EAST COAST RIVERS REPORT. - 2003


It was looking like the event was going to get cancelled the way the weather was shaping up.
But with one boat already on the way down on Friday, I decided to go down and see what it was like.
It was a bit windy and overcast but we set forward with the launchingof Gusto and Maverick.

Gusto was crewed by Trevor and Rachel Ward with their son Sarron and Maverick was with Tony Gurden and Mark Finch.
We set off in good time and made our way down the river and out to Hamford Water.
Once past the eight knot mark we opened up out to Pye End for a radio check.
We were heading out to look at the old forts, which are around eight miles out to sea.
It was getting a bit choppy out there for Gusto so after we saw the prop a few times it was decided to head for calmer waters.
We went up the river Orwell and made for Woolverstone marina where we had lunch and a look in the chandlers for some dry clothes for Sarron who got a bit wet. On leaving we went to pay but were told there was no fee- that was good news, we will visit again I think.
Made our way back for the evening meal that was at the Red Lion pub and had a very nice meal there. Blue Storm had come late in the afternoon but was not able to launch due to the low tide but Mark and Jayne Best and their daughter Helen came for the meal.

Sunday

Khamsin and Blue Storm now joined us and had a run out to Pye for a radio check where it was decided that we would just go up the rivers for the day.
We made our way up the Stour not quite as far as Manningtree and then turned round and made our way back to the Orwell for some lunch at Suffolk yacht harbour. On leaving we also did not have to pay. On some of the quieter bit of the river we opened up to clear the cobwebs out -that was fun but made sure to slow down so as not to upset the yachts. I had Sarron on board for my crew that day and handed him the controls of Maverick for some short blasts down the river. Even my new boat could not keep up with Blue Storm- that’s a nice piece of kit!
Now heading back for the evening meal it was to be at the marina in the bar as the restaurant there is a bit posh. We were joined by Neil and Karen and Mark Finch and Miranda and their two boys for the meal. We had to get three tables together to get us all on- we had a nice meal but it was a bit busy and had to wait for some of them.

Monday

Still only four boats, Maverick Gusto Blue Storm Khamsin 

We set off down river to Pye End for our usual radio check where Gusto decided to just play in Hamford water. The rest of the fleet went on to the Naze pier where we just sat for a while in the calm waters. We tried to get Two Wreckless on the radio and Muddy Waters but with no luck so we phoned them to see what they were up to. They were on the way to Burnham marina so we said we would catch them some other time. As we went to leave Khamsin decided not to start, but Chris soon had her going again and it was off back to pull the boats out. Not a bad weekend shame about the weather- but I think we all had a good time.

Tony Gurden.