was to learn them for myself before taking passengers out. Trying to drive a boat while looking at birds through binoculars, noting down what colour their bill and legs are and making a mental picture of them, as well as trying to open a bird book and identify them at the same time, is quite some task. So I decided to get myself a camera to take photos of the birds, then I could have a look at the books when I got home to figure out what bird was what. After just a few months I had learnt all my resident and visiting birds, but what I hadn’t realised was just how engrossed I had become with my photographs of them, trying to get closer and more in-depth shots with unusual angles. Not only this, but I had also expanded my photographic subjects to landscapes, sunrises and sunsets – anything that caught my eye.”
Now, customers are snapping up Stacey’s photos to grace the walls of their homes and businesses. “Hotels started asking for prints for their guestrooms, and one pub even had my photographs enlarged and printed onto a wallpaper over four metres long for the bar area,” she says
Stacey’s determination to photograph birds at close quarters taught her a lot – “it turns out they are not just pooping machines, but they do indeed have very unique and quirky characteristics,” she says – and she began to make up little stories about them. With moral support from Scott she started converting the wildlife around her to characters within a story, “and before I knew it I had published my first books.”
Stacey’s books – all have an educational element – are written on the boat whilst she waits for passengers. “I try to capture the smells of the salty
sea air and the sounds of the birds… sometimes I struggle to find the right descriptive words so I just sit with my eyes closed to reduce distractions and listen until the relevant word comes to mind,” she explains.
Her next tome, Salty Tales of the Sea is a collection of short stories, whilst Stacey’s most recent publication was inspired by one of her off-thewater passions: baking. “I do love to bake – mainly sweet things, cakes and desserts – and make up new interesting recipes of my own, to then trial on my husband. All my successful recipes that have passed his testing stage are in Graceful Goodies, which I published before Christmas,” she says.
Working together
The Lady Grace works the waters of West Mersea alongside the launch service run by the local Yacht Club. “We work well together on the water,” Stacey says. “I offer assistance when they over-run, help out when their launches break down, run a late night ferry service to visiting yachtsmen and have recently trained the new launch drivers in their duties, assisting with moorings, etc.”
But despite all her success, Stacey still finds the ‘stereotyping of being a female skipper’ one of her biggest challenges. “I am frequently asked if I know how to drive the boat – just because I am a woman,” she says. “Now, if someone asks me this question once they have got on board, I tell them that this is
Lady Grace Number 10, as the previous nine either sank or crashed and had tragic endings. You should see their faces drop, too late – I’m already pulling away from the jetty so they can’t jump off! It’s not until we return to the jetty and I moor her up perfectly that they realise I’ve been having them on all the way round and that yes, I do in fact know how to drive a boat. As a female skipper you have to be twice as good as any male skipper to earn respect on the water. A few years back I did the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean course so that I could learn how to navigate by the sun and the stars – so not only do I have 30 years’ experience on the water, but I also have the qualifications and pieces of paper to prove I can do what I do.”
Skippering Lady Grace has given Stacey reason to study for other qualifications too – she’s passionate about sharing her childhood experiences on the water with other children and has worked hard to gain a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge which, she explains: “states that I am not just a safe venue to take children, but that I am also an educational venue. I sat exams for my teaching assistant level 2 diploma, ADHD diploma, Autism Awareness diploma, Dyslexia diploma and my level 1, 2, 3 and 4 British Sign Language diplomas,” Stacey continues.
A new perspective
“The more I learnt about educating children, the more it made me want to learn more about how I could educate them even better, how I could use different techniques to engage with their different learning styles, to get the best out of each and every child on board without excluding anyone because of their disabilities or needs. Since doing these courses I have created my very own curriculum and syllabus personalised for the Lady Grace to educate children about our coastline – its history, geography, wildlife and much more – with fun activities like hauling lobster pots, naming clouds, bird spotting, labelling dried seaweeds, creatures and shells in the ‘stinky box’, along with my very own home-made
dot-to-dots and word searches. I am so pleased to say that I now have over 100 school bookings for this year and I cannot wait to work with the children again – in just one hour you can change their whole perspective and attitude towards nature.”
This summer, Stacey hopes to be out on the water in a new vessel too. “I have just rescued a 16ft double-ended Shetland sailing skiff from the scrap heap and I am giving her a makeover,” she says.
“Her previous owner passed away and she was left rotting in the garden, so I have had new gunwales fitted, I have sanded and I am now in the final stages of painting her before I rig and hope to sail her this season in my spare time. It’s been probably 15-20 years since I have sailed so I am a little rusty… watch out in the evenings for Tiny Tim sailing amongst the creeks!
•For more information on Lady Grace, Stacey’s books and her photography, log on to www.essexboattrips.co.uk. For the launch service for yachtsman call 07791 859624 or VHF channel 72, call sign Lady Grace.
“I
love a good thunderstorm… the rumble across the sky, the crack of lightning lighting up overhead and the torrential downpours, with rain hitting the water with such force that the droplets bounce back up like hailstones hitting a road”
Fast and easily handled • 1 or 2 rowers • coxed option • GRP hull with hardwood trim • ample buoyancy For further details about the New Whitehall Skiff and the popular Smacks Boat call 07745 173908 or email sallyboatsales@btopenworld.com
Brian Kennell.indd 1
Here at Melton Boatyard we pride ourselves on good, honest service. We are down to earth and, in a boating world increasingly full of shiny paint and expensive solutions, refreshingly straightforward. This is a traditional working boatyard, and we are proud of it.
Our 30-berth marina is modestly priced and our floating berths stay full all summer, although we can usually accommodate short-term requests by moving our own small fleet to free up a berth. Long-standing customers become our friends and many have been here for years. Customers tell us they appreciate our friendly service, relaxed attitude and open approach.
We are able to store 100 boats ashore and maintain a few swinging moorings and mud berths upon request.
Rooms with a view
Nothing beats messing about on the water – but a holiday or overnight stay nearby comes close!
Busy or laid-back, on-board or by the water’s edge… you name it, you’ll find it all in a holiday on the East Coast and its estuaries. When it comes to choosing a base for your next break the options are endless – we’ve found a few to help get you in the holiday mood…
New for 2018, the Woolverstone Lodge Park offers luxury accommodation in a woodland setting, with exquisite attention to detail inside and a wealth of wildlife and walks right on the doorstep.
A collection of two, three and four-bedroom lodges specially designed to extend Woolverstone Marina’s appeal as a destination for activities both on and off the water, the Park provides a unique
environment in which couples, friends and families can unwind in style.
The spacious open plan accommodation in each lodge includes WiFi and a flatscreen TV with Freeview/DVD for connectivity and entertainment, while the contemporary kitchen has a microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and washing machine to make every stay hassle-free.
Double doors lead to a balcony that offers a link to the outdoors and comes complete with a barbecue, while additional attractions include, in some lodges, a private hot tub. If you’re holidaying with little ones, travel cots and highchairs can be provided at no additional charge. And with some lodges accepting dogs too, no-one needs to miss out on the holiday fun.
•www.woolverstonemarina.co.uk
The Shipwreck Loft features seven individual rooms overlooking Shotley Marina at the confluence of the Rivers Orwell and Stour. Expect fascinating views of the shipping action at Felixstowe from the windows of your room or tasteful balcony, and watch the comings and goings of a vibrant marina and estuary.
Available on a bed and breakfast basis, all rooms have king-sized beds and contemporary en-suite bathrooms with modern fittings, paying attention to details such as condensation-free mirrors. Coffee and
Woolverstone Lodge Park
tea-making facilities are provided in each room (top, centre) – all of which are on the first floor, accessed by a flight of stairs only – along with television and WiFi. The popular Shipwreck Bar & Restaurant is conveniently close, too.
Prices range from £90 for one night per couple to £80 for one night for single occupancy, with discounts for bookings of a longer duration. •www.shipwreckloft.co.uk
For inside space that’s as stunning as the outside views, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more mind-blowing than Living Architecture’s River Stourside property, A House for Essex (lower right). A collaboration between FAT Architecture and artist Grayson Perry, the house in Wrabness is home to specially-commissioned works exploring the unique qualities of Essex.
Full of eccentricities, the interior features a number of Perry’s hand-made ceramic pots and tapestries depicting the fictional life of Julie Cope, an ‘Essex Everywoman’. Visitors pass through a series of unfolding spaces before entering the ‘chapel’ (top right), concealed behind two ‘hidden’ doors and organised around a striking decorative
object – part medieval rood screen, part baroque façade – that frames a ceramic statue of Julie herself. Upstairs the two bedrooms – with views to east and west – have walk-through cupboards that lead to internal balconies overlooking the chapel space.
The exterior, clad in more than 1,900 green and white ceramic tiles, are cast from originals made by Perry, depicting Julie as mother and icon, along with symbols associated with her life. Perry describes the design of the house as “bonkers yet dignified” and says: “I hope the people who stay in the House for Essex find it playful yet monumental, cosy and maybe slightly disturbing. ”
A House for Essex is available to rent on a short-term holiday basis, and can sleep up to four people in two bedrooms. Two or three-night stays are allocated by public ballot and prices range from £870 - £1850 depending on the duration and dates. Alternatively, enjoy 360-degree views of the sea
Beds on Board
Woolverstone Lodge Park
Woolverstone Lodge Park
The Shipwreck Loft
The Old Fisherman’s Hut
and landscape from The Dune House, another of Living Architecture’s holiday properties. Located close to the picturesque village of Thorpeness, on the very edge of the Suffolk coast, this five-bedroom property (pictured on p53)is nestled among rolling dunes. Step from the living room directly onto the beach, or experience extraordinary panoramic views over the sea from the upper floor terraces, bedrooms and bathrooms.
•www.living-architecture.co.uk
The Little Ship Club has five cabins at its Thamesside HQ in the heart of London, and they are cabins in the true sense of the word. Each compact room is reminiscent of a classic yacht cabin and has a pair of bunk beds, a desk and wardrobe, a washbasin and a shower, while a shared WC is in the corridor close-by.
Complimentary tea and coffee-making facilities
are provided, along with biscuits and a selection of breakfast bars. A full breakfast menu is offered in the Club room, along with the daily papers. The cabins are fully air-conditioned and have high speed WiFi. Access is 24/7 using members’ electronic access cards, and the highly competitive rate makes them a huge perk of membership – £65 a night single, £75 double. There’s £20 off at weekends and if you book four days you’ll get the fifth free.
Annual membership fees for the Little Ship Club vary according to age, location and category, and the club currently offers a two-month trial membership for £75 which would allow booking of the Cabins for overnight accommodation. •www.littleshipclub.co.uk
Members of The Cruising Association enjoy great value accommodation at CA House in Limehouse Basin, and from May to August this year there’s a 20 per cent discount on offer too. The discount means that single occupancy will cost £40 (normally
A House for Essex
A House for Essex
£50) and it’s just £52 (normally £65) for two people – fantastic value for a stay in one of the CA cabins which are all en-suite, the price includes a self-service breakfast of tea, coffee, bread, jams and cereals.
Membership of The Cruising Association costs from £128.50 plus a £15 joining fee, and five- or 10-year discounted memberships are also available at £642.50 and £1285 respectively. The easiest way to apply is online – see the website for a downloadable Membership Application form. •www.theca.org.uk
Beds on Board connects guests and owners for luxury stays on boats. A ‘sharing economy’ platform, the business offers guests new accommodation choices in stunning locations around the world and
gives the owners of all types of vessel the chance to make some money from their boats when they’d otherwise be unused.
RYA Yachtmaster and former RNLI crew member Jason Ludlow founded the company with his brother Tim. “In the East Coast area we have over 50 boats in marinas and waterways including a beautiful motorboat next to the historic Chatham dockyard, a Dutch barge with amazing views of the River Stour and a B&B boat on the River Crouch,” says Tim.
“These and many others are less than £40 per person per night, offering amazing value for couples looking to celebrate a special occasion, groups on an activity break and especially families looking for something a little different – the kids just love exploring their own bunk or cabin.”
•www.bedsonboard.com
The architect-owners’ influence is evident everywhere in The Perch (below), set just back from the sands at Southwold. Full of light and with flashes of design brilliance, it’s a two-bedroom holiday home featuring an open plan layout finished off with sophistication.
Boasting superb views across the Common to the townhouses that epitomise Southwold, The Perch is within walking distance, too, of the bustling Blackshore harbour. But the true beauty of this holiday hideaway is its proximity to the sea – take just a few steps across the dunes for an energising dip, or enjoy the sounds of the shore from the first-floor balcony which is positioned at just the right height to make you feel like you’re on the beach. To the rear, steps lead down from a decked area to a seaside-style garden with marsh vistas. •www.sosouthwold.co.uk
Still in Southwold, The Old Fisherman’s Hut (pictured on the previous page) is perfect for a couple wanting a cosy holiday cottage.
Uniquely located on the Blackshore, just a few steps from the River Blyth, it’s a peaceful hideaway and ideal for people-watching. Southwold’s busy harbour is home to a mix of working and leisure craft so there’s always something to see here, and Walberswick is a pleasant stroll away via either the nearby bridge or the town’s famous foot ferry. •www suffolk-secrets.co.uk
Beds on Board
AT YOUR
Entertainment and essentials...
No nav desk is complete without a copy of this essential cruising guide, updated in print in 2016 and online every year. Dating back to 1956 when legendary East Coast sailor Jack Coote produced the first black and white edition, East Coast Rivers retains the title of ‘yachtman’s bible’ even in its 20th issue.
£34.99, Fernhurst Books
The North Sea has shaped the world in myriad ways, forged villains and heroes, and determined the fates of nations. Its beaches also gave birth to the seaside holiday, and generations of artists, poets and writers have been inspired by both its sparkling summer wave-tops and its winter storms. Tom Blass explores all these aspects of the North Sea, and more, in this beautifully researched and utterly riveting read. Telling stories from around the coastline, he’s created an enjoyable armchair voyage of discovery, full of detail and variety.
£9.99, Bloomsbury
Hundreds of sailors have sailed horizontally around the world but only one person has ever sailed it vertically and alone: Adrian Flanagan. Here he tells the story of that remarkable voyage, an epic challenge during which he survived being washed overboard, capsizing and a close encounter with pirates. Gripping from the outset, it’s a tale full of humour and captures perfectly the author’s determination to succeed.
£10,99, Adlard Coles.
Nick Ardley takes us on a reflective journey between the Pools of Rochester and London, passing towns and villages that once gave tan-sailed barges building materials and food for the capital and exploring the marsh, mud and farmsteads along the way. This is the tale of a romantic trip along an ancient sea route, in which the author captures a sense of change on the Medway and the Thames... waters he describes as ‘mystical’.
£18.99, Fonthill Media
LEISURE
Fanatical paddler Mark Rainsley is dedicated to exploring every nook and cranny of the UK’s coast by sea kayak, but says there are many adventures to be had on the Thames, too, where ‘the water is clean, and the banks invariably green’. Follow his expert guidance and find out for yourself.
£19.99, Pesda Press
As every winter or spell of bad weather reminds us, the East Anglian coastline fights a constant battle with the elements. Here, biographer and social historian Stephen Wade tells the often heroic tale of how the communities along the coast here maintain their struggle with the sea, from early Neolithic times to the region’s very own Atlantis: the now-iconic, once thriving town of Dunwich. The story of a lost Norfolk and Suffolk, Wade also tells of his own discovery of the counties that have captivated him.
£12.99, Pen and Sword History
AThere’s a certain timelessness about being close to the coast, and it’s captured perfectly in this ‘slow’ guide to Suffolk penned by locally-based author Laurence Mitchell. Capturing the ‘sense of place’ that he loves so much, he’s sought out the places that make Suffok special, suggesting ‘must-see’ sites and how best to travel between them. He also gets to the county’s heart, revealing its myths and traditions and telling the stories of the people who live here, as well as suggesting where to head for a taste of the region’s best produce. A perfect travel companion packed with insider-knowledge, this is far from a conventional guidebook; definitely a tome to keep handy at all times.
£12.99, Bradt Travel Guides
uthor and journalist John McCarthy and Woodbridge-based film-maker Tim Curtis embark on a journey into the Deben’s fascinating past, tracing the entire length of the river from its disputed upper reaches down to the sea at Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey. A river that’s just over 25 miles long, the Deben is full of tranquil beauty and surrounded by ever-changing scenery, and this film explores the influence it’s had on those who have lived by it. Life on the Deben was made in association with the Woodbridge Riverside Trust which aims to conserve the maritime heritage of the river through community involvement. Two years in the making, it’s a movie that looks at some of the Deben’s famous boatbuilding, farming and fishing activities, and is sure to fascinate even those who think they know the river well. Available on DVD from £13.50. •www.lifeonthedeben.com
Adventure for all
Sailing’s an experience everyone can enjoy – as two local charities are proving
Traditional Thames Sailing Barges remain a somewhat common sight along parts of our coastline and within its rivers; whether under sail or at rest, they’re a much-loved reminder of times past when they played a vital role in ferrying cargo between ships and the London wharves, or along the shallow creeks of Essex and Kent.
Today, those that survive ‘work’ the local waters in a different way, their cargoes more likely to be day-trippers or charter groups. But two Essex-based charities are working together to give a very special group of people a life-enhancing experience on the water: holidays for those living with dementia.
Dementia Adventure is dedicated to supporting people to live well with dementia and have a sense of adventure in their lives.
“We believe in the benefits to be gained from regular, active engagement with the natural world… we are committed to growing a charity that will enable people living with dementia and their carers to continue to live full, satisfying lives through
access to the outdoors and nature,” it says. A team of staff and volunteers enable Dementia Adventure to deliver adventures all over the UK and beyond including, since 2013, holidays afloat organised in conjunction with Maldon’s Sea-Change Sailing Trust, a charity that aims to make an impact on the lives of those who are disabled, disadvantaged and socially excluded.
A spokesman from Dementia Adventure explains: “We have witnessed first-hand for years how much benefit people with dementia and their carers can derive from joining a group sailing trip – even if they have never sailed before.
“When the Sea-Change Sailing Trust offered to host our groups on board back in 2013 we jumped at the chance, and have since run eight successful voyages with them. Once on board, the group become active members of the crew, and we aim to help everyone to achieve as much as they can during the voyage.”
Sea-Change Sailing Trust supplies all the
necessary safety equipment including lifejackets and waterproofs, and the crew comprises a skipper, first mate and often a third hand, while the group operates in watches to sail the vessel and undertake deck work, helming, chart work/navigation, cooking and cleaning.
“The feeling of camaraderie which develops naturally on a trip like this one can be brilliant, life-affirming and with long-lasting benefit,” says Dementia Adventure’s spokesman, while a member of crew from a 2014 trip adds: “All the people living with dementia who joined us showed improvement in coordination, speech, appetite and sleep patterns. Everybody benefits from positive stimulation, gentle exercise, being outside in nature, eating good food and being in good company – people living with dementia are absolutely no different!”
This year’s five-day Dementia Adventure holiday takes place on board SB Reminder from 27-31 August and sets sail from Maldon for a voyage that should include time in the Walton Backwaters, Pin Mill on the River Orwell, Brightlingsea and Mersesa Island.
•For more details of the trip and the two charities making it possible, log on to www.dementiaadventure.co.uk and www.seachangesailingtrust.org.uk
Situated at the mouth of the River Blackwater, Essex, TSL’s natural marina provides yacht moorings, boat & mast lifts, winter storage and local access to associated services. Great for sailing too!
Benefits include;
Hardstanding area
Access to our new and improved maintenance posts
Access to water and electricity
Located just 15 minutes from the A12
Coded Toilet and shower block for customer use only
Private parking
Recycling, rubbish and chemical wash out facilities
The Nancy Blackett and Arthur Ransome’s East Coast
Last year saw the 50th anniversary of Arthur Ransome’s death, and 80 years since the publication of his book, ‘We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea’. Peter Willis explains how the author’s legacy continues to be preserved through his historic yacht
Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett is a familiar sight sailing on the Orwell – the same river Ransome himself sailed her in the 1930s. Not only did he sail her here – he also put her, the river itself, and Pin Mill in particular into one of the best of his Swallows and Amazons books, We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea.
And, amazingly, you too can sail this historic yacht, thanks to the Nancy Blackett Trust which preserves and maintains her in order to keep her sailing.
The story of Nancy Blackett began in 1935 when Arthur Ransome and his Russian-born wife Evgenia moved here in search of some sea sailing after years of dinghies in the Lake District. They very much
did mean to go to sea, and Arthur promptly began looking for a boat to sail. He found one in Poole Harbour, renamed her Nancy Blackett after the heroine of Swallows and Amazons, and sailed her back to Pin Mill, through some atrocious weather.
It all served to inspire the book, in which Nancy Blackett appears as the Goblin, the “little white cutter with red sails” that we meet right at the beginning, coming up the river towards Pin Mill. Her skipper, Jim Brading, is planning to have ‘breakfast’ (it’s evening) at the Butt and Oyster. The four children, the ‘Swallows’, who somehow end up having to sail the Goblin to Holland by themselves, are staying, with their mother and younger sister, at Alma Cottage, run by Miss Powell, next door.
Nancy Blackett’s presence on the river now is the result of her own real-life adventure story. She was found in the 1980s, lying near-derelict in Scarborough Harbour, by a local man Mike Rines, who persuaded her owner to sell her, loaded her onto a lorry and brought her to Fox’s boatyard to be restored. Later on, in 1997 the Nancy Blackett Trust was set up to purchase and preserve her, and make her available for anyone to sail. Volunteer skippers sail her safely, and members of the Trust of nearly all ages, and all levels of sailing skill – including none –get to sail her, for short trips on the River, and longer voyages, sleeping aboard.
She’s also inspired renewed interest in Ransome’s connection with this area where he set two books (the other one is Secret Water). There are now Ransome-related information boards around the area, and an Arthur Ransome Trail, as part of the Stour and Orwell path, along the river, following the course of the Goblin’s sail down the Orwell in Chapter Four of We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, from Pin Mill to the Bristol Arms at Shotley, In fact the whole area has now come to be known as Arthur Ransome’s East Coast.
Last summer Nancy sailed to Holland (right), as
Nancy Blackett is 28ft 6in long, plus the 10ft bowsprit. She’s been painstakingly restored to make sure she is just as Ransome would have known her, and as the Goblin is described in the book:
“I say, just look down,” said Titty. They looked down into the cabin of the little ship, at blue mattresses on bunks on either side, at a little table with a chart tied down on it with string… a little white sink opposite the tiny galley where a saucepan of water was simmering on one of the two burners of a little cooking stove.
She has various open days throughout the summer, at Woolverstone and elsewhere, so come and see her and find out more about how this humble Hillyard 7-tonner became one of the most famous boats in fiction. And if you’d like to sail her yourself, just join the Nancy Blackett Trust; it’s not expensive, and you can book a day-sail or a longer passage. •You’ll find more details on the website www.nancyblackett.org, or call 01394 387907.
the Goblin did in We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, and spent eight weeks there, giving over 30 members the chance to explore the Dutch waterways. This year her sailing plans include voyages both up and down our East Coast, to Lowestoft and the Broads, and down to Chatham and up the Thames.
Respected sailor and writer Peter Willis will be forever known as founder and President of the Nancy Blackett Trust, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. His book Good Little Ship explores the themes of Ransome’s rite-of-passage novel We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, and how it came to be written. Part maritime history, part literary criticism – and a joyous homage throughout – it’s an impeccably-researched tale of the life, near-death, rescue and restoration of the Nancy Blackett and a thoroughly engrossing read, whether you’re a lifelong lover of Ransome’s works, or only just discovering them for the first time. Photographs add life to the story, while Ransome’s drawings and own account of a voyage in her – as well as brief details of his other boats – mean this is a must-have for lovers of both boats and literature. Good Little Ship is published in paperback by Lodestar Books, £14.
•www.nancyblackett.org
NANCY BLACKETT
Owned by the author of Swallows and Amazons
The real-life Goblin from ‘We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea’ Rescued, restored and now preserved and maintained by the Nancy Blackett Trust
Your water taxi awaits
Enjoy a ferry ride this summer – there are plenty to choose from along our coastline
The rivers and estuaries along the East Coast mean that an age-old form of transport remains vital even today. Our region is home to a number of ferry services – some motorised, some very much as they’ve always been: powered by sheer strength and determination.
Here we suggest a few you might like to try this summer…
There’s a new boat in service on the historic passenger ferry that runs between Southwold and Walberswick. The tradition of a ferry across the River Blyth dates back to 1236, and last year the family that has run the crossing service for five generations launched its first new vessel in 20 years: Boy Charlie, built at the International Boat Building Training College in Lowestoft. The Southwold-Walberswick Ferry runs from 10am until 5pm at weekends until 26 May, then daily until 30 September. •www.walberswickferry.com
The Rivers Stour and Orwell create a natural boundary between the towns of Harwich in Essex and Shotley and Felixstowe in Suffolk. Shuttling between the three is the Harwich Harbour Ferry, carrying up to 58 passengers across a waterway that’s busy with shipping traffic. The Harwich Harbour Ferry operates until 28 October, and its owners also offer 90-minute seal-watching trips to the National Nature Reserve at Hamford Water. •www.harwichharbourferry.com
A picture of elegance, MV Terrier runs the length of Lake Lothing, transporting passengers in style between Oulton Broad – the gateway to the Broads National Park – and the seaside town of Lowestoft. The Lowestoft Ferry operates every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until
the end of September, and seven days a week during school holidays.
•www.lowestoftferry.co.uk
Dating back to the 16th century, Butley Ferry is one of the oldest in the UK. The volunteer ferrymen of the Alde & Ore Association row cyclists and walkers across Butley Creek from Easter until the last Sunday in October on weekends and Bank Holidays, weather permitting.
•www.aldeandore.org
A custom-built foot ferry provides an important link between the communities of Brightlingsea, Point Clear and East Mersea, as well as offering harbour, nature and pub lunch cruises to Wivenhoe. •www.brightlingseaharbour.org
The Bawdsey Ferry doubles up as a water taxi for boat owners needing transport to yachts moored on the River Deben. The historic ferry runs across the Deben between Bawdsey and Felixstowe Ferry, a hamlet popular for its welcoming pub, friendly sailing club and selection of cafes and fishmongers. The service runs from Easter until October and is an optional part of the Suffolk Coast Path and Regional Cycle Route.
•www.bawdseyferry.co.uk
Afamiliar sight to those who use the East Coast regularly, Essex Police Marine Unit is charged with keeping our coastline, estuaries, craft and equipment safe. Based in Station Road, Burnham, the unit is responsible for all tidal waters under British jurisdiction and within the Essex Police area – that’s around 350 square miles from the furthest point in Mistley near to Manningtree to just past the Dartford Crossing on the River Thames, plus 12 miles out in the North Sea.
Officers patrol in two vessels – the Alert IV which is a 42ft Halmatic launch capable of 25kts and has a range of 350 miles, and Sentinel which is a 24ft Halmatic Rib capable of doing 45kts – their mission: to carry out ‘stop’ checks and gather intelligence.
“Patrols go out most days of the year to detect crime on the water and deal with safety issues regarding leisure and commercial craft; they also enforce local byelaws, support the successful prosecution of owners operating craft at excess speed or in a dangerous manner, intercept drugs, escort warships, work with outside agencies to tackle terrorism and organised crime, enforce event safety zones and attend medical emergencies,” says S/PC Toby Speller.
“Many vessels move between the mainland and continental Europe, with minimal legislation in place to regulate their movements. Without
our presence it would be fair to say that the small ports within our area would be totally un-policed border crossing points.”
The Unit is responsible for the gathering of intelligence from the maritime community – which effectively means the owners and users all of pleasure craft such as yachts and powered vessels that are found within the marinas, harbours and waterways of Essex. “Officers visit 80-plus marinas where they liaise with Harbour Masters and those involved in the day-to-day running of the facilities, as well as the many thousands of people who use the waters in and around the region,” explains S/PC Speller.
“In addition to the pleasure craft, we also have very close ties with smaller commercial vessels such as the pilot boats, fishermen and offshore wind-farm workers.”
Currently, organised crime, people-smuggling and marine-related theft are the major issues dealt with by the Unit. “As well as officers making regular patrols and being out the water, the website www.stolenboats.org.uk is supported by Essex Police in a bid to combat boat and engine thefts in particular. Owners can register their boats and marine equipment and prospective buyers can check the site in order to make sure a boat or item they want to buy is not stolen,” explains S/PC Speller.
Watching our waters
Essex Police Marine Unit is a force to be reckoned with…
. Another main element of the Unit’s work is its Marine Watch scheme. The equivalent of Neighbourhood Watch but on water, it offers support and reassurance to those who use the waterways in and around the region, as well as helping to prevent and reduce marine crime and improve officers’ relationships with people in the marine community.
Further-reaching, Project Kraken is a National Crime Agency, Police and Border Force initiative to increase vigilance along the UK’s coastline and maritime environment, a joint effort to combat maritime threats by encouraging members of the public to report anything that they believe to be suspicious.
“There are nearly 20,000 miles of coastline, and a complex network of estuaries, navigable rivers, coves, inlets, ports and harbours, all of which can be exploited by serious criminals and terrorists,” says S/PC Speller.
“We want the public to report any unusual or suspicious behaviour in these and other maritime environments. No matter how trivial it may seem, if it looks out of the ordinary, we want to know about it.”
Officers from the NCA, Border Force and police carry out various activities around the country,
visiting local maritime communities and attending events to let the public know what to look out for and how they can help.
“The help we receive from the public and our partners gives us greater intelligence on how serious criminals and terrorists exploit the coast and waterways,” says S/PC Speller. “We can use this to pursue and disrupt them, and help the general maritime community deal effectively with threats.”
Examples of what to look for include:
• Vessel crew who show signs of nervousness or a lack of awareness of maritime protocols and customs
• Vessels showing signs of unusual modification or minor damage
• Increased activity at isolated coastal locations or at unusual times of the day
• Attempts to signal to vessels offshore or guide them into an unusual location
• Strange patterns of payment, such as large amounts of cash
• People testing site security or an unusual interest in site structures and wharves
•Contact Essex Police Marine Unit on 01621 782121 or by email at marineu@essex.pnn. police.uk. In an emergency always dial 999.
HARBOUR MARINE SERVICES
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Capturing the East Coast
East Anglia’s flat coastal landscapes are well known for their big skies and amazing light – two factors which make the area a photographers’ delight. Here, local expert Gill Moon shares some of her favourite locations and offers some tips for success
From the salt marshes of Essex, the shingle banks of Suffolk through to the wide sandy beaches of Norfolk, the East Coast has an amazing array of habitats to explore and observe.
Landscape photography provides a great opportunity to spend time outdoors and the search for a compelling image helps focus the attention on all the little details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Whilst many of us may be acquainted with the iconic views of Southwold Pier and the Aldeburgh Scallop, we are perhaps less familiar with the beauty of some of this coast’s quieter locations. I have discovered many in my photographic journey and share some of my Suffolk favourites here.
Shingle Street is a photogenic location that is growing in popularity with photographers. It is renowned for its continually-changing shingle beach, its big skies and amazing light. Unusually for one location, it is ideal for both sunrise and sunset shots due to the shape of the shingle banks, and is best visited at low or half tide. The shell line, which has been a feature of the beach since 2005, runs from the sea to the coastguard cottages and is one of Shingle Street’s most magical features – definitely worth seeking out for a photograph.
Bawdsey has much to recommend it as a photographic location. Bawdsey Quay at the mouth of the Deben is a great place to capture the setting sun. There are always little groups of dinghies on the beach to use in the foreground of your images and the view across the Deben to Felixstowe Ferry is always full of interest.
A little further inland, East Land in Bawdsey is one of my favourite coastal locations. The beach is a continually-changing environment and there are some wonderful shots to be had at low tide across the exposed mudstone to the martello tower beyond.
Butley Creek is home to the RSPB reserve of Boyton Marshes. It is a tranquil place at all times of the year and is especially good for photography in spring when the thrift is in bloom, or in late summer when the salt marsh plants turn a beautiful shade of red. Photography is best at high tide and is particularly good at first light when the sun rises directly opposite the ferry crossing.
Walton Backwaters is a beautifully tranquil place that is best explored from the water. It is a popular anchorage for yachtsmen and a wonderful place to canoe. There are some good photographic opportunities from Stone Point looking back towards the Port of Felixstowe. This is also a great place
Opposite page: Bawdsey Quay at the mouth of the Deben is a great place to capture the setting sun
Left: Renowned for its big skies and amazing light, Shingle Street is best visited at half or low tide.
Below: Butley Creek is tranquil all year, and is especially good for photography in spring or late summer.
Bottom: For action on the water, the East Coast Smack and Barge races offer fantastic opportunities to capture beautiful vessels in competition.
to watch the seals and with a telephoto lens it is possible to get some good shots both in and out of the water.
If you are looking to capture some sailing photography the East Coast Smack and Barge races offer fantastic opportunities to capture some beautiful vessels in action. The races take place all along the East Coast from the Thames to the Orwell and some of the best locations for capturing the action from the land include Landguard Point or Shotley Marina at the mouth of the Orwell, Brightlingsea on the Colne or Maldon on the River Blackwater.
More information and dates for the various barge races can be found at www.associationofbargemen. org.uk.
Sizewell is most famous for its nuclear power station but don’t let this put you off – it has a lovely beach backed by marram grass and there are always a few fishing boats dotted around. Out to sea are a couple of metal structures which are associated with the power station and are home to colonies of cormorants and kittiwakes. These make good focal points for sunrise shots, especially if framed by the marram grass.
Tips from the professional...
• Plan your trip before you go. If you are heading to a new location look for images on Flickr first to give you an idea of what to expect.
• Check the tide times and see what works with your chosen location.
• Use an app like www.photoephemeris.com which will tell you the direction of the sunrise and sunset in relation to features on the ground.
• Try to shoot in aperture priority as this will give you more control over your images than shooting in automatic mode.
• Think about your composition and try to have something of interest in the foreground, middle and background of your image.
• Try not to place the horizon or your subject in the middle of the frame. Instead, divide your frame into three vertical and horizontal sections and place your horizon in the top or bottom third and your subject on an interesting vertical and horizontal line.
• Try to vary your viewpoint. Getting down low and looking up can often create a more compelling image than one taken straight on at head height.
Gill Moon runs photography tuition workshops on the Suffolk Coast. For more ideas on where to go to take photos on the Suffolk Coast and to download your free guide visit www.gillmoon.com/free-guides.
Landscape Photography tuition on the Suffolk Coast with professional photographer Gill Moon
One to one tuition
Half day and full day workshops for beginners and improvers tailored to meet your specific requirements
Small group workshops
Full day workshops for up to 4 people available throughout the year in various locations along the Suffolk Coast
Photo walks
Fun 3 hour photo walks for up to 6 people in some of Suffolk’s most scenic locations.
Post processing tuition in Lightroom and Photoshop is also available. Find out
Tel: 07920 162319
ON THE WATER
CLUB
Adastral Park SC
Aldeburgh YC
Alexandra YC
All Hallows YC
Ardleigh SC
Beccles Rowing Club
Benfleet YC
Blackwater SC
Blakeney SC
Bradwell Quay YC
Brancaster Staithe SC
Brandy Hole YC
Brightlingsea Coastal Rowing Club
Brightlingsea SC
Brightlingsea PWC Club
Burnham-on-Crouch Coastal Rowing Club
Chelmsford Canoe Club
Clacton Canoe Club
Clacton SC
Colchester Canoe Club
Coldham Hall SC
Colne YC
Crouch YC
Ipswich, Suffolk adastralsailing.org.uk
Aldeburgh, Suffolk aldeburghyc.org.uk
Southend, Essex alexyachtclub.co.uk
Rochester, Kent allhallowsyachtclub.net
Ardleigh, Essex ardleighsc.com
Beccles, Suf folk
becclesrowingclub.co.uk
Canvey Island, Essex benfleetyachtclub.org
Heybridge, Essex blackwatersailingclub.org.uk
Blakeney, Norfolk blakeneysailing.co.uk
Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex
bqyc.org.uk
Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk bssc.net
Hullbridge, Essex brandyhole.com
Brightlingsea, Essex
brightlingsearowing.co.uk
Brightlingsea, Essex sailbrightlingsea.com
Brightlingsea, Essex pwc-essex.co.uk
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
Chelmsford, Essex
boccrc.teamapp.com
chelmsfordcanoeclub.co.uk
Clacton-On-Sea, Essex clactoncanoeclub.co.uk
Clacton-on-Sea, Essex clactonsailingclub.org.uk
Colchester, Essex colchestercanoeclub.co.uk
Surlingham, Norfolk
Brightlingsea, Essex
coldhamhallsailingclub.co.uk
colneyachtclub.org.uk
Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex cyc.org.uk
Cruising Association London theca.org.uk
Dabchicks SC
Deben Canoe Club
Deben Rowing Club
West Mersea, Essex dabchicks.org
Woodbridge, Suffolk
dwsc.org.uk
Woodbridge, Suffolk debenrowingclub.co.uk
ON THE WATER
CLUB
Deben YC
Dereham Canoe Group
East Anglian Cruising Club
East Suffolk Wakeboard & Water Ski Club
Erith YC
Essex YC
Eyott SC
Felixstowe Ferry SC
Fox’s Marina YC
Gt Yarmouth & Gorlestone SC
Gravesend SC
Harlow Blackwater SC
Harwich Town SC
Haven Ports YC
Hickling Broad SC
Hickling Windsurfing Club
Hoo Ness SC
Horning SC
Hostellers SC
Hundred of Hoo SC
Hunstanton SC
Iken Canoe Club
Ipswich Canoe Club
Ipswich Rowing Club
Island YC
King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club
Leigh on Sea SC
LOCATION
Woodbridge, Suffolk debenyachtclub.co.uk
Swanton Morley, Norfolk derehamcanoeing.co.uk
Thurne, Norfolk
Felixstowe, Suffolk
Erith, Kent
Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
ea-cc.org
eswsc.co.uk
erithyachtclub.org.uk
essexyachtclub.co.uk
South Woodham Ferrers, Essex eyottsailingclub.org.uk
All undersized marine organisms shall not be retained on board or be transhipped, landed, transported, stored, sold,
or offered for sale, but shall be returned immediately to the sea.
Photography Credit: Emily Harris
Founded in 1967, Su olk Yacht Harbour is the east coast’s largest independently owned marina o ering a vast array of onsite services and facilities.
Comprising 550 berths and additional swinging moorings, with access at all states of the tide, the marina o ers the ideal stopover whilst cruising along the picturesque rivers and coastal waters of East Anglia.
A marine hub for local and visiting yachtsmen.
• Busy calendar of events and regattas, including the annual Classic Regatta.
• Haven Ports Yacht Club o ers a warm welcome, hearty food and drinks for locals and visitors.
• Maintenance facilities and services for classic and modern yachts, including boat hoists up to 75 tonnes, two well equipped chandleries and newly refurbished workshops.
Credits: Main Photo - Patrick Squire. Below - Gill Moon & Emily Harris.
