Sailing The Blackwater

Up River Ice Breaker - Simon pulls the full monty

2011-01-07T18:33:00.003Z

A light shifty north wind trembled its way across a soft flooding tide as a hardy bunch of older sailing warriors sized up the competition which gathered at the Up River Yacht Club’s annual running of the Chrimbo Ice Breaker.

It is a sad fact that the norm is that the local sailing clubs that are left sailing at this time of the year have no worries about loosing competitors and scheduling big races on the same day as others, but hayho someone slipped up this year and we found ourselves with the opportunity to take part in a race with a fine pedigree and years of history.

With the grey skies and muddy brown water it all looked a bit glum. The wind now NW-NE, 0.5 to 3 knots with little umph in it set the pace.

Ben Harris ‘Phantom’ won the start, sadly for Ben having only sailed a Phantom 4 times had not perfected the boat-rocking twitch that usually worked so well with the wobble lower lip, and lost the lead to Ian and Tina ‘N12’. Ian, a sailing wardrobe of technique and wizardry, having folded himself into the Nat. 12 looked mean and ready to take on Gerry and Liz also sailing a Nat.12. It must be said that the years of sailing experience on the Crouch in the first six boats was truly awesome and not a smile between them. Somewhere behind the river sounds you could just hear that slight raw of untapped encouragement that Andy Biddle would have rung out, terrifying in it limitless supply and crushing any idea of a sharp sailing tactical manoeuvre or even a maybe I could tack. And as Ian and Tina travelled up to the first turning mark in the lead on the flooding tide, Jacko and Simon once more tried to unfathom the ridiculous mess that Jacko had made of rigging the spinnaker, involving the downhaul, jib sheets and pole snodger. Simon, having enjoyed the quick reversal of crewing roles that Jacko throws out with no warning whatsoever, failed to move into the helming position and now finding twenty fingers around one small three mill Dyneema knot in a string attached to the spinnaker downhaul patch/jib sheets and snodger, asked if the wind that now was on the wrong side of the jib meant that a tack was required. Jacko remembered that maybe Andy’s cry of “stuff off” did not quite hit the pitch that Lorna could render “JACKO” in a Jacko senior moment and that Jacko (we feel) is warming to the quiet calm that comes from Simon not being too familiar with sailboat racing and a helm total cockup.

Ian and Tina gently slipped around the now parked support boat as the first mark to be rounded had been hived off by the icepacks in the previous weeks freeze-up conditions with Jacko and Simon close behind. History between Jacko and Ian would indicate that Jacko was about to get taken all over the river and more likely halfway up the sea wall in an attempt to pass down wind against the tide. It could be that Ian has mellowed with the passing of time and Pico sailing. There was no tactical jibe to starboard to test Simon’s spinnaker work and a crash jibe and Jacko passed to leeward in an uncommonly gentlemanly fashion.

Bastard Point

At this point the wind died to1 or less knots as the fleet bunched up off of Fen creek. Ian was the first to set the pace and cross to the south side before the club slipway (a move frowned on by club elders) Gerry and Liz leading the pack toughed it out, hugging to the north bank also to eventually cross. Jacko and Simon with a small lead hugged on the north side (for far too long, according to the watching club elders) but in a shift of the wind, jibed and headed hard to the south bank to re-jibe and prey for a bit more wind. There follow some gamey windward protection work in the leaders of the pack giving Jacko just a chance to coolly put in some space as they passed Brandy Hole.

As the fleet eventually rounded Stow Post to return to the club line to finish it was still race on with Gerry and Liz comfortable in second place, a good space to Ian and Tina in third and Ben fourth, as Jacko headed up and rounded the last corner the tide was ebbing with the wind still horribly light and bang on the nose, but slowly the race went Jacko’s way as he squeezed the leeward south bank putting in the occasional tack to avoid the walking seagulls, to take the bullet.

Ian and Tina taking advantage of a lift passed Gerry and Liz to be second with Gerry and Liz third.
This was a disappointingly light, grey day only lit by the smile in Simon’s face as had pulled the full monty with some excellent mastery of the spinnaker in light airs and Jacko’s odd rigging of the boat.

The full results, when posted
Next race day 9th Jan.

Winter solstice and the throwing in of the towel

2010-12-23T18:21:00.000Z

Grimly harsh cold with 6 to 8 knots buffing 10 from the north and a lovely white coat of freshly laid snow set the scene as the Essex sailing world threw in the towel.
The winter solstice fell two days later and one has to ask why a sailing club would set a 9:00 start with a 10:40 HW? That in itself would write off half a sailboat fleet on a good day, just add minus 8.0 on the wind chill dial as opposed to shut eye and a cuddly woman and it’s end of series, game over.

IOS S.C. webcam

The day looked beautiful from the inside, the sun came out, the gulls drifted by and we looked at the white shiny snow covering the slipway with not one foot print in it and our thoughts went to the results.

With no elapsed or corrected time available it is anyone’s guess as to how the series was won; whether it was well sorted or really close.

Brightlingsea S.C. webcam

Richard sailing a RS700 is the winner scoring 2,1,2, but sailing of a PY of 875, which removes 1 minute 16 seconds off his elapsed time in every hour. But it is Christmas and we should wish him well.

The Fireballers Mark and Nigel scoring 1,3,DNC were 2nd with Martin and Tony 3,2,5, taking 3rd and it looked like the boat to sail if you wanted a boat race with racing tactics and more place changes than you could wave a stick at.

It is with a sense of embarrassment that I write that Jacko and Simon ‘Merlin’ scoring 10,5,4, robbed Alex ‘Blaze’ scoring 5,4,DNC, of 4th place. Alex having beaten Jacko on the two occasions that they met and it seems most unfair on Alex, but sailing a Blaze of a PY of 1046, and talking to Jacko on the way round the racetrack and holding a straight face, well it is Christmas.

The Chrimbo races start on the 2nd of Jan. at Up River Y.C. at 10:30. This is something to look forward to as I am sure Mr. Little will once more try to fit into his nice, new looking N12 and tack it around Bastard Point without resisting the limerick of Jules Harms about Bells or was it Balls but it always ended late in the day with glassy looking eyes and a slight crushed sobbing sound though a empty beer glass.
The Blackwater Icicle Race hosted this year at Harlow (Blackwater) S.C. takes place on the 9th Jan. 13:30; we pray, but do know that it will not feature Bill’s odd little sound signal. It is a shame that BSC is starts it’s Frostbite series on the same day.

Blackwater S.C. webcam

The questions are will it be nut removable cold, will Brightlingsea Merlin fleet feature up the river, is Maylandsea By really not going to see a Frostbite series, will Batty find a crew, will Ron use his toe straps, will Jacko get back into his wet suit post Chrimbo nosh.
Now read on dot dot dot.
B.S.C. witer results

We should be so lucky, wind chill –3.1 on the Essex Riviera

2010-12-07T16:44:00.001Z

As luck would have it Sunday dawned grey and only -3.1 on the wind chill factor with 12 knots from the NW.
The Blackwater dinghy fleet was diminished to 5 boats but all were quite perky and with a sense of keenness hit the start line bang on as the flag fell.
It was Martin and Tony ‘Fireball’ that won the start with a nippy hoisting of the kite and a splurge of speed on the short hop to the Ballast Hole turning mark. Jacko and Simon should have being doing something like the same, had it not been for Jacko having a senior moment in rigging the kite, not dissimilar to a women’s shoulder strap handbag resulting in signs of a Jacko hissy fit as he lobbed the pointing stick to Simon. Simon now in his fifth week of sailing showed “cool” as Jacko made two attempts to sort the mess by which time Martin and Tony had taken to the horizon pursued by Ben sailing a Blaze.
In the time it takes the fleet to reach South Doubles navigation buoy the leading foiling moth was half way to home with the RS flying bedstead not far behind. It is sad that we find ourselves in a fleet of one offs with the business of sailboat racing being the short straw and the racing being more about error against the clock.

Martin and Tony now hard on the wind with Jacko and Simon making and losing time as the shifty wind played against the well-practised race tactics, and it was race on. As the three boats rounded Mill beach turning mark for a tight fetch up Colliers Reach there was barely six-boat lengths separation.
Martin with his lovely big round Fireball spinnaker was gagging to break it out and put in some space, and as the wind backed slightly went for the hoist. Jacko and Simon, teeth gritted and head out the boat, pushed the bow down and preyed to Mecca as they crept over to the windward side. But all this was to Ben’s favour as Jacko and Ben rounded Nav. mark Lock and Boundary with Martin now out the back door and the whites of Jacko’s eyeball well visible, Ben munched on the PY numbers to be 3rd in the race of fortune.

It was a stunning day to be out on the river with the sight of the wading birds circling over Maylandsea Bay and the empty mooring buoys twirling round the tidal flow. The clear cold winters air reward enough for the early rise.

No Racing took place at the Maylandsea Bay winter Series as it was postponed till the 19th
Maylandsea Bay winter series Results

Blackwater S.C. Results (and as I under stand it) after 3 races with 1 discard.
1st    Richard Foulds     RS700       3 points
2nd Mark & Nigel       Fireball     4 points
3rd   Martin & Tony     Fireball     5 points
4th   Alex                     Blaze        9 points

Next race day Nov. 19th

Race Day 2 - Port raft bowled out by Fireballs

2010-11-22T19:01:00.002Z

The day started very grey and a tad nippy, with the wind northeast 10 to 15 knots. This is a pleasant change to the 15 to 25 knots and may well be the on set of winter winds.

For the third start in a row the Fireball fleet, sailing on starboard tack hard on the wind, parallel to the start line took on the flying bedstead fleet as they bore off from a gathering above the port tack lay line.
This works a bit like tenpin bowling but accompanied by panoramic sound bite of panic and mayhem, all a bit gamey, and carried out in the best of possible taste; unless of course you’re a tad late in the queue, and left to avoid the forest of long black tiller extensions shaking and waving in the wind.
I am of the option that seeming how the first mark to be rounded can be laid without a tack on port from the wind ward end of the start line, that this is all about pushing the edges and making as much fun out of what would other wise be boring start with only one place to be on the line.

The race was won by a RS700 way out on his own somewhere and I would think he had a jolly good sail around the cans.
The race from what I could see was to be had in the Fireballs with places changing and gains being made from navigation error, all eyeball to eyeball racing and Martin and Tony crossing the finish approx 8 second ahead of Mark and Nigel to be 2nd and 3rd.
There was a fleet of three Blazes, the biggest class in the race, again with place changes and Alex coming out the leading Blaze in 4th place.
Jacko and Simon are heads in the boat and working to build Simons boat handling skills. As new to sailing and Jacko’s new front end man Simon is making fast progress and was seen to be putting some good kite work together and it will not be long before Jacko sleeps down the runs once more and again relies totally on the front end man as a Minder as well as a crew. They have (I think) scored a 10th and 5th.

We have still not quite got full knowledge of the lay of the land at this new venue. It is a splendid sailing club sitting at the top of the river and has a fine view over Northy Island with Osea Island in the distance.

With a winter fleet of 14 assorted boats it has a roomy feel about it. The river is almost empty of cruisers now and there was no sign of Thames Barges or the Maldon excursion boat tripper, so I guess it is the best of times to be out on the river sailing. I miss the sounds of the wading birds but have seen the flocks glinting in the skies over Maylandsea Bay on the horizon and miss sailing out past Lawling point and Mundon Spit.

The results have not been posted as yet but I have had sight of the result sheets and it is not clear what the format is for the series but it should be 2 races sailed with no discard, although two more races have been sailed.
The result after 2 races (as I understand it)
1st    R Foulds           RS700      3 points
2nd    Mark & Nigel      Fireball    4 points
3rd    Martin & Tony     Fireball    5 points

Maylandsea Bay Winter Series Results

Next Race Day Dec. 5th

From ‘A Day in the Life’ with The Head Cam

2010-11-16T18:30:00.006Z

Some time ago we started playing with the Head Cam. It did not start well as the wind chill was subzero and ate the battery life so quickly that it was dead before the starting signal fell.

Having worked out that with the batteries left hanging in a bag on the changing room radiator till the last moment before launching we could get 40 minutes before battery death; the front-end girl lasted 20 minutes longer.

It has come to pass that we have a shed load of pixels, mostly very boring but there are some fun bits, and hopefully we can edit out the embarrassing bits and make L’s gybes look brill and share them out.

This clip shows Lorna and Jacko recovering from a rubbish start as leading boat, Dean and Rob ‘Hornet’ coming up to round race mark Jetty, sadly losing out to Lorna’s wicked handling of the kite on this tight three sailed reach to race mark 4.

Q&A Lorna and Jacko did take the bullet in this race. Yes, Jacko is always as considerate and helpful whilst racing. Yes, Jacko was fully strapped out with Lorna on this reach. No, the cam shot makes it look like the boats on its ear hole, but actually it’s dead flat. “Flashing” refers to the head cam ‘on light’ and nothing to do with Jacko’s personal life. Lorna said, “eat my shorts” and is a result of string friction and pleasure.

All complaints about the posting should be addressed to shorts@blondandbeutiful.net
All cam shot footage are rights reserved.

Thanks to Jan Nuttall for the Photo

Every thing comes to change

2010-11-08T20:16:00.002Z

It is within a state of disappointment that I scribble the following.
Race team Jacko-Lorna are no more. The blond by nature Essex girl has closeted her rubber suit, hung up the sailing boots and kissed goodbye to the circus.
This followed a poor set of results and a miserable performance at the nationals. The pairing had not sailed enough races this summer to stay race sharp and on the pace. Lorna has mooted that come May 2011 having completed teacher training (a shed load of written work) that she may well look to return to sailing. For Jacko this was serious bad news and opened the door to spending more time in the Slice of Bread, or the Dog and Duck. It had been the plan to move to the Blackwater S.C. for the winter sailing series. This is a tough decision as the sounds of the flocks of wading birds and sight of basking seals add to the mystique of sailing in Lawling Creek and Maylandsea Bay.

Simon the new beef cake crew

With the need for a new crew Jacko placed an advertisement at BSC and has taken up the challenge of a newbie crew, one Mr. Simon Foote. Simon is new to sailing having completed three days as a guinea pig for the chaps doing a sailing instructors course at BSC, seems to have caught the sailing bug and shows great keenness.
Jacko and Simon having now sailed on three occasions and completed four races without any real trauma in some demanding conditions are looking fairly relaxed!
This Sunday gone saw the first day of winter racing at BSC; it was supported by a small but reasonable fleet of mixed boats sailing in a handicap fleet. There were two Fireballs but as for the rest it was one offs mostly of the flying bedsteads variety. The first leg was short and to windward followed by a long reach out into the open river to round south doubles. There was quite a high dropout rate as the squalls picked off the unprepared. The course was 6.5 miles and spread over a large area making it hard to relay what happed to whom, but it was a full on race day in a shifting wind. No results have been posted at this time of writing.

Lorna & Laura

A large dark cloud passed to the north delivering cubic whammies down the course and stretching the sail trimming to the max as an unscheduled second race following the advertised race and it is not clear how that works in the recorded results at this time.

Jacko was heard to say that he had had some exiting moments, a little to exiting at times. Maybe this is on account that Jacko has reached his 46th year again and finding him self with a young male beef cake crew may regenerate and reopen the ‘Jacko Jam Pot’ or will Simon work out that sailing with Jacko is just to dangerous to do as a six a side football team player.

Al Wigg & Jacko

Jacko has been well looked after by Lorna who showed great patience as Jacko weighed up the options of Little Beers or Wet suited sailing and is sadly missed, as she appeared to brighten up the day for more than just Jacko. As did Al Wiggy, who is not obtainable for comment at this time, and we should not forget Laura another brill front end winning crew.

The Maylandsea Bay winter series is still alive and well with 18 boats sailing on day one, again no results posted at this time but I wish them well.
Mayland Bay winter series results

Next Race Day 21st November

Summer; The Backwater “time flies by”

2010-07-09T19:10:00.000+01:00

Poor tides and a lack of enthusiasm have taken a huge chunk out of the sailing activities in Maylandsea Bay.

Each of the sailing venues on the Blackwater is unique and have their own special attraction not leaset the characters to be found sailing at them. That’s what makes the open meetings such a challenge and fun to take part in, but sadly the opens are not well supported.

For myself a rash of unnecessaries and poor weather has rendered a miserable run of DNS's and one 6th in the Blackwater S.C. Osea Challenge, which as it turned out had nought to do with Osea Island, but it was a testing sail at one of the finest venues on the Blackwater.

The summer membership at Brightlingsea has not yet happened and the word on the slip is that fleet is upwardly mobile with it’s tail up and looking to hang on to it’s trophies and I look forward to another rendering of Mrs & Mr Gobbies sailing rules as we know it.

There is a chance that the lack of time on the water, a splendid eating holiday and much encouragement from the local wine merchant has brought me to a point where the Bottle of Red will be coming my way. As apposed to racing hard, race practice, early nights and believe that we are on a roll and in the money. It really worked and the fat man suit (Casablanca) fits really well.

Now read on dit dit dit

Frostbite! Disappointingly warm southwest breeze on final day

2010-03-23T19:54:00.001Z

The final two races were sailed on a post lunch tide in conditions that could only be said to be disappointingly warm with a soft southwest breeze, not really in keeping with the splendid nut removing northerlies that have been rattling through the dinghy park and keeping the winter sailor revved up.

The big surprise of the day was the return of Keith Fedi sailing his newer all singing, dancing Finn.

For Jacko this was a goodly sight to see as more than a few seconds rarely separates the two, with the racing never being over till the last windward leg. It is usually down to the last race winner taking the series title. This battle has gone on for many years.

It was David and Ron, ‘Fireball’ narrowly getting away with an early running down the start line on a port tack start but heading up with speed and blasted off on the dropping of the start flag. Dean, now sailing with Phil, (Mayland crew refugee) and with Malcolm and Ian, ‘Laser 4000’ in close pursuit.

It was short leg to the first mark rounding of 0 and as Jacko and Lorna reached the zone Keith made his first returning verbal barrage of what may have been featured on the balcony in the Muppet Show, with the old boys nodding heads, mumbling and shouting requests that had already been surrendered, but to no avail and the two old competitors sailed on past the mark. Keith still ranting as they tacked to the short return reaching leg only to start more verbal outtakes as he redefined the over lapped to windward rule!

All a bit sad and unnecessary in a series that has been sailed in the best of possible taste “till then”.

However it was not nearly so dramatic as Dave and Ron having lost the lead to Malcolm and Ian, sailed past Spit Nav. mark to the wrong side, taking Terri and Dave, ‘Fireball’ with them, causing as much verbal outgoing between the two Fireballs as Keith on his own at mark 0, and the fleet had only passed three marks thus so far!Dean and Phil, ‘Hornet’ kept cool as all around them appeared in chaos and even when a slight bumping occurred at a mark with Keith, showing signs of stress and failing to give sufficient room (oddly the only word not spoken all day) kept a cheery face and stuck to the task of beating up Jacko on time. Phil worked hard in yet another new crewing post and now knows more about changing boat than most and the pairing finished with two 4ths to be 5th overall.

Jenny Ball ‘Laser Radial’ has been a credit to the fleet finishing all races with 3rds, 4ths and 5ths always looked comfortable on the water to win 1st lady helm and 4th overall.

Dave and Ron have not made it too easy looking and have survived some heart stopping moments, boat damage, body abuse and ear bendings, but have supported the club bar above and beyond reasonable expectation, finishing with 2nd and 3rd in the score line to be 3rd overall.

Peter Playle ‘Laser’ DNS on the last day has had a well-sailed series with 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th to finish 2nd overall by four clear points, battling with fellow Laser sailor Martin resulting in close racing, the sale of his Laser and the purchase of a Solo for the new season. We wish him the very best.

Jacko and Lorna went to it like a ferret up a drainpipe and show good teamwork and an understanding of laidback sailboat racing in all conditions with a competitive slice of the Jacko jam pot to be 1st overall.

It should be noted that the MBSC Race Box do send in the online returns which is developing at a good pace like it has never done before. The PY is unlikely to stay still for a year at a time and suggested numbers may well be used in the next series.

A prize giving was held following the last race where Philip Spillane, club commodore, spread the prizes and thanked the countless club members that have endured a cold winter to run the Frostbite series, which in turn keeps the club alive. Thanks were made to the visiting sailors whose support, enthusiasm and love of the sport make the whole running of this series a worthy and valued thing to take part in and host. The club is a lesser place when you all leave.

Thanks to Jan Nuttall for sending in the photos

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Overall Results
1st    Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval    Merlin                5 Points
2nd   Peter Playle                                Laser                16 Points
3rd   David Islin and Ron Suffield        Fireball              20 Points
4th   Jenny Ball                                   Laser Radial       21 Points
5th   Dean Saxon and Rob/Phil            Hornet               22 Points

Mayland Frostbite " pent up competitors" race 5

2010-03-14T16:54:00.068Z

Four weeks of pent up competitor itching was let loose as the start flag dropped in the Maylandsea Bay Frostbite series race 5. High cloud, sun and biting northwest wind rattling through the rigging as the fleet busied themselves in a ‘bring it on’ contest to get back hanging over the gunwales.

The chatter featured on the new RYA PY’s and the fact that it was about time that Jacko and Lorna got hit on the PY numbers Lottery. I have had a look this and it is clear that the Merlin Rocket Class have a view! The class have an in house personal handicapping system that is reeled out at the national champs each year. The handicapping subcommittee bloke is well respected and actively sailing in the class and we do not put up any resistance to the numbers given. In 2009 the top flight was rated at 900 and the bottom end at 1044, (the timing meant that a 1044 rated boat must be not less than 9 mins. 35 sec. behind the lead boat in 60 mins) Jacko and Lorna where rated at 1020, not less than 8mins. The relationship Jacko to the RYA PYs is that he was 21 sec. off the pace in 2009 and 51sec. in 2010.

Suddenly I can hear a Phantom sailor puffing out “rubbish” it has been noted that Phantom sailors have led Jacko home more times than the other way round in 2009.
Class sailboat racing is best, the white of the eyes and the look of pain as the close quartet errors occur and boat lengths are gained and lost is why we take on the thrill and spill of the sport. Sadly it is in the office that we get picky on PY racing that is the norm for most of us, but it is a poor replacement for class sailboat racing.

With the advent of Internet fed returns (and it is so easy to do) we can see that the ball game will change rapidly but in the returns there is no field for assessing the skills factor. How do we know if we have been beaten fair and square? And I think the biggest worry is that clubs just use the RYA PYs and do not take part in the process. Clubs taking part should be listed and the competitors should be more supportive and accept that odd boats in a fleet will have PY numbers changed more often.

But hayho the fleet gathered at the outer north end of the line on starboard tack hard against the submerged remains of the spit with the tide pushing to the line and it was Peter in a Laser who blasted off the line at a goodly pace with Malcolm and Ian ‘Laser 4000’ close behind. In a moment of excitement Peter caressed the first rounding mark whilst over lapped and glided into a 360o turn sliding out the back door. Malcolm and Ian ‘4000’, now lead boat and in a tasty squall, sped off wind down the short leg to a jibe at 0 rounding mark only to find themselves victims of the late tide, shallow water and a full on farming session, also going out the back door. Jacko and Lorna ‘Merlin’ now lead boat and at full pelt approaching Spit-rounding mark to find the marina tugboat pushing a large mud laden batch towards the same spit channel mark from the opposite direction. Jacko’s temptation to pass in front quickly evaporated as he connected with a pair of big white eyeballs, panic struck, pressed against the tug’s windscreen. The rounding of the mark, batch and tug put Jacko below the windward lay line to the next mark Bay and opened the door the Dave and Ron in the Fireball.

Dave and Ron meant to “kick ass” with Dave looking for a balancing of the books having been dealt harsh treatment from Mayland race box with a DSQ for not signing on in race one and race abandon in the first running of race 5 (wind failed) was really gagging for a shutting down on the Jacko jam pot.
Dave is a worthy Fireball racer with many years of race scarring to prove it. Ron is keen and not over fit and the wind now 18 knots gusting 22 and a course designed for the Laser fleet with shy two sail reaching meant that it was race on.
The wind ward legs that was, saw Dave and Ron footing of at great speed while Jacko and Lorna hiked hard and stuffed the turkey. It was all close racing till the final knock out blow came as at last there was a leg you could get a kite on and with the Fireball having 150 metres lead the kite was thrown up only to find that it had been rigged sideways up. It set quite well and as Lorna chatted with Ron on how well the numbers looked horizontally it was race over finishing with a 3rd behind Martin Tarling sailing a Laser and 2nd in race two.

The Laser race was another full on affair between Martin and Peter. They appeared to be attached by a lengthy piece of string planing along the reaches and pushing hard up the beats, mostly lead by Martin, but some real pressure spilling out as Martin’s foot totally rapped in main sheet in a full on jibe was rapidly dragged to the back of the boat and with boat management in the back row Peter was through and away.
Martin regaining control started to wind Peter back in and as the boat length closed Peter got trapped in to rubber necking and took his eye of the wind just long enough for one error to occur and Martin was back in the lead to cross the line with a 20 seconds lead to finish with a 2nd and a 3rd.

As for Jacko and Lorna it was a tough day as Lorna in demonstrating a ‘mambo’ dance move that is quite well known to Salsa dancing circles whilst getting into the rubber wet suit in the ladies changing room (I might add) rendered herself some physical damage. Jacko has been there before and has knowledge of the effects of the misuse of pain killers, the glassy glazed look in her eyes and the unexpected laying down in the back of the boat not a sight a race driven Rocket helm needs to see, and has previously caused retirement due to the fear of verbal abuse when offering to “make things better” and “let me help you out”. It should be said that Lorna is a fiercely competitive lady and has been seen to fly the kite whilst laying in the back of the boat legs akimbo encouraging Jacko to sail better. “Scary” yes, workable? But as a helm you need to adjust your timing and how you present the request for a spinnaker hoisting, and the timing to put in a tack, not to be seen looking healthier than your front end girl. But the in the water therapy on arriving back at the beach always has a calming effect on your pained crew. Jacko and Lorna having survived the day finishing with two bullets and a helping hand back in to the now repaired car.

Thanks to Phil and Paul for taking and sending the Photos
Final race day March 21st at 14:00 races 7 and 8
More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Results
Overall

1st    Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval   Merlin                4 Points
2nd   Peter Playle                             Laser               12 Points
3rd   David Islin and Ron Suffield       Fireball            15 Points
4th   Jenny Ball                                 Laser Radial    16 Points
5th   Kevin Whittle and Philip Spill     Fireball            21 Points

Shed load of misery befell the Mayland Bay fleet

2010-03-03T18:23:00.000Z

Day 3: A shed load of misery befell the Mayland fleet, as a dank grey day dawned with low cloud and a day of light airs sailing got under way, for until now the fleet has had the joy of goodly breezes and sunshine all be that it has been some what a tad nippy.

Nigel Whiting had the misfortune to be in charge of the race box when the fleet came to a standstill against the incoming tide on a disappearing northerly breeze off of the north salting point and after an hour had passed the race abandon flag was flown.

Sad to say, some resentment was voiced by the fleet as for the first time in many years Jacko and Lorna were missing from the racing due to a car MOT failure. The MOT failure and the race being abandoned saving the non sailing Jacko was all a bit too much. The second race of the day was not sailable with no wind at all.

Day 4 was a shocker with a 1 degree wind chill, horizontal rain and 16 knots gusting 25 knots from the north, The BBC weather report saw off the fleet leaving only the desperate looking out at the seagulls flying backwards.

After the pub with no beer the next saddest place on the planet is the sailing club with no sailing.

There is a rumour that the Maylandsea Bay sailing club is to open a new series to dinghy sailors that are not to sure what sailboat racing is all about.

We can see that this will be a good laugh as it is again rumoured that some of the leading Mayland sailboat racers are involved.

Questions like “is Lorna to be giving instructions to helms” and will Jacko be explaining how to run over race marks? All will be revealed we are sure.

But we do know that the galley will be active, that the old salts in the club are a warm friendly bunch, and that Phil the commodore is leading the Splat the Duck frostbite competition. More info can be had at the club.

Next race day March 14th at 10:05 races 5 and 6

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Results

Overall

1st Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin 3 Points

2nd Peter Playle Laser 8 Points

3rd Jenny Ball Laser Radial 11 Points

4th Dave Russell and Gary Jackson Lark 15 Points

Maylandsea Bay Open Frostbite 'melancholy mindset'

2010-01-31T17:39:00.044Z

Bright blue skies and a light breeze from the west set the scene for races 2 and 3. The drive to the river Blackwater with trees coated in frost and bright sunlight strobing across the roads to the fields glistening in their winter décor, and sadly a greater number of road kill than we had seen a long while, made for a melancholy mindset not akin to taking on the cut and thrust of the days sail boat racing.
The fleet was still down in numbers with some notable competitors missing but more boats preparing than the previous week.
Geoffrey Walkley was this week’s head of race box and the course was quickly posted but the support boat crews appeared to be delayed in the galley. With the river not being frozen over the warning flag was hoisted to time and the fleet removed the finger and made a hasty launch.
Jacko and Lorna came off the start line like a squeezed carrot rounding the first mark well clear ahead and was not to be seen again, followed by Dean and Jono ‘Hornet’ and Malcolm and Phil ‘Laser 4000’.

The race took place in Mayland bay and the top of Lawling creek with the legs being not too long; tough work for the mostly unfit well seasoned sailors such as Jacko and Philip, who now found himself at the front end of a skiff type asymmetric sailboat with wings. Philip who is the most seen Mayland sailor having the highest number of turn outs in 2009, is a credit to the fleet and not shy to take it on and was still smiling having taken a clear lead in the “Splat the Duck competition” with two capsizes in the different boat adding bonus points for the two rolling ducklings before getting back in control of the 4000, plus owning up to it being an error on his behalf.

Jenny Ball ‘Laser Radial’ is putting together good race moves staying out of the tide and rounding the race marks in a smooth well handled fashion, finishing with a 4th and a 5th to be 3rd overall. Peter Playle ‘Laser’ appeared pretty cool, sailing well (we think he is missing Martin Tarling, fellow Laser sailor) and had it not been for a touch of over excitement and the missing out of the penultimate mark 2, which was noted by the race box and quickly followed by the return too and the rounding of, had a good day out in the sun finishing with two 3rd to be 2nd over all.

Dean and Jono built up the tempo in the second start of the day leaving the fleet for dead and leading out to Jetty race mark battling with the Merlin and the 4000. Sadly losing out on the tight three sailed reach to mark 4 off of the north side saltings to finish with two 2nds but having missed day 1 is carrying a DNS.

Jacko and Lorna are showing a little bit of form, with Lorna showing not a lot of face, but a lot of teeth and with the race box commenting, “your first spinnaker leg was as bad as you are likely to see” there must be room for improvement. And with 4 race wins and 8 races to come, ‘the fat lady has not entered the stage’

Thanks to Alan Johnson for sending in the photos

Next race day Feb. 14th at 11:05 races 5 and 6

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Results

Overall

Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin 3 Points

Peter Playle Laser 8 Points

Jenny Ball Laser Radial 11 Points

Dave Russell and Gary Jackson Lark 15 Points

Maylandsea Bay: call that Frostbite

2010-01-17T18:24:00.007Z

With the sun rising out of Canvey Island and setting in Thurrock it was the best of days with bright blue skies and a building westerly breeze. The wadding birds had at last freed themselves from the ice-topped saltings and were once more flickering in the sky in huge numbers.

The fleet was much reduced, may be attending burst pipes or worse, but the hardcore management team appeared on an upper and it was Billy, The Galley’s birthday, 18 a number long forgotten by the management team but recognized as a Lotto number.

The Race Box this week was in the good hands of Paul Wilkinson. A mid distance course was posted and the fleet took to the water. With space to spare it might well be that the adrenalin was not pumping with the fleet making a casual, almost an “after you” type affair.

Well that was all but Kevin and Philip ‘Fireball’ who appeared to have lost the plot, drifting up to the line with an abstract approach not often seen on the Mayland start line. It was not to be Kevin and Philips day, for later following two crash jibes, a wobble and a broach struggling to round the Jetty mark, the pairing were the first to enter the Splat the Duck competition, and gain a place in this series.

Jenny Ball, ‘Laser radial’, had a good day winning the start and ripping up the first beat to mark one and leaving Peter, ‘Laser’, for dead. Jenny lost out a tad to Peter on the reaching legs but stayed in touch to finish 3rd ahead on corrected time by 6 seconds and in the 2nd race 4th with an error free race to be 3rd overall.

Peter Playle, ‘Laser’, stretched some muscle, sailed a flat boat and enjoyed the days racing having seen off Martin Tarling, ‘Laser’, by two minutes in the previous race (Today Martin was taking a lay day) but Peter always a good competitor made light work of the 14 to 18 knots and showed no sign of resentment at not leading the Splat the Duck competition, finishing with a 4th and a 2nd to be 2nd overall.

Is the Jacko jam pot dripping? “Maybe” and what of the head cam bit? Is Lorna going to tolerate seeing if Jacko is turned on? How long does it take to kill battery life in subzero conditions? A request to ware the head cam hat back to front so footage of the trailing Fireball fleet could be seen quickly fell apart as it would need to be (sideways on to get the footage but then the chin strap would need to be held in the wearers mouth and as Jacko rarely keeps his trap shut it can be, and anyway footage of the lovely Lorna would be more fun than the align trailing Fireball fleet.

And what of the race; well it was not a bad Merlin day and Lorna was gagging for it. The kite work was spot on, all but when Jacko forgot to pull the guy string, dropping it under the bow. The race was full on and with L’s encouragement Jacko was seen to sit out and look nearly fit. The pairing finished with two bullets to be first overall

Thanks to Jacko for the head cam shots

Next race day Jan. 31st at 11:30 races 3 and 4

More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/

Overall results
1st Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin 2 Points

2nd Peter Playle Laser 6 Points

3rd Jenny Ball Laser Radial 7 Points

4th Kevin Whittle and Philip Spillane Fireball 8 Points

(above Jacko's Island, Maylandsea Creek)

2010-01-11T18:40:00.000Z

------------ Notice of series from MBSC ------------

Ice coated puddles, frozen flags and the Blackwater Icicle

2010-01-04T11:36:00.003Z

With ice coated puddles and the flags frozen to the flagpoles the Mayland fleet gathered to contest the Blackwater Icicle trophy.

A third of the fleet were visitors from near and not so near and added a healthy upturn the spicy mix of who’s who in the line up of line honours.
It was to be a day of tremble and shiver as the light northerly breeze started to fail with Bill Wright heading the Race Box team, which had now taken to the water in the committee boat for a start in the middle of Maylandsea Bay.

By the time the start flag fell the light breezes had headed to the East with the fleet tending to be line shy, notably the Fireball class all but Maria and Nigel, rafting up to join in later.

The short-ish leg to the first rounding mark, laid on the outer curve of the deeper water at the top of the bay, presented a gain and loss decision of more pressure against less tide which split the fleet with half taking to the south side while the rest headed to the north. The north side won with Dave and Celia Charlton rounding first closely follow by Andy Mclver sailing a Blaze and Andy and Derek sailing a Merlin. The fleet rounded mark 4 and headed out up Lawling creek against the incoming tide and a failing wind and another twitchy choice to tack back to the south side or continue on up to Mundon spit on the north side.

Wind now had all but died with the tide holding the fleet almost to a standstill; Neil Fulcher, ‘Phantom’ smacking his lips, was the first to put in an early port tack and nearly did not interfere with Piers and Peter’s ‘Merlin’ right of way boat which sadly seemed to end the race for the two competitors who of had a real chance of taking the trophy. Dave and Celia sailed part way before also taking the south bank and had broken well clear of the fleet to be joined by Jacko and Lorna, ‘Merlin’ having hung on for a little longer. A short battle followed in which Dave went farming and sounded a little miffed and Jacko’s head went into the bottom of his boat as the wind slowly backed to the north east ending Jacko’s bid for the lead. The fireball fleet having stuck to the north side, took advantage of the new N.E. breeze and made good time as they crossed past Mundon spit to Steeple race mark but with the fleet having stood still on the tide and the elapsed time running the real race was back in the mid fleet, some 7 minutes behind. The fleet rounded Mundon race mark and with 6 knots up the chuff and with the tide it was a drag race to the finish line.

Mick Wright ‘Laser’ beavered away holding line in the light airs against the tide to finish 3rd

Dave and Celia having made a good start, and seeing off the Fireballs, being lead boat and taking line honours to finish 2nd.
Tim Riley sailing a Solo making a good start and picking the side to be at the right time, holding concentration in the doldrums, sailed an error free race sorting some pretty accomplished sailors to take the bullet and the Blackwater Icicle Trophy away from the Blackwater River, and very deservedly so.

Notables: Peter Playle finished 8th beat Martin Tarling by 8 places. Maylandsea Bay S.C. had the biggest club entry. The Merlin class was the 3rd biggest class in the fleet. No competitors took part in the Splat the Duck Title. Maria Richards with Nigel Sheppard won the Fireball race in fine style showing worthy boat cool. Nine sailing clubs and eleven classes took part.

Next Race Day is the start of the Open Frostbite Series starting on the 17th Jan. at 12:00 with 2 races
More info at http://www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks to Alan Johnson for sending the photos
Results

Overall
1st Tim Riley Solo
2nd Dave and Celia Charlton Merlin Rocket
3rd Mick Wright Laser
4th Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin Rocket
5th Andy Mclver Blaze
6th Neil Fulcher Phantom

2010-01-01T14:21:00.002Z

2009-12-24T14:29:00.002Z

Thanks to Tim Bees BSC for the original photo

Lucky escape from Eurostar entrapment

2009-12-21T20:02:00.003Z

Bright blue skies WNW at 9 knot on an easy tide, all lovely jubbly and with every thing lightly covered in snow it was winter sailing at it’s best, well maybe a 7 degree wind chill factor put an nip in your tail and colour in your cheeks and there was no talk of global warming.
Jacko who had narrowly missed Eurostar entrapment sported an odd looking hairy hat and looked comfortable and was heard uttering the line of “call this cold! You should try Franch”
The fleet well wrapped took to the water and approached the start line at the goodly pace hitting it spot on. The sprint to the first rounding mark saw the Merlin and Hornet pass the Lasers of Peter and Martin, it was now race on for Martin carrying 10 points and needing to finish in front of Dean and Rob sailing the Hornet to be 2nd overall.
This series has been by and large a well-sorted affair with a course card in place and some back-to-back racing required to take into account the short daylight hours. But as it turned out the Lasers were dealt a harsh decision by the race box to abandon the course card for a made up course that had a mile long run against the incoming tide giving the spinnaker boats an early Chrimbo bonus.
Martin having won the start sailed on and on down Lawling creek passing Lawling spit and rounding the Lawling race mark and back to wind ward in to Maylandsea Bay. It came to pass that he lost second place by three seconds on corrected time to finish 4th overall and clearly robbed.
Dean and Rob had a wicked look about them and took up the lead following the rounding for the first windward mark and the upping of spinnakers. Working with the dense cold breeze along the long down hill leg all eyes were on how time could be pulled out on Martin in the Laser. The wind ward leg on the tide was well sailed and no time lost ending in 2nd place and 2nd overall with Malcolm and Tony ‘Fireball’ opting to spend time at the Dog and Duck to finish 3rd overall.
Jacko and Lorna having made a good start and rounding the first mark in first place had a bit of a wobbly with the spinnaker and appeared a little captured by the moment with a horrendous jibe and dropping the kite to some rumblings in the front end. Jacko and Lorna took up lead boat out at Lawling Spit and took line honours to finish 1st and 1st overall.

The prize giving followed the racing with Commodore Philip Spillane handing over the prizes and the support boat drivers and crews were thanked for a splendid job recovering the wet and splattered fleet over the eight races. It would appear that the Maylandsea Bay members enjoy the winter sailing spectacle as much as the sailors, and are looking forward to the next event, the Blackwater Icicle on the 3rd Jan. at 12:30.

Next race day Blackwater Icicle 3rd January at 12:30 followed by the prize giving
Full results

Overall:
1st Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval       Merlin 5 points
2nd Dean Saxton and Rob Smith        Hornet 11 points
3rd Malcolm Cross and Tony Everitt Fireball 12 points
4th Martin Tarling                           Laser    13 points

1st in fleet Malcolm and Tony Fireballs
1st Lady helm Jenny Ball Laser Radial
1st Cadet crewing Alex Longshank Lark
The Splat the Duck Title Peter Playle Laser

Testy day, gusting cubic whammies in Maylandsea Bay

2009-12-08T20:05:00.002Z

A testy day was to be had by the gathering fleet, with bright blue skies and a westerly wind hacking down Lawling Creek producing the close standing wave that was to surrender the fleet to white knuckle sailing and a tightening of the bike clips.
It is said that when the going gets tough, the tough get going and for Jacko and Lorna going was gone before the first mark rounding with the pulling of a ‘sick note’.
The first start was a stunning affair with Andrew and James’ Xenon’s first outing in the series clearly over the line and Dean and Rob, Hornet without a moments hesitation returning to restart. Malcolm and Tony with excellent boat handling won the start and rounding the first two marks outside the clubhouse sped across the bay and out into the thrills and spills of Lawling Creek. The deep running legs down to mark 6 could only be said to contain all that you would need for extreme sailing with the wind now gusting cubic whammies of 20 to 25 knots over the incoming tide.

By the time what was left of the fleet returned to the bay to round mark 3 there were only three boats left racing and it is testament to the courage and un-shifting determination of Anne Dyson sailing a Pico that put her in 3rd place and a splendid show of sailing skills.
For Dean and Rob having joined in following the start it was down to business. Sailing through the upturned boats with wide eye sailors hanging on to centre boards and masts looking at Oz, it was game on. They slowly wound in the time on the fireball, but time run out as the boats appeared tied together for some time as they approached the finish line, only to finish 22 seconds adrift on corrected time and in 2nd place.
Malcolm and Tony put down a master class of heavy weather sailboat racing and never looked edgy or not in control and took the bullet in a very worthy way.
By the time race two was under way the wind had eased down and the sun was low in the sky. The fleet had been reduced to single figures but there was a grim look for determination on the faces as the fleet hit the start line.

Malcolm and Tony making a good start worked hard in the dying breeze, but could not hang on to the Hornet’s transom and although the down hill bucket and chuck it spinnaker work was fast it was not enough. Malcolm and Tony finished in 3rd place.

Dean and Rob put on a good show with a better than norm start and getting the edge on the Fireball seemed well sorted, but alas could only finish 2nd

Martin Tarling ‘Laser’ and submarine driver having also made an entry in to the Splat the Duck completion and removing all evidence (mud) from his sail and mast, put together an error free race starting well and rounding all the marks in a well mannered way to take his first bullet of the series.
For the fist time in many years, first place overall is not going down to the last windward leg of the last race. It is known that the Maylandsea race box is sending in the results weekly to the RYA PYS Internet link. But details of the advisory PY’s have not been disclosed and the Merlin sailors have not been whingeing on about the Phantoms telephone number, which is used as a PY. or which class is used as the scratch class. But it may well be the fore coming Christmas post series is sailed on adjusted PY numbers.

The battle for second place overall is full on with only one point in it between Malcolm and Tony, Dean and Rob and Martin. We look forward to the next race day and wish them good sailing conditions.

The Battle For the Splat The Duck Trophy is also I feel stitched up, with Peter Playle counting 8 ducks. This again is no mean deal for Peter can still walk and smile at the horrendous misfortune that put him on the wrong side of wind backing and wave hopping. However great attempts are being made to catch up but sadly the boat roll with no one in it only counts as one capsize. The appeal lodged by a nameless Fireball sailor that he has dug a submarine fall out shelter off of Mundon spit also was lobbed as no real proof and a straight mast was offered as proof. Hopefully all entries have been made.

Thanks to Philip Spillane and Peter Freshwater for the splendid photographs.
And a special thanks to the support boat members
Next Race 20th December at 13:00 followed by the prize giving
Full results
Overall after race 7
1st    Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval         Merlin    4 points
2nd   Malcolm Cross and Tony Everitt     Fireball    9 points
3rd Dean Saxton and Rob Smith            Hornet     9 points
4th   Martin Tarling                                  Laser       10 points

2009-11-30T17:12:00.000Z

Maylandsea Bay Winter races 7&8 Postponed to a later day

2009-11-23T18:01:00.002Z

As the Mayland fleet looked at the rain chucking it down and the rigging rattled as the wind 20 knots gusting 30 the race box pulled the plug and racing was postponed, to be sailed on the 20th December. But as is the way of sailing within thirty minutes the sun came out and a 10-knot breeze settled, but it was all too late. Long faces and a sense of being cheated out of a sail were abound.
However the tabletop sailboat race game was set up and reps from each class sought, the dice rolled and it was race on.
For the reader who might have forgotten the delights of this form of torment, it is where racing sailors can demonstrate their racing skills without getting wet. All the rules of racing apply with the knowledge that once you have removed your fingers from your boat it is the next persons turn to roll the dice and speed of the hand does not over ride the rules of racing. (I have seen the N12 class having to be restrained from heated verbal abuse in the ‘speed of the hand against the racing rules’)

Rob ‘Hornet rep’ won the start and putting in an early tack headed NE reaching the deep water and strong tide first with Kate, ‘GP rep’, heading NW staying out of the tide for as long as possible. By the time Kate rounded the Windward mark she had a 6 boat lengths lead from Kevin ‘Fireball rep’ with Rob and Dean also ‘Hornet rep’ having got involved in a race to pass through a narrow gap between an island and a large rock just off shore, sailing against the tidal flow and losing a lot of boat lengths with the additional tacks required. The race moves continued without change until the rounding of the last mark with the following short windward leg to the finish where Kate was robed with only a boat length to the finish by Kevin pulling the slippery Sam card move to take the bullet on his last move.
Rob having dropped behind Dean on rounding the jibe mark stayed calm and in a Hoover-manoeuvre slid past Dean to finish 3rd. The race was conducted in the best of possible taste giving the disappointment of not sailing. However the wind had now returned and was ripping cats paws across the bay.

As a Merlin sailor owners said “it is better to be in the clubhouse wishing to be out on the water than to be out on the water wishing to be in the clubhouse.

Notables: That the 20th December has been added to the race schedule.

Peter Playle still leads the Splat the Duck Competition by four mast drippings

Next Race 6th December at 13:30
Full results
Overall
1st    Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval        Merlin      3 points
2nd   Malcolm Cross and Tony Everitt    Fireball     8 points
3rd   Martin Tarling                                Laser       9 points

Rainbow ending in Maldon creek but no gold for Dean & Rob

2009-11-16T19:24:00.005Z

Gloom, doom and wetness greeted the Mayland feet for a 9:45 start. The previous days high winds had up turned the rubbish bins, boats and put the pampas grass over the hedge. With the skies filled with rain leaden cloud and a bright rainbow ending in Maldon creek, one might have thought that it may not be the best of sailing days.
The race Box posted a mid creek course with two rounds with hopes that the 7 knots of SW breeze would build before the tide (which was rushing in at a goodly pace) ebbed way.
The start was gamely affair with the bulk of the fleet at the windward end of the line in the wind shadow of the shoreline and clubhouse. The winners of the start were Dave and Keith ‘Fireball’ sailing out of the middle of the line at full speed, closely followed by Jacko and Lorna ‘Merlin’. A fearful bulge of overlapped boats and an astonishingly verbal free event followed them with Mark and Barry ‘505’ Kevin and Philip ‘Fireball’ buried in the midst.Dave and Keith sadly could not hold the lead for long for Dave is a canny racer but in the older Fireball appears to lack down hill boat speed and finished 5th.

Malcolm and Tony pushed the corners and with good boat handling lead the Fireball race on a course notbest suited to the chuck it out the bag spinnaker process, to finish 4th.

Dean and Rob ‘Hornet’ making their second appearance made little error and now they have sorted the buoys from the port bottles, appear to be getting to grips with multiple kite hoisting and short legs, to finish 3rd.
Martin ‘Laser’ suffering the misery that the faster boats with bigger sails reeked all over him at the start, battled on keeping to max boat speed and finished in front of many higher rated boats in 2nd place.
Lorna sailing with Jam pot Jacko in the Merlin is a crew not to be messed with and when her hat comes off she is about to kick butt. This week Jacko’s enthusiasm almost got lippy, but L quickly thrashed out any verbal encouragement that might have been about to be uttered from the back end of the boat with the total female crew ate dude. It could be said that boat speed is a result of silent compliance, for the spinnaker pole/centre board/ auto rig string thing! just fill the spaces between the gunwales. The real business end of boat speed is the crew and less said is more boat speed.

The Jacko, Lorna pairing sailed a well-sorted race with good tactics and had heads out of the boat on a brilliant Merlin day to take the bullet.

By the time the second race of the day started the wind had moved into the Fireball dream day at 14 knots with a long legged course out to navigation mark, Doctor, off of Osea Island.

Dean and Rob won the start and lead the way across the bay, headed towards the north side closely followed by Malcolm and Tony. There then followed a boat for boat battle around the course ending in Dean unable to pull out sufficient time on Malcolm to finish 4th by five seconds to Mark and Barry in the 505.
Mark and Barry having failed to start in the front row made hard work of the downhill legs and eventually passed the Merlin at the bottom of the course, off of Osea Island. But ever dogged stuck to the task to finish 3rd.
Malcolm and Tony having passed the Hornet and stayed clear of the 505s erratic jibing sequence sailed on. By the time the fleet had returned to Lawling Creek the tide was flooding out with the submerged mud banks beckoning the brave who pushed the edges. Malcolm and Tony missed most of the hidden mud and pushed hard to keep it touch with the Hornet to finish 2nd.
Jacko and Lorna having made a good start and taking up the lead in crossing the bay worked well to stay in touch with the 505 and with Lorna’s kite handing skills and Jacko not trying to find his hat, lost in a whoopsie last year, the pairing took the second bullet of the day.

This series is now half way through with wind from 0 to 25 knots, blue skies to dark with stair rods of rain to splendid sunshine. But can Jacko and Lorna continue their winning ways? Will Ron and Laura return? Is Peter ‘Laser’ to take to Splat the Duck Trophy?

Thanks to Richard Lytheer for more splendid photographs.
And a special thanks to Geoffrey for stepping up to be race officer for the second week in a row.

Next race Sun.22nd at 13:30 start
Full results:

1st   Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval        Merlin     3 points
2nd Malcolm Cross and Tony Everitt     Fireball    8 points
3rd Martin Tarling                               Laser      9 points

Maylandsea Bay ying’s and yang’s a tremble

2009-11-09T19:48:00.000Z

A late tide and a dying breeze set the ying’s and yang’s a tremble as the wading birds lifted off the mud banks keeping the mystery and enchantment of a unique Essex sailing venue.

The gathering fleet quickly upped the pace and busied themselves checking their sail setting and rig tensions, rolling boats on their edges to sounds of gentle unfolding sail cloth and mounting pressure in the galley.

For the race box this was a stressed day with the sun already low in the sky and the wind due to drop as the day ended. The fleet was lucky enough to have Geoffrey Walkey, a Race Officer not to be messed with. With the wind in the east at 14 knots a course was posted this week only with seventeen marks to be rounded not including spit which must be rounded on the correct side going out and coming in, the fleet were blessed that due to the lateness of day there was only one lap.

The start was a well-mannered affair with Malcolm and Tony ‘Fireball’ popping out in front, closely followed by Dave and Keith ‘Fireball’, Jacko and Lorna ‘Merlin’. The battle for lead Fireball was a twitchy affair with the wind shifts being slight but often. With the leaders well up Lawling creek disaster struck for Dave and Keith as on a lifting port tack, heading south, gaining a hold on the lead they rounded mark 6 to be confronted by the sight of Jacko and Lorna, Malcolm and Tony correctly rounding mark 5 with the rest of the fleet following on.

Dave knew that is was not going to be a good day at the office. It appears that some error had occurred as Mark and Barry, trailing in a 505, just by luck had passed mark 5 to the right side. Jacko and Lorna now with a good lead worked their way around the macramé handbag of a course, round Mundon spit race mark and heading back up the creek for home, the course having been shortened, to win by a small margin and soft PY number from Martin Tarlin ‘Laser’ who had been sailing above his PY finishing in front of many faster boats, with Malcolm and Tony finishing 3rd.

Race 3 was quickly under way and with all the boats sailing the same course was a close friendly affair. But as the sunset and the wind started to drop to a drift the faster boats pulled away with Mark and Barry taking line honours finishing 3rd overall from Jacko and Lorna 1st, Malcolm and Tony 2nd.

Notables: Steve and Gordon are leading the Lark race by 3 points from Paul and Alex. There are 4 Larks entered in the series. Malcolm and Tony lead the Fireball race from Kevin and Phil (Sandhopper escapees) by 5 points in a fleet of 4 boats entered.
Ron and Laura ‘Merlin have been the first boat to be DSQ for failing to observe SI 8.1 Spit Channel Buoy.
The race marks continued to be battered by the competitors but no names will be mentioned, Mr. Williams.

With the fleet sailing so close together and so much polite verbal being heard! How long till the first outing of the toys and a protest hearing we wonder.

Thanks to Richard Lytheer for the splendid photographs.

And a special thank you to Geoffrey and the support boat team who gave the fleet one of the best day racing on a day that could have easily gone very sad.

Next race Sun.15th 9:45 start

Full results:

Overall:

1st Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval Merlin 2 points

2nd Malcolm Cross and Tony Everitt Fireball 6 points

3rd Mark Batt and Barry Sadler 505 9 points

A wicked weather forecast decimated dinghy fleet at Maylandsea Bay

2009-11-03T21:05:00.001Z

Winter sailing in Maylandsea Bay

A wicked weather forecast of high winds and stair rods of rain decimated the dinghy fleet at the first outing of the winter series regatta.
This annual event has been gathering visitors from around the Blackwater River in increasing numbers for the last couple for years, but sadly this was not the best of starts with a 9:45 off and the BBC gloom and doom white arrows blotting out most of Essex.
It was a goodly sight to see Mrs Evelyn Darby in the front line sorting the sailing sec and collecting the entries. Sadly Billy the galley was missing presumed “partied out” or “sleeping in” but the ladies of the club quickly rallied and the galley came to life.
The notice board sported a new course card and once again contained every mark to be rounded in every direction. This year Geoffrey (Hon. Treasurer) has authorized the repainting of some race marks has removed the errors from said course card that led to so much mark damage in 2008.
With an hour to race start time it was clear that the fleet was showing wisdom and had already sorted the best seats to view the desperate sailors looking for a low count in the score line.
The water was flat and showing cats paws clapping away to the north and increasing grey cloud travelling at high speed, which set a mood of anxiety in the race box. The race committee had already set a short length course taking the fleet no further than the race mark North Shore but containing 13 legs.
Dean and Rob, sailing a Hornet, won the start and were a very welcome return to the bay. The short broad reaching leg, in the now quite squally wind conditions, to the first rounding mark saw the overlapped boats showing great keenness, with Dean and Rob pulling away from Jacko and Lorna, sailing the Merlin and Steve and Gordon, sailing a Lark, close behind. The fleet passing the club and bearing away at race mark 2 onto a dead run showing good boat handling skills as they sped past the marina pontoons were interrupted with a hearty row and cheer as the first victim in the Splat the Duck competition was Jacko and Lorna having been pushed towards Australia to pop upwards in a totally out of control panic, hit the wet stuff big time. The words “oh gosh” were heard faintly as Jacko headed slowly towards the approaching centreboard. Lorna who had played paper, stone, scissors, before upping the kite went in to child bearing mode at high speed rescuing what was left of Jacko’s humour, the spinnaker and poles all without a single cross word (and here are the winning lotto numbers).
By this time Dean and Rob, having upped the kite, had done a horizon job on what was left of the fleet round Bay and Jetty and on the next run again kite up and showing great boat skills. Steve and Gordon and Peter Playle, also a welcome return to the bay, were looking pretty steady as the first really heavy squall set in with lashings of rain flattening the water. At this point half the fleet turned for home leaving Jacko and Lorna doing a 360o having lumped race mark 4 and Peter gritting his teeth on the windward leg to mark 3.
It is the way of sailboat racing that it is never over till it’s over and Jacko and Lorna got stuck in for the return legs to the club line. Peter sailing the Laser took a number of bad shifty squalls leading to much lying with the fishes and Dean and Rob having found themselves out in front in wicked squalls and blatted by horizontal rain, lost the plot and race mark Bay. This was a disappointing end to a fierce sail but Bay was located and rounded and taking on the last windward leg to the finish had sadly lost too much time losing the lead on corrected time to Jacko and Lorna.

This leads us the ask the questions:
Is Jacko’s jam pot open?
Will the fleet fathom out the new course card?
Who will win the Splat the Duck Trophy?
Will Keith Fedi return?
Who will be the first to be lobbed for not rounding the Spit Mark on the right side (which is not written in to the course)
All will be answered as the series unfolds now read on dit dit dit

Next race Sun.8th 14:25
Full results:

1st Alan Jackson and Lorna Laval     Merlin
2nd Dean Saxon and Rob Smith        Hornet
3rd Peter Playle                               Laser

Merlin Magic Essex

2009-05-01T16:53:00.004+01:00

Race team Brightlingsea took on the travelling Merlin top cookies as the Sliver Tiller fleet put in at the home of one of the most keen and talented Eastern Merlin fleets of this decade.
For the first time in years it was not blowing old boots and to the delight of all the sun shone and the tide came in and went out.
22 boats hit the start line in a most gentlemanly way with an assortment of first beat strategy being assigned. Boat handling seemed to play a big part in the out come of this 5 race series and it was noted just how nippy the fleet was at executing the 360o turns following the thwacking of the windward turning mark all in close company.
Race team Brightlingsea this year has been joined by Andy Bines and Derick Gentry, with the paring putting some impressive results together in the BSC club spring series. But when push came to shove it was Dave and Celia that set the pace for the home team with all results in the top ten, finishing 7th overall.
For Dave and Derick it was a baptism of fire and an eye opener as to why a Merlin Rocket is so much better than a Fireball! The paring faired well and finished 9th overall.
As we know life at the back of the fleet puts one in touch with your inner self, with physical and emotional tests. For Craig and Jayne the word testing has a new and deep meaningful, if not emotional meaning. All beneficial and life enhancing, but for an overall result 17th just a tad disappointing.
Ozzie and Melissa had a total catch of two dabs, a smaller sea bass and something that looked like an old wellygogg inner sole. But for pure enjoyment and endurance and an ever-lasting smile Ozzie and Mel are out standing winners.
For the rest of Essex mainly Charles and Elaine, Jacko and Lorna! The words of “get your discard over quick” and “one more lap and we would have got ya” all seamed much better having had a beer.

All in all it was a successful weekend with the race management doing an out sanding job turning the races around neatly with the windward mark in the middle, splendidly set reaches all done in shifty wind conditions with half the industrial shipping serving a new wind farm being build at Gunfleet.

There is nothing left this year in the Merlin Magic Essex series! But there has been a request to run the Two Islands Race at the top of the River Blackwater in 2010. This could be arranged if enough support comes forward.

Thanks to Chris Jordan for the time spent sending the photos

Full results ?
Alternative report
Overall
1st Chris Lewns Tom Pygall 6 Points
2nd Glen Truswell Olly Turner 7 points
3rd Alex Jackson Ben Hollis 11 points

1st Brightlingsea Boat Dave and Celia Carlton
If there had been a team prize it would have been
Whitstable YC 20 points
Brightlingsea SC 33 points

The "Rum Tub & Bung" race

2009-04-28T14:47:00.001+01:00

With the tide being out this weekend Stone S.C. are resurrecting one for the oldest and well-loved races on the river Blackwater.
This year with a planned course starting on the club start line at 11:00am to the Bench Head and back.16 miles approx.
For the old salts that keep the sailing club bars afloat around the Blackwater this is a challenging race with many tales being told of great races in days of old. For the younger crash and burn, three hop in and out racing of today, a first leg to a rounding mark you cannot see may well be a real treat.
With high-pressure building and an unknown fleet arriving this has the makings of a ‘race on’ event.Report to follow

Easter at Maylandsea Bay - River Blackwater

2009-04-18T14:44:00.015+01:00

The MBSC Easter Regatta brought a wonderful variety of sailing talent arrived at the club slipway to take part in the Maylandsea Easter regatta.
This year the regatta had a mix of a 6 race series, Friday to Sunday, with Sunday’s 2 races counting for the Easter Cup and Monday being a pursuit race for the Easter egg, which hopefully catered for all sailors, some of whom only wished to sail on one or two days of the four-day event.
A total of 24 club boats came to the start line. To take part in handicapped racing is not that easy

with assorted boats and a huge difference in sailing skills, but as it turns out with 6 races sailed there were 6 different race winners. This was no mean feat; each race having an element of unbelievable errors being made by most of the competing boats. This is the way of sailboat racing and it is never over till it’s over. The mix of the older, wiser sailor against the new, not to sure sailors and sailing in the light fluky breezes was a joy to see.
It is still a wonder to see a sailboat racer turning up late with only half his kit, then starting late, sailing the wrong course, and hitting the race marks, smiling, enjoying himself and being late for the next race showing such endurability.
I have the utmost respect for the senior sailor, in days past he sailed in plimsolls and shorts, woolly gloves topped with marigolds, if a tad chilly, and a so'wester hat if it were to be damping. The boats were made of wood, nailed together, bronze fittings, timber masted, cotton sails, and weighed a ton. It was when men were men. Only two races - “you were lucky” but they have survived sailboat development and modern clothing and the odd new body part but they still can’t resist having a go at bashing their brains out with a flyaway spinnaker pole, presenting themselves to the support boat as a survivor of the chain saw massacre.
The race box with an understanding of the heart ache caused by such trauma maintained a soft degree of race control (as it ran out the back door) and pursued a policy of “Fun Sailing for all” in an all in one fleet format.
Ann Dyson ‘Laser Radial’ took the Easter Bunny’s Ears award for 1st overall; this was no mean feat with a score line 2,4,1,2,3,2, and showed consistency and little error in race tactics. The physical effort put in and boat handling was unmatched by the rest of the fleet.
Philip and Geoffrey ‘Sandhopper’ 2nd overall scoring (dnf), 3,3,1, (dnf), 3, put together some cool moves in difficult conditions. Recovering well from a tiny little error in the first race, but the boat handling and teamwork came together at all the crucial moments putting boat lengths between them and the following Sandhoppers.
Andrew Trembath and assorted crews as a “newbie” to sailboat racing, and having spent time in the winter sailing series, put up a splendid performance. Having been encouraged by race team Mayland and supported by the ‘Trembath Youth Team’ has started his moves on the MBSC trophy cupboard, scoring 5, (dnf), 5,3, (dnf) 1, to be 3rd overall. The 1st, being in the Monday pursuit race having a nail biting end of race happening (as it should be in a pursuit race), as the two leading boats failed to round race mark 4 to starboard (a race box error thanks to AJ) and sailed to the next mark Jetty. Andrew and Grace now faced with the question of “who got this right” and “what are we to do?” encouraged by Miss Grace, who with confidence kept a cool head and sailing directly towards race mark 4 won the race before they reached race mark 4.

It must be said that the racing rules are there to protect the competitor and the race committee/officer from errors in sailing and race management. We must try to have knowledge of the rules and to try and stick with the rules. Apart from the race committee having a nervous break down in the race box, they avoided being pelted with cream Easter eggs, competitors behaved exceptionally well, and fair play surfaced.
Andrew and Grace’s win is a joy to MBSC and should encourage the newbie sailors who are building up the Maylandsea fleet.
Notables: John Giles on his first outing this year sailed a good race to win the Sunday Cup. For the first time this year the combined crew age dropped below a hundred years.

The next big race is the Challenge Cup 9th May. It is an open race, details will be out soon and on the 10th it is the club open day with the Mayland Pico Flower race that takes place in front of the club house more details to follow

Full results and more info at www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks to Teresa Giles for time sending in the photos

Easter Regatta overall
Easter series
1st Ann Dyson Laser Radial 5 points
2nd Philip Spillane Geoffrey Walkley Sandhopper 7 points
3rd Andrew Trembath Grace Trembath Xenon 13 points
4th Fenny Cook Laser 16 points

Sunday Easter Cup
1st John Giles Finn
2nd Rob Gray Laser
3rd Ann Dyson Laser Radial
4th Sarah Giles Laser Radial

Easter Pursuit Egg Race
1st Andrew Trembath, Grace Trembath Xenon
2nd Ann Dyson Laser Radial
3rd Philip Spillane, Geoffrey Walkley Sandhopper
4th Richard Lytheer, Mike Hopper Sandhopper

Best-improved sailors
Alex Anning, James Trembath Topaz

Splat The Duck competitionCharlotte Wright, Grace Trembath

Snakes and Ladders on Maylandsea Bay

2009-03-16T20:51:00.007Z

A fearsome battle concluded the 2009 frostbite series. The gods of wind set up a horrendous selection of holes and shifts spilling out across Maylandsea Bay.
As the starting flag fell the wind was already looking fitful, with large glassy flat patches spread out. The fleet entered a sailing snakes and ladders game of horror, the sun shone brightly down and the smell of anti fowling wafted out from the Mayland marina; it was race on with Keith needing two wins to win the series.
Jacko, this week teamed up with Alan Wigg, the pairing having not sailed outside the Dog and Duck inner bar for some considerable time but benefiting from years of hangover sailing rumour, as they faced the laser fleet that appeared to fancy their chances being in a pack and looking for team race tactics, taking on all comers on the start line.
It was Jacko and Al who won the start rounding mark 1 first closely followed by Keith sailing the Finn. The race immediately took on a grimly tense tone on this, the shortest leg on the race map. With the two boats going head to head, a shared knowledge of the sailing rules being quoted and the opportunity to receive a penalty, made it more like the night of the long knives and in a moment of excitement it was Clive ‘Laser’ accepted the only turns asked for. Keith had gained the lead with Jacko and Al struggling to find more speed; the Laser fleet were new showing more teeth than you would see in a crocodiles playpen, snapping at Jacko’s transom.
Keith has a keen ambition to take line honours and the two competitors swapped lead boat and number of times as the wind died then filled in from wrong side of whoever had the lead at the time and as Jacko and Al were being attacked from both sides the spinnaker had been swept back over the jib on a 90 degree wind shift, Jacko looked like he knew that this was not to be his race.
Keith took the bullet followed by Clive beating brother Martin with Rorie and Charlotte in fourth place.
So the series came to the wire with Keith having won the last three races, needing just one more win. The start of the last race saw Keith come out the start with top boat speed leaving Jacko and Al for dead but again on rounding race mark 1 and onto the shortest leg to race mark 0 saw Wiggy’s spinnaker work pulling out the winning moves with the pairing rounding ahead executing a smart spinnaker jibe in the lightest of breezes. There followed a little gain and loss on the windward legs but it was the dead run against the tide and a long starboard windward tack to the west on rounding race 2 making enough time to win the race and the series.
Notable: Rorie and Charlotte pulled off the move dreams are made of and put 4 points between the old guard Dave and Gary to snatch the prize for lead Lark, a brilliant move and well deserved.
It should be said that handicap sailboat racing is not real racing and the only hope a competing boat has is that over a number of race days in a series the conditions will have some degree of not favouring one particular class of boat. But we look at racing one race at a time and it is always someone’s favoured course or wind direction and strength. It’s tough to look at a one-man one sailboat sailing away from you when you are putting the teamwork and three sails up to max boat speed and think of the words “fair sailing”.
The Maylandsea club put out a freebee buffet and presented beer and chocolates to the winners. Thanks where given to support boat crews and the race box management. And on behalf of the competitors we would like to thank Doreen Levy for preparing and laying out the food provided.

Next open race is the Challenge cup Saturday May 9th at 11:45
Full results and more info at www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks to Teresa Giles for sending the photos
Overall:
1st Merlin Rocket Alan Jackson & Lorna Laval 7 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 8 points
3rd Laser Martin Tarling 12 points
4th Laser Clive Tarling 17 points5th Laser Peter Playle 20 points

Another grey day on Maylandsea Bay

2009-03-04T20:51:00.018Z

Another grey day greeted the fleet and for the first time this year it was not at the crack of dawn. A light breeze setting from the west wafted through the assembled competitors with Keith Fedi ‘Finn’ complaining that there was not a windward leg to be sailed and that it was to be spinnakered in every direction and all was lost! All a bit of a ruse on account that at 4 to 6 knots he was likely to be lead boat.

At the start Keith was seen to be digging a hole in the submerged mud that was once the spit at the north outward end of the starting line, with a look of horror in his eye and thrashing the tiller about to free himself. The small but keen fleet headed up the short windward leg to race mark 1.
It was Peter Playle ‘Laser’ who won the start and rounded the first mark first with Martin and Clive, also Lasers, in close contention. The fleet rounded the next mark and on a dead run to spit
was quickly joined by Keith and a short conversation on the merits of rocking to the pleasure of all.
It was to be Keith’s day who with great determination and weathering attacks from the Jacko ‘Merlin’ and the holes and fairies shifts in the wind sailed to take the two bullets of the day by a goodly margin.

Jacko teamed up with Alex Longshank a top notch Pico sailor and although Alex had not crewed a Merlin before put some very neat moves together and handled the spinnaker and Jacko with confidence, sitting out the wind ward legs well and flying the kite at every opportunity. However they could not make up sufficient time and with a couple of errors and a doggy second start finished with two 2nd.

Martin Tarling ‘Laser’, swapping places with fellow Laser sailor put on an impressive display of racing skills using a “get out of jail card” just at the right time to defeat Peter and Clive to finish with two 3rd.
The battle for lead Lark continued with Rorie and Charlotte again winning and narrowing the deficit to two points.
This bring us to the last race day, with three boats in the hunt with two races to come. Jacko ‘Merlin’ and Martin ‘Fireball’ only need to win one of the two races to stop Keith’s challenge to take the series, with Keith needing the two bullets to win on count back.

Next Race Day March the 15th starting at 13:25
Full results www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks to Philip Spillane for sending the photos
Overall:
1st Merlin Rocket Alan Jackson & Lorna Laval 8 points
2nd Laser Martin Tarling 12 points
3rd Laser Peter Playle 20 points
4th Fireball Martin Scarth & Tony King 21 points
5th Laser Clive Tarling 21 points

No Oscars to be had in Maylandsea Bay

2009-02-23T19:38:00.007Z

Grey skies still hung over Maylandsea as the fleet gathered to contest races 5 and 6. The tide was rushing in and the wind setting from the North West at 8 to 12 knots putting all competitors in with a chance of a good result. Keith Fedi, Finn sailor making his first appearance in the series (and a welcome sight) is never out of the race and Martin Scarth and Tony King, returning having missed a race day, worked at building up the pre-launch tempo. In the club house the armchair champs were putting an edge on the preceding as the new chef de-lovely was encouraging the assembled to get stuck in to eating more breakfast.
The race box for the first time this year was Bill-less and the fleet, with no expense spared, was reacquainted with the set course card. For the spinnaker boat crew, who had fallen under the delights of ‘grape juice’ or even sadder, Lager a relaxing day was not to be. For the single-handed sailors the sight of short legs and many jibes evens the odds of a good result.
As the starting flag fell the fleet was split port and starboard and some joyful calls were heard ending in cries of fear as the port tackers shook under the starboard boats rounding race mark 1. Turns followed and peace returned only to find Martin and Tony turning their spinnaker into what you might think was a macramé Chrimbo party hat resulting in the pairing travelling to the wrong mark, all in front of the club gallery who were surprisingly polite. Jacko and Lorna Merlin, now lead boat, put together an impressive collection of sailboat team work (and sailing the right course), the spinnaker retaining good pressure through the reach-to-reach jibes and Lorna’s lips hardly moving.

The fleet sailed down to Mundon spit and across to Steeple creek to start the zigzag course up wind with more reaches thrown in for added pleasure for the Lasers. It was noted that Jacko’s wind ward speed was well under the required Merlin pace and allowed Martin to overhaul and make up enough time to win the race by 30 seconds and deservedly so, as Tony’s spinnaker handling gave them an edge on the average Fireball sailor on what was not a boner Fireball day.
For race two the wind backed and the course was set to the West but the wind became unsteadier and good race skills were needed. Again Jacko and Lorna lost the lead to Martin and Tony having made a good start, with good boat handling skills and Lorna’s spinnaker work setting the pace only to lose out on the windward legs has put a big question mark on Jacko’s eligibility as a suitable helm for such a talented crew. Jacko’s comment was “it’s never over till it’s over” and with four races to come he may be right!

There has been some tough racing between the Lark sailors and again it’s not over yet with just three points being the difference and the error factor being critical.
Keith had a tough day loosing the main sheet and taking to the water, but ever the battler sorted and recovered to finish the day with a 6th and a 3rd.
With four races to go the questions are. Can Jacko find more windward boat speed? Will the winds be kind to the Fireball fleet? Will race mark 6 stay afloat long enough to be rounded again? Will Batty ever fly his spinnaker? Can Peter ‘Laser’ close down Martin’s 6 point lead? Will Dave and Gary’s nerve hold good or will Rorie and Charlotte hit the go faster button to take the leading Lark Prize? Is winter frost over? With the next race being a 13:30 start will the softies come out to sail?

All will be revealed on the next race day March 1st 13:30 start with Billy in the race box
Full results and more info at www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks to Nigel Whiting and Peter Freshwater for sending the photos
Overall:

1st Fireball Martin Scarth & Tony King 4 points
2nd Merlin Rocket Alan Jackson & Lorna Laval 6 points
3rd Laser Martin Tarling 9 points
4th Laser Peter Playle 15 points
5th Laser Clive Tarling 18 points

Maylandsea Frostbite: races 3 & 4

2009-02-10T21:55:00.008Z

With a light grey sky, high clouds and the sun looking to break through, the Maylandsea fleet gathered at the club slipway. With races 3 & 4 postponed on Feb. 8th due to torrents of horizontal freezing rain, the feel of a soft, cold breeze from the WSW was encouraging
The fleet appeared amazingly cheerful and revved up with no fear of being frozen to death and as the long legged Lorna wafted through the fleet returning from a girly night out! Jacko appeared unusually respectful, as Lorna is a fearsome crew when liquored up
The bacon butties and coffee were consumed, the course was set, and as the starting flag fell the breeze had built to 8 knots and the tide was setting on to the line with good pace. The fleet favoured the centre of the line and a good start was made all.
It must be said that it was a good Merlin day and with no way that Martin the leading Lasers could make time down the long run against the flow of tide, the outcome being Jacko and Lorna taking the two bullets and Martin two seconds.
Clive, ‘Laser’ failed to make his recently found starting form and falling into the second Laser position, finishing with a 5th and a 3rd.
It was good to see Ron and Paul, ‘Merlin’ making a good start and hanging on to the back of the 505 to finish 3rd. Sadly Ron’s toe strap failed depositing Ron in the drink, the pairing failed to start in race 4.
Dave Russell and Gary Jackson sailing a Lark, sailed a good race and with places changing and the wind being a little shifty always looked to be in the right part of the course.
Race team Trembath sailing a Topaz are upping their pace and are now to be seen flying a spinnaker and putting the moves together, looked confident on the windward legs.
All in all this was a good day to be out sailing on Maylandsea Bay. (No frost, no ice) The seals gathered off Lawling point (5 off) and the splendid sight of the hundreds of wading birds taking flight from the submerging mud and salting is a stunning sight; the sun breaking through the cloud and warming the spirits, the dense cold wind all made this a treat to be there.
Thanks for their help must go to the support crews and the race team at M.B.S.C.

With March 15th being added to the series there are three race days to come with two races per day and 5 races to count. The series is still open.
Next race day Feb. 22nd at 9:30 start
Full results and more info at www.maylandseabay-sc.org.uk/
Thanks to Philip Spillane for sending the photos
Overall:
1st Merlin Rocket Alan Jackson & Lorna Laval 4 points
2nd Laser Martin Tarling 6 points
3rd Fireball Martin Scarth & Tony King 13 points
4th Laser Clive Tarling 13 points

Maylandsea Frostbite: Arctic to spring in a blink of an eye

2009-01-12T21:22:00.015Z

It would have been a hard choice, whether to stay in bed or chance your luck in no wind/subzero temperature, or blowing old boots and freezing. Sadly the majority of the fleet stayed in bed.

But then the trees encrusted with frozen mist started to drip as the sun blatted out a week of life threatening cold weather in a matter of minutes. It was a different world, blue skies a warming sun and a 15 knot S.W. breeze.
The hardy gathered sailors were somewhat overwhelmed and out numbered by non-sailors gathering in the clubhouse. There was much chatter and the downing of bacon rolls and coffee with that splendid smell that wafts out and surrounds the dinghies rigging outside.
The support boat coxswain and crew looked impressive standing in green and ready to do business. The ladies in the galley were busy and welcoming the visitors in a way that made you wish to spend more time drinking the coffee. The race box this week blessed with Mr Bill Wright and his better half Barbara, and last but not least Evelyn and Brian Darby looked after the sailors entering and making the club a better place to be.

By the time the fleet (small but beautifully formed) lined up to start, the wind had freshened. The fleet favouring the out board north end of the line started well (except for Martin and Tony who appeared to be fishing!). The course being a short windward leg followed by a thrilling down hill leg to race mark 5 laying off Mundon Spit and a hearty windward leg in the full force wind against the tide that makes the post Christmas racing a real joy to watch and as the fleet rounded race mark 2 out side the club house windows (now full of teeth and eyes) Martin and Tony ‘Fireball’ were setting the pace.
It was a feast of capsizing carried out as solo acts and in formation with all three Lasers hitting the water at the same time. But with true athletic style, legs and arms flaying around, recovery was impressively quick. There was an alleged seven capsizes with the Taling brothers counting two each, but it may be that some have missed nomination for the Diving Duck Trophy in this series.
On the day Peter Playle acquitted himself well with little error and good boat handling around the marks to finish with two 4ths to be 4th overall.
Jacko this week was saved from gloom by arched rival and best bloke, Ron Suffield, who on a late call filled the front end when Lorna pulled a sick note (in the frosty, no wind hours of Saturday). Ron a Mecca of sailing enthusiasm took to the front-end crewing job thank god “not like a duck to water” but settled down to the awesome task of readjusting his crewing techniques. He was heard to say that his respect for Elizabeth’s (Ron’s Merlin crew) crewing skills would never be questioned again.

The new pairing started well but sailboat racing is about the finishing and with Jacko’s desire to look at the south bank and Ron’s legs being in the air every now and again, the sail was fast and not boring with the Merlin showing good speed (in the wrong direction) finished 2nd and 3rd to be 3rd overall.
Martin Tarling returned to the front line and as ever cutting the custard and being very nippy with the capsizing and making little error finished 3rd and 2nd to be 2nd overall.
Martin Scarth and Tony King ‘Fireball’, who missed winning the Frostbite 2008 series by the narrowest of margins, have stamped authority on the fleet, recovering form; not with the best of starts but with good boat speed and skilful boat handling, excellent race knowledge are the team to beat taking the two bullets placing them 3 points clear in overall lead.
The Maylandsea Bay Frostbite series has three more race days, 8 races, 4 to count, plus one reserve day.

Next race day Jan. 25th starting at 10:25 with two races.
Full results
Thanks to Philip Spillane and Peter Freshwater for sending the photos
Overall
1st Fireball Martin Scarth & Tony King 2 points
2nd Laser Martin Tarling 5 points
3rd Merlin Rocket Alan Jackson & Ron Suffield 5 points
4th Laser Peter Playle 8 points

Maldon Mud Race 2009

2009-01-05T16:45:00.046Z

With ice frozen along the high tide line and a nippy wind from the N.W. 250 competitors took to the task of out running, or crawling, the 500 metres of the finest Essex mud to be found with the river Blackwater to cross and return to complete the course.

This is one of the most demanding fun things to do on a Sunday morning. With half a dozen Batmen stuck in the mud, the twenty or more Farther Christmas’s splashed past only to be overhauled by Brer Rabbit, four Bank Robbers and a nippy bloke with bright green hair; the two fairies and Wonder Woman had a bit of a race on.

The winner of the day was the event itself with thousands of pounds being raised for local charities. The skies deeply grey, almost brightened as the race finished and the cold-water showers provided to help remove some mud amazingly didn’t freeze the Donald Duck or the inflatable tree to the tarmac, maybe due to the body heat from the thousands of on looking race supporters.

As a sailor getting wet is not on, and being wet and trashing through the mud is not the thing to do and to be avoided like the plague.
I have the greatest admiration for the
competitors and the winning chap made it look easy, although a fall near the end looked like the chap with the green hair do may have stolen the race.

By the time fifty-first competitor found himself wading through the same mud as the previous fifty runners life become a lot harder, but not as hard as trying to park your car anywhere near Maldon! It was a great event to see and had a good feeling about it, much as Maldon does itself.

Next Race Day is at Maylandsea Bay S.C. Jan. 11th 10:40 start

Harlow (Blackwater) Race Box Takes No Prisoners

2008-12-30T17:53:00.015Z

A Norwegian high-pressure system put an Easterly wind across the River Blackwater estuary that could only be said to be truly wicked! With grey skies and nowhere to hide the 14-18 knots was equal to being hit with a lorry load of leftover frozen Christmas Turkeys.
This years Blackwater Icicle Race was hosted by Harlow (Blackwater) S.C. The HBSC race box with no compassion at all set a course that half the fleet could not complete and who went home for an early shower. The word on the block is that there were 30 boats plus on the start line (however all boats not finishing have been excluded from the results at the time of writing this report, so who can say.) Boats came to the start line from the two clubs in Maylandsea Bay. Unfortunately a lack of communication from the HBSC race box lead to a third of the fleet launching from the Maylandsea slipway in time for the 11:30 advertised start time only to be met with a postponement signal, leaving them to suffer the gusty conditions out in the bay with no shelter in a sub-zero wind-chill factor. It appeared at the time that the HBSC support boats and fleet were not ready and then fannied about on the jetty for an age. It must be said that it is the support of the visiting competitors that make winter events such as this viable.

The start was keenly contested against the incoming tide and with the fleet being made up from 49ers to Laser Radials the start was a do or die affair. Boat handling saw Martin and Tony ‘Fireball’ passing Lawling point in first place. By the time the front runners got to Mayland creek the faster boats had recovered from some doggy starts and it was race on. The first windward leg took the fleet to Steeple race mark and a tight two sail reach to the Doctor Nav. mark off of Osea Island. By this time the first casualties were in the drink, Mark Batt and Barrie with a boat full of water and too many boat handling problems to shake a stick at ending in a DNF. Also sad to see the 49er with a broken spar, DNF and Ann Dyson, Laser Radial, having suffered capsizes before the start rounded Steeple to retire. Following a dead run to race mark Coopers the fleet took on a 3 km windward leg to Stansgate race mark, again against the tide. Martin and Tony almost looked vulnerable as they passed Mundon Spit but sailing an excellent course picking up the shifts and pushing on left the fleet to sort out second place.
Neal Fulcher ‘Phantom’ having cruised down the start line was not to be denied a good start and having given Steeple a gentle rubbing on rounding, well noted by Lorna in the closely pursuing Merlin, who’s cheerful chatter encouraged Neal’s most gentlemanly reply of “Merry Christmas,” worked above his PY and against the odds in the conditions, with a minimum of pumping and brilliant boat handling finished 5th on the water and 2nd overall.
Jacko and Lorna ‘Merlin’ having started well sailed like a pair of old fairies struggled to keep the boat up right and on the pace and seen to be sailing by the lea on more than one occasion but still looking to be in the race, scraped in 11 seconds adrift to finish 3rd.
Lewis Woodland and Jon Bailey ‘Hornet’ from Maldon Y.C. sailed a good race, error free and with good boat handling but just lacking the boat speed to knobble the Merlin, finishing 4th
Notables: only 16 hardy sailors and teams finished this race and in 16th place was Marco Wallace sailing a Laser Radial. This was no mean feat of sailing, with an elapsed time of 92 minutes plus, and 2 and 3 km’s of windward work against the tide with a PY 1101, received no mention at the prize giving.
Malcolm and Tony ‘Fireball’ and the highest placed Harlow boat sadly spent time in the briny but recovered well to finish 7th.
Brian Sargeant 1st Laser and finishing 10th hotly pursued by Mick Wright (there is always a Laser race) and the Lasers were the biggest class in the race.
And last but not least Martin Scarth and Tony King, Blackwater S.C. sailing a Fireball, worthy winners (sadly did not receive the Icicle Trophy on account that it was not available!) Martin is a sailboat racer warrior of the first order and we look forward to him defending the title in 2009.
Thanks must go to the support boat crews and the ladies in the galley (particularly Bill Wright) who stood in at the last moment
The Photos: thanks to Philip Spillane (with the frozen finger)
Full results to follow

The next race day at Maylandsea is at M.B.S.C. on the 11th Jan. a 10:40 start, and they we be looking forward to seeing the old and new hardy sailors alike. The club race policy is to take great care of the winter fleet and make sure that the maximum amount of enjoyment is rewarded to all competing boats! (But no shenanigans for Bill is out of the galley and in to the race box!) Be there or be lonely. Now read on: and on the sixth day of Chrimbo we found a brilliant bottle of red in the box from (drinksoffrance.co.uk) and the race day appeared so much better……..

Stabbing cold greyness to end Mayandsea Winter sreies

2008-12-18T19:20:00.016Z

Fleet resilience and durability was put to the test on the final day of the Maylandsea Bay winter series. A stabbing cold greyness carried on the lightest of a northerly breeze penetrated unmercifully.
The overall winners place was still up of grabs with Keith Fedi (Finn) needing two wins to take the series and Jacko and Lorna needing to control the start line and maybe keep Keith out of the number one spot. Martin and Tony (Fireball) winners of races 5 and 6 looked to be under pressure with the winds being a tad light. However, Keith Fedi, although in the dinghy park, failed to sail pulling a sick note and taking no further part, leaving Jacko and Lorna the overall winners.

1st Lady Helm, Ann Dyson

There was genuine disappointment as Keith has won the winter series for the last couple of years.
As the seconds counted down to the start the breeze began to fill in; the fleet split in to the starboard tack boats, close hauled sailing parallel to the line but not able to cross the line, joyfully calling starboard on the port tack boats fetching at speed, ducking and weaving on to the line, but over all, all well behaved. As the starting flag fell it was Mick Wright sailing a Laser that won the start with Malcolm and Tony (Fireball), Jacko and Lorna (Merlin) in close pursuit.

1st Laser Martin Tarling

Following the start the fleet, close-hauled and crossing Maylandsea Bay struggled against strongest tidal flow so far in the series, and as the wind started to fail the starboard tack with the tide on the beam was death. The fleet gradually ran in to a huge hole in the wind approaching the north saltings point heading to race mark 4. This was the end of many competitors’ hopes of discarding a previously gained poor result. The damp bitter cold ate in to the fleet and with a deathly silence saw the leading boats slip away.

Over all runner up Keith Fedi

Nicholas (Phantom) quickly sailed past the Fireballs and Merlins to take the lead, and again appeared un-sure as to where he was sailing let out a few cries for help, but staying close to the north shore and putting in some well timed tacks pulled out a good lead not to be seen again, taking line honours and 1st place with Jacko and Lorna 2nd Laurence (Finn) 3rd; sadly two hours passed before all competitors finished which is a credit to the dogged determination and commitment that the Maylandsea fleet shows to sailboat racing.
The second race of the day was a crash and burn affair. Sailed on a fast ebbing tide in a 3-knot N. breeze. The Maylandsea race box set the short distance course with two rounds to ensure the fleet did not sample the Essex mud.
Jacko and Lorna won the start and with short down hill legs Lorna’s spinnaker work set the pace and with the Fireballs breathing down her neck it was race on. Nicholas would have won the second race, but being a tad late to start Jacko and Lorna took the bullet Nicholas in the Phantom 2nd and Martin and Tony in the Fireball 3rd.
The prize giving was a cheery event, supported with a freebee buffet and drinks at the bar for all competitors, support boat crew and the race box team.
Over all winners Jacko & Lorna

A short number of words were spoken by the sailing sec. Burgees were awarded to the winners and particular thanks were given to Evelyn, Brian, Doreen on a splendid spread and Geoffrey (club treasurer) the pennies. And the much appreciated visitors for there support. It was felt by the sailing committee that something for all the fleet to enjoy would be more beneficial to all rather than more bottleage for the winners (in particular Jacko and Lorna who are helping the local off-license trade fight the rescission); some misunderstanding still left Lorna holding a bottle of cider! All in all the fleet appeared happy and it all went down well (well there was nothing left on the table).

Noteables: The Splat the Duck competition, this year there where three nominations, and in reverse order.
Terri and Paul sailing a Fireball: for a miserably thought out upping of the kite on rounding race mark Jetty on to a reach, (tight reach) total wipe out following heading up too early with the crew trying to set the spinnaker.
Ron and Elizabeth sailing a Merlin: Another total wipe out, spinnaker up on a reach at speed! Ron’s comment was “I felt the plastic grip came off the tiller extension then it all went green!”
But this year’s winner, Mike and Keith sailing a Fireball a truly sad tale, as they reached the Harlow jetty Keith (crew) stepped out of the boat onto the jetty lost grip of the boat the boat sailed off and immediately capsized. With Mike now floating in the water Keith had to make the decision to stay dry or jump in to assist in the recovery. It was a freezing cold day and with a nanno second of thought Keith plunged in. A truly magnificent act of devotion.

freebee buffet and drinks

Not forgetting the Blackwater Icicle on Dec. 28th at 11:30 MBSC will be open, galley open, No Bar, prize giving at HBSC following the race

The next club race day is the post Christmas series, starting on the 11th Jan. and running until Easter

Thanks to Geoffrey Walkley and Peter Freshwater for the photos

Full Results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 7 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 10 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 19 points
4th Laser Martin Tarling 26 points
5th Finn Laurence Maudsley 27 points
6th Laser Clive Tarling 30 points
7th GP14 Dave and Kat 34 points

1st Lady Helm14th Laser Radial Ann Dyson 69 points

Martin and Tony push up the pace in the Maylandsea Bay Winter Series

2008-12-01T22:19:00.010Z

Another grey cold day with mountainous clouds over Mundon Spit awaited the fleet. The mud banks crowded with wading birds slowly bunching closer together as a five-metre tide swirled in around the empty mooring buoys. The grey damp coldness wafted across the dinghy park on a Northy 10 knots of breeze.
The fleet was joined, for the fist time in this winter series, by Mr. Martin Scarth with Tony King in the crewing position sailing a Fireball (a very welcomed visitor from the Blackwater S.C.) As it turned out it was to be Martin and Tony’s day.
The start was a “game affair” with the fleet pushing its luck more and more through each start of the series. The game plan by some appears to be “sod going the right way on port tack to the start line, lets see who we can push on to the submerged spit mud!” As one might think the majority just wished to get on to the line with boat speed on the starting signal and get racing. It appeared to the clubhouse upper gallery (filled with the armchair champions) that there was a lack of response from the panicked port tack boats. On the approach the wicked (lets have some fun) starboard tack boats, Jacko and Keith, let (the welcomed visitor) Martin and Tony do most of the damage with his gentlemanly calls of “starboard” as all three squeezed the Lasers in to cries of (well I cannot quite recall the actual words) but the words “room” or “water” did not feature to much. They were being the cause of misery! Then tacking off on to port, Keith, suddenly had a half-hearted poke at Martin whilst being overlapped, with Dave and Kat (GP14) escaping the carnage running down Jacko, who appeared to be confused that Lorna had turned in to Roger, and in a flash of the eye all four rounded Spit mark and sped off up the windward leg.
It was noted that Jacko and Roger tried the same rotten move in the next race start but with no boat speed and consequently got spat out the back door, to much merriment of the upper gallery.
At the top of the windward leg Martin and Tony were already stamping their authority on the fleet with some very smart spinnaker work on the short tight reaching legs and Tony’s ability to understand and navigate the new Maylandsea Bay course card.
With the second start of the day being as calculated as the first and the wind rising to a tasty 14 – 16 knots the pairing were unbeatable and deservedly took the two bullets of the day.
Keith in his Finn, masterful as ever having made good starts and only whacking one race mark, thankfully not the one the race committee had just finished repainting, and rending turns sailed well, leading Jacko and Roger around most of the second race, despite Jacko’s comments about “do you ever sit out” and “do you ever move in that boat” Keith maintained a healthy smile, and as the wind built in the second race sailed faster and faster finishing with a 3rd and a 2nd.
Jacko and stand in crew Roger Mander quickly found themselves in some new and interesting sailing moves, Roger, a well accomplish fireball helm, worked the front end well but did not quite have the awesome authority (rule of terror) that Lorna appears to control Jacko with. The boat was awfully quiet, and Jacko appeared relaxed, also finishing with a 2nd and a 3rd
Another welcome returnee was Mick Wright sailing a Laser. Mick’s laser skills gave him a comfortable lead on the next Laser sailor, Martin who again had a comfortable lead on Clive. Mick finished with a 4th and a 5th.
So once again we find the winter series going to a cliffhanger finish with one point being the margin with all to sail for. Jacko and Lorna have it all to lose with Keith having it all to gain. The question being, will the wind still be in the north? Will the start get any more treacherous? Will the club upper gallery stop laughing? Has Ron won the splat the duck competition? All will be revealed.

Thanks to Philip Spillane And Peter Freshwater for the photos

Next race day Dec. 14th at 11:30
Full Results

Overall results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 6 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 7 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 16 points
4th Laser Martin Tarling 20 points
5th Laser Clive Tarling 24 points
6th GP14 Dave and Kat 35 points

Testy Day at the Maylandsea Winter series:

2008-11-17T22:24:00.007Z

Low grey wet cloudy conditions blotted out the skyline to Mundon spit. The wading birds seemed to be stuck in the wet gooey mud. A light breeze from the North chilled out any idea of it being a fun sailing day.
However, on entering the clubhouse the sounds of laughter rattled around the early takers of coffee and bacon rolls. It appears that the sailing committee had posted the Mk2 edition of the winter course card. It was noted that a notice was posted later in the day, which read.
(The sailing committee would like to thank all the helpful competitors for their advice and keenness in pointing out the errors in the Mk2 course card and all the items raised have been noted and will be resolved for races 5 and 6) well we can but hope!
By the time the fleet had assembled on the start line the rain had stopped and the wind had set in 12 knots N. to N.E. on a rapid incoming tide. The start was again fiercely contested with the Lasers, Finn, Fireballs and Merlins pushing hard to the submerged spit end of the line. David Islin, sailing a Fireball, won both the morning and afternoon starts with a daring and surgical type manoeuvring in a quickly tightening gaggle of assorted boats, popping out bang on the starting signal leaving the following fleet to exchange verbal requests of “room” and “why me God”. The coming together of lips and ideas on the sailing rules was done in the best of sailing tradition with no humour, but with fun in mind and being just out for reach of most. The fleet quickly spread out on the wind ward leg to the top of the bay with Keith in the Finn rounding Mark 4 first. However, Keith took off on a sight seeing tour giving hope to Jacko and Lorna that the race could be won. David having won the start sadly hung onto the south side one tack too many and lost out in a big way.
Nick Radley (Phantom) recovering from a doggy start got hold of the lead when passing Jacko with awesome two sail reaching boat speed, only later to round Lawling in the wrong direction. Sadly this lead to a throwing of the toys out of the pram and a retirement. Nick, restored the brain cells for the second race, but as it happens a joining up with other boats on Spit mark, rendered turns following the race start, but he regained composure to finish 3rd in the race.
Malcolm and Tony, Fireball, having survived the horror that there were 23 marks, shortened to 17 marks to be rounded and that Dave, fellow Fireballerr, blistered the starts, and being surrounded by Finns and Phantoms made the best move he could and maintained his 3rd place overall.
The Laser race is on! With Clive again very much in the front line at the start, and Martin having to work with what’s left. But Martin ever the fighter and knowing the line “it’s never over till it’s over” beavered away removing Clive’s leading Laser crown.

Keith, Jacko and Lorna ended up with a 1st and 2nd each with Jacko’s win in the second race being some what luck, finishing in a dying wind with the tide gaining pace. Not entirely fair for the slower boats.
As it turned out it was a testy days sailing, in a variable shifty wind with a brisk tide on a course of short legs and not much room for error.

Notables: The diving duck competition has opened with Ron and Elizabeth (Merlin) setting a well rehearsed and practised standard
Ron and Elizabeth also finished 4th in the second race.
Tony King and Louise have re-launched Merlin 3230, sadly the bungs were missing.

Thanks to Peter Freshwater for the photos

Next race day is on the 30th Nov. at 11:50

Overall results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 4 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 5 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 12 points
4th Finn Laurence Maudsley 15 points
5th Laser Martin Tarling 15 points
6th Laser Clive Tarling 17 points

Maylandsea Bay Open Winter Series & ‘Karma’

2008-11-12T17:22:00.007Z

Races one and two got under way under the most evil looking skies that the Maylanders had seen for some time and over the summer period following a hearty layer of snow at Easter they have not been spoilt for wicked skies, high winds or no wind at all, dissolving any real feeling of club summer racing.

21 boats from 4 different clubs came to the start line with a very keen start being made by Malcolm and Tony (Fireball) Laurence (Finn) and Jacko and Lorna (Merlin Rocket) The wind 0.2 to 1 knot from the North-to-North East on a soft incoming tide put the fleet in touch with its innermost ‘Karma’ with the helm’s Yins and Yangs stretched to the point of sense of humour failure. But I am pleased to report that the rules of sailing and fair play stood up well (no waves! no Phantoms) especially for Jim and he, being a gent, thinks Rock and Roll is strictly for dancing.
Malcolm and Tony sailed a brilliant windward leg out through the Bay showing excellent boat speed and concentration beating the odds loaded against the high wetted area that the Fireball supports. The windward rounding of Lawling point was against the tide in a miserable half a knot of breeze and ended their hopes of making any real time against the Finns, finishing 4th.
Jacko and Lorna could not make the necessary time required to take out the Finn either, but sailing a careful race, not including farming or shifting weed with the foils, took line honours to finish 2nd.
Laurence sailed well, sailing a good opening leg and rounding Lawling point well and hanging on to the lead boats on the down hill legs, won the first race and beating fellow club Finn sailor Keith Fedi, who it must be said was sleeping at the start of the race but pulled back to finish 3rd.
Race 2 started with a little less tide and a little more wind. The start was banked to rights by the new slimmed down Clive Tarling sailing a Laser. It was good to see Clive rounding the Spit Mark in the inside position and looking cool and in control with the Merlins and fireballs overlapped to the outside. As the fleet passed the north salting point Lorna poured out some verbal encouragement to Jacko as the rudder came adrift from the transom whilst tacking. This was a little test set by Jacko to see if Lorna could move with out knowing why! As it turned out she could, but she can use an assortment of words (all judgemental) on Jacko’s ability to surprise, without warning or reason! A crew’s skills and tolerance to ‘up the pace’ and improvise is needed to secure boat trim without the loss of speed through the water. A tip: some time as a helm it is better to listen with your mouth tightly shut, rather than make un-thought through excuses on boat management.
Luckily all competing boats make some errors, the boat making lest errors can some times be lucky, Jacko and Lorna put the marbles back on the tray and sailed smoothly to finish 1st.
Keith making a good start and sailing well narrowly lost the race to finish 2nd.
Malcolm and Tony again betting the odds in a Fireball on a light airs day put some spinnaker work in and made up good time down wind to finish 3rd.
Clive having won the start sailed well to finish 4th and is leading the Laser fleet.
Next race day 16/11/08 at 12:20 it is not too late to qualify in this series with six races to come.
Overall results
1st Merlin Rocket Jacko and Lorna 3 points
2nd Finn Keith Fedi 5 points
3rd Fireball Malcolm and Tony 7 points
4th GP14 Dave and Kate 10 points
5th Laser Clive Tarling 11 points

Global Warming: It a funny old world

2008-11-12T17:19:00.004Z

The very day that Charlie Hadfield departed planet earth, no doubt blazing a roster tail of sailing joy into the sea of stars, but sadly a bloke that will leave a un-fillable space in the lives of many, was the day that George William Davison arrived in the arms of Mr floppy toppy. For floppy this was a life moving moment, and for Laura, an Essex top totty Merlin crew, an end to sleeping and handbag shopping. For George, who is already a better sailor (and has a Merlin on order) than filth the dog and floppy himself, he is a treasured person and brings joy to all he smiles on.

But enough of all this what of the sailing ‘the reader’ may ask. The summer months have been disappointing in every way. Difficulties in getting results or reports or getting to the opens and being able to get on the water has knocked the edge off sailing. I do hope to put what is available in to words shortly.

Salcombe - High Winds - Pass the Sugar

2008-07-08T10:45:00.013+01:00

Picture: The Salcombe Spoon

This week is Salcombe Merlin Week and I am in the shed for the third year. It is not clear to me if I have closed my Salcombe account or not; I can tell the reader that I am full of empty. There is no better race than the Salcombe Estuary at high water and I have the best of memories.
Sadly all things come to change and people come and people go, and this is life as we know it. But one thing is for sure the Merlin fleet gets as much enjoyment out of the week as ever we did, and the people before us and I hate the idea of the line “back in the good old days” means that things were better! (But they were!) well to me they were better than now!
The memories that stand out:
The reciting of the Merlins are coming: at the end of the weeks racing a very gentle man would address the gathered fleet and recite a short poem from the towns folk written as they busily prepared for the on coming Merlin week, in the quietly spoken words “the Merlins are coming, the Merlins coming” (I cannot remember any more words) but it pressed the buttons. We also were severely reprimanded for being in a flight that had been recalled (it was not well thought of, we were bad boys and girls!)
Top fifteen and the spoon: the picture is of a Salcombe Spoon, the top fifteen boats where duly awarded prizes of which the Salcombe spoon was one. It was a small silver looking engraved spoon with the crest of Salcombe on the handle.

It was to die for, a treasure still on the desk as I scribble. I feel humbled to have been lucky enough to be awarded one of these prizes.

Picture: Jeff Haggerty from Welwyn shows no fear, jibing off Mill beach

The one-minute rule: it was explained to me that to be ON the line was to be OVER the line within the one minute rule, no messing, no nearly on it, and no argument, you just did not do it (even in fog) and it should be said that not many boats fell fowl of the one minute rule (except Tony Johnson).
The course card: it was a sad day when the course card was discarded. A letter was shown on the watchtower with an arrow pointing to Blackstone or Crossways and off we went. Simple faultless, well thought out, the Yalton, Saltstone, Gerston, was always the buis.
The dredging of Batson creek: was the one thing that brought the biggest change. Before the dredging the fleet would arrive to meet a flooding tide around 11:00 on the Saturday morning, to give time for latecomers to get to Millbeach; the tide would be on springs. This also gave the racing an edge for you could hear the tide passing Crossways and to get it wrong rounding Crossways was certain death; as was going around Snape point with the back eddy into the bag.
It prompted the town side flyer. A down the drain rounding of Blackstone and rather than trying to pass 20 boats off of Millbeach, a crossing to the town side, cutting the corner at Crossways against the tide was always a brilliant move with a great buzz as terror hit the front-runners, but if you were down the pan there was nought to lose!
Edgar Cove: was a huge loss. It used to be a boat building shed that filled the site that is now twee little townie homes at the head of Island Street, which also was full of working boat workshops. Just the smells and sounds was a joy to pass and it was all real. The transition from a working boat shed to townie housing was tragic with one of the owners losing his life.
Knuckle bashing boats: part of the Edgar Cove’s legacy was a fleet of splendid timber, clinker built Stuart Turner driven launches. The sort of thing that you left an extra bit of time for changing the spark plug. They were varnished mahogany with blue tie up cuddies at the back of the fore deck. They made that brill brup, brup sound and smelt of petrol and Roger Ecob took the skin off of his knuckles every year whilst trying to restart the blessed thing. The building frames for the tenders stood in the gloom of the shed surrounded by wood shavings. But alas all gone.

Picture: Al Wigg developed his fine body, batting against Roger Ecob’s bowling at the Alston Farm Cricket.

Bass on the wall: racing for pints with Tony Johnson was a must. At the time you could drink pints sitting on the wall opposite the Queen Victoria. The Bass was kept behind the bar in barrels and was lethal. Barrel, glass, Johnson and Tony was instructed to “Tony Hold the baby” and Tony would, and more sailors nearly passed by! But just had to stop for pints the group got bigger and the rounds got larger in the sun on the street until Tony had to stop holding the baby, and Mrs Johnson instructed us all that it was time to go.
Scrumpy and camp cricket: a lot of the fleet at that time were Alston Farm campers. This was when camping was done by campers. There were no inflatable anything’s! the Alston Farm camp site was so full of sailors that you needed to arrive Friday night and have a reserved place in the relevant clan. The Bala campies were full on and really well sorted with a dozen tents or more, and the Grafham camp also well supported to name but a few. It was the way of things that following the Bass on the wall it was Scrumpy time bought in gallon bottles, and as the food was being sorted it was camp cricket (hit a tent or a car and you were out) was performed. They were the best of times.

Picture thanks to Shaun Frolic: again Wiggy playing the kite ‘till it hit the water saying “it’s never over till it’s over”

The Shipwrights: in later years the camping stopped, drinking outside was disallowed and pints were taken in the Shipwrights. Again at the time a splendid pub run by Colin and his good lady; a fine lady that put up with the ordering of chips, then chips with add ons much better than Colin. The lifeboat crew used to drink there and again it was real. The pile of wet sailing bags would pile up in the corner and the sun would disappear from the sky then we would order food. We watched the sailors go down the hill, and then watched them return.
We waved at the aeroplane pilots from Bonadventure Close, and legged it up Coronary Hill for some years.We had splendid afternoons with Mike Preston and Liz with the specially made hampers in the brup boat watching the racing. I see from the back of the photo that it was 1987 that we won the last Salcombe race (Jacko jam again) in a boat called Who’s A Pretty Boy, and now at the age of 48 and having missed three years I can still feel the thrill as the closing seconds pass to the start time of 10:30. Is it over? Is it hell?

This is not about Salcombe names, it is just memories. There are too many names.

Merlin Magic Essex - Vintage Whitstable

2008-06-30T18:48:00.002+01:00

This weekend saw the Whitstable open, a two day four race affair, sailed in the most demanding but stunning conditions. The wind form the West 12 to 20 knots, very shifty and an ebbing tide in brilliant sunshine.
As always the club had a warm welcome for visitors and the bar and galley was humming, being at the heart of club life.
This year the race team was in the hands of ex-Merlin sailor Jon Silk (a man not to be messed with) who did the club proud setting an excellent course and not keeping the fleet hanging about. By the time the start flag fell the sea was offering up a sporty Whitstable chop but nowhere as good as race two with the tide now on the flood against the wind, this is what the venue is famed for, the chop being able to stop a Thames barge, but for the Merlins it was play time. However surprisingly a number of the home fleet ended up laying with the fishes. The rumour is that practice for the Diving Duck team trophy at Looe was required.
The leaders of the fleet put up a stunning performance of boat handling and reading of the wind shifts with Glen and Olly coming out the winner from Roger and Ellie.
The mid fleet bulge, as it rounded the race marks, was a tough place to be with some very interesting and creative/artistic interpretations of the sailing rules and some brilliant get out of jail boat handling in the most testing conditions (and not a turn being required). It may well be that the plastic fantastic boats bounce of one another better than the wooden boats and maybe the terrifying sound of splitting tearing crunching ply and mahogany is gone for ever (hurray).
We can see from the results that the race to be in the top half of the fleet was as hard as it has ever been with Alex and Rachel 15th making the cut with 43 points and John and Hilary with equal 43 points, Tudor and Hamish on 44 as were Phil and Karen, finishing 16th, 17th and 18th
For Mr John Cooper (respect given) there was consolation for the race with the Bottle of Red prize. Jacko and Lorna handed over the bottle counting some 14 points higher score, but as Jacko said “it’s never over till it’s over” and John who has now room in a separate rack in his new wine seller accepted the bottle and disappeared.
It is scary to see the national champion, open meeting winners and top club racers who build the mid fleet and is a credit to them that they still have the ambition and determination to win races in a fleet of up and coming sailor that the Merlin fleet are blessed with, it is racing at it best.

Picture: thanks to Al Wigg. John adds to his wine seller as Jacko hides the tears

Notables: Jacko and Lorna were the only boat in race team Essex.
Glen did not mount the windward mark! It just moved out the way as he passed it
The Polish crew that JC set-up to crew Jacko on the Sunday did speak English (and was a splendid bloke with a good sense of humour as shown when Jacko understood the windward mark loosing four more places)

Next race is on the 6th in the Who is cutting the Custard series
Full Results

Merlin Magic Essex

2008-06-23T20:49:00.006+01:00

The Silver Tiller series arrived at Brightlingsea for a five-race event on the weekend of the 21st
The skies were grey and the wind, 6 to 12 knots from Holland, had a salty sharp edge to it. The Brightlingsea club management is second to none, with the ladies of the galley sending out trays full of bacon buttes, tea and coffee. There is a friendliness about the club that makes you feel that you have always been there.
Alan Hicks was the man in charge and lead the BSC race team very well. The start line was controllable and had just enough pin end carrot to prevent the committee boat rafting. The fleet of 25 boats started well and with the position of windward mark (nods a wink dead centre) the fleet was tempted to the Clacton side of the course to escape a soft tide, but some shift in the wind to the Bradwell side tempted the hopefuls back into the middle; the sea was as ever a bubble rap of boat stopping slop.
In race one William and Chris crunched the numbers right and quickly pulled out an unbeatable lead, and with the bright red kite set against grey skies looked stunning and very fast.
In race 2 we saw the Merlins in much more buoyant frame of mind with the fleet crashing the line in fine style and rendering the fleet another viewing of the black flag. But not to be put off the fleet hit the line on mass to be shown the general recall flag. It was on the 3rd starting that Simon and Phil had a much tighter race with Glen and Olly, as now the ebbing tide gathered pace and caught out boats not guarding their tail end. The downhill finishes with the short leg, having rounded the leeward mark, to the finish line made an interesting spectacle with some last minute jibes with boats on port and starboard; many places were won and lost.
Sunday sadly the sounds of clanking halyards and the whistling winds through the rigging foretold the end of play. Thank God that common sense prevailed for with little water in the creek and fixed foils and tribes of white horses galloping up the Colne River no repair estimates are required!
This left the top three boats on equal points and Simon and Phil the winners.
Notables: Dave and Celia the BSC leading boat sailed well and finished in front of two Merlin rock stars. scoring a 10th and 9th this is no mean feet and respect is given.
Ozzie and Melissa had their down and up moments, but finished more up than down and also showing a pleasing boat speed with Melissa’s very concentrated spinnaker work paying off.
Jacko is still pulling the line on the importance of not peeking to early and, with Lorna’s signing skills have got a new interpretation of what the starting flags really mean.
Ron and Elizabeth did beat Simon and Pies.
It should be said that race team Brightlingsea did the Merlins open well, both on and off the water and we look foreword to a return trip in 2009.

Silver Tiller series results sponsored by Speed Sails
1st Simon Blake and Phil Dalby 4 points
2nd William Warren and Chris Robinson 4 points
3rd Glen Trusswell and Olly Turner 4 points
4th David Winder and Pippa Taylor 9 points
5th Matt Biggs and Rob Kennaugh 9 points
6th Tudor Owen and Hamish Kilburn 14 points

Osea Cup 2008

2008-06-17T18:06:00.005+01:00

The Harlow (Blackwater) S.C. Maylandsea Bay saw the start of the Osea Cup trophy the second of the four joint club trophies raced for annually. The tide was soft and a 4 to 12 knot breeze setting north-to-north east in sunshine and blue skies
After an un-signalled delay Jacko and Lorna won the start and led on the short hop to Bay race mark and on rounding there followed a long tight three sail reach to Mundon spit and the relatively short windward leg to top of Osea Island.
Mark and Barry (505) took up the lead as they passed Mundon spit with Malcolm and Tony (Fireball) recovering from a dramatic start which included appearing to be very frisky and in butt kicking mode but sadly ended in mounting the jetty mark, leaving it on the wrong side but sailing a good three sailer to round the Mundon Race mark second. A boat on boat battle with Jacko and Lorna to the top of Osea kept them in touch and it was still race on; but sadly on the down wind leg past the Skumbles, Malcolm lost time to Jacko, but holding time on Batty and Barry.
The race was won as Batty and Barry as they fought with the wind shadow to the south of Osea eventually getting a goodly gust of wind that saw them speed away for the island and into Mundon creek with the kite up leaving the trailing fleet for dead to win the Osea Cup Trophy.
Jacko and Lorna made a good start but in a blond moment nearly left Mundon race mark out and making a pig’s ear out of the doldrums to the south of Osea, appeared to struggle up Mundon creek dropping the kite at one time! Then re-hoisting it, and then adding time by sailing the posted course, were lucky to finish 2nd
Malcolm and Tony as usual sailed a good race but could not get enough puff to do the buis to finish 3rd
As at the time of righting this report H(B)SC have not posted the results.
Notables: Ron having put L in the family way has now started working on a very handy new front-end girl, Elizabeth King. As is the way of sailing the Osea Cup was the first race for the new pairing where the wind was not blowing old boots. Ron in his excitement re-inacted the Poseidon Adventure in all its drama and sorrow. Having left the jetty and travelling quite quickly but un-noted by Ron the boat was already on it’s way to the bottom and as the boat crashed into a moored obstruction, first the gunwale, then the transom slid below the waves, Ron now clutching the detached rudder blade noticed that the centre board was neatly tucked away the its case. And explaining to the now rather wet crew, that it was always the crew’s duty to see that he knew that he had not requested, “plate” and returning to salvage the boat, by beaching it on the jetty to remove the water, was the norm and better than climbing out through the hole cut in the bottom.
The Sandhoppers felt that as opposed to the last Joint Clubs Trophy race, which had short racing legs and was too hard! this ninety-minute race around Osea Island was far too risky, as they might well not get back in time for lunch.

East point Osea Island

Merlin Magic Essex

2008-06-09T21:31:00.008+01:00

Another coming together of the Blackwater Merlins took place at Brightlingsea S.C. this weekend. It was displacement sailing at its best with a shifty light breeze from the north on a gentle tide. Race team Bond had it all their own way with the competition finding new and odd ways to mess up a fairly easy starting day. It should be said that Craig and Jayne treat the club start line as it was their own back yard and after them you can be next to start. Jacko has already worked out that the line is always 10cm in front of Craig’s stem on the gun even if the line has passing river traffic and so many boats that you cannot see either bank/race box or transits. Needless to say Craig and Jayne won both starts and quickly built healthy leads showing good boat pace on all point of sailing resulting in two bullets and the series leaders.
Ozzie and Mel, Mel ducking out on the days racing on account of not binge drinking and never having had a hangover (ever) following her 21st? 31st? Birthday fest the day before, put in club star Sarah Bines. Ozzie, who was affected by the booze up and the neat spinnaker disaster, involving a new and interesting reefing system with no knots showing, but more twists than you could shake a stick at, or the team of medics that were called to resolve the monty on the preceding day and put to to restore some respect. It was Ozzie and Sarah that were nearest to sorting Craig. Finding good boat speed and nippy boat handling around the mark but could not quite ruining Craig’s day, finishing with a 3rd and 2nd and 2nd overall.
Jacko and Lorna had some good bits and some very ordinary bits. Not getting the idea of starting in front of Craig or any one else! And come to think on it, not even the one legged draft sliding sideways in the mud on the slipway left too much to do. But as is the way of things managed to wiggle past Ozzie and Dave by doing the opposite of what was expected on the long wind ward leg and finally cross tacking within a boat length of Craig at the top, but oddly still going in the wrong direction, to finish 2nd. In the second race things started to fall apart somewhat! dropping 3rd to 4th by quite a long margin and ending 3rd overall.
David and Celia lead the way in how not to start but did explore all parts of the line from every direction. But it was noted that boat handling and the speed about the boat put them right back in the race within seconds of starting. It’s tough boy racing, every error is boat lengths and trying to keep in the race is edgy at the best, and on a day of variable winds it can be grim. David and Celia are a very polished duo with heaps of sailing talent and are neatly posed to kick butt big time and when you’re down you can only go up and with only 4 point from top too bottom it is race on.

Thanks to Al Wigg for the Pics

On the 21st/22nd the Merlin Rocket Silver Tiller Series comes to Brightlingsea for the first time. Ozzie and his team are a well-sorted club and no mater what the conditions are it will be the best that you will get in Essex this year. The sailing water is testing and the Adnams beer is well cared for. Car parking is no problem and the showers work (and the club is Barnsie proof); the ladies in the galley are not to be messed with, even Ozzie and Jacko say please and thank you. If the reader needs anything just ask.
The laugh is that Craig is looking to escape on the grounds that he is needed somewhere else. A better line than “I am moving house” “I have to be at an exhibition for work” and is he going to lend his boat to a Fireball sailor? Will any of the sounding Merlin sailors appear? David, Charles Simon, Ron, John.

The 6th July is the next race and we will see just who is cutting the custard at Brightlingsea.
Results so far
Now read no dit dit dit

The Mayland Mug Trophy

2008-06-03T18:22:00.006+01:00

Maylandsea Bay S.C. ran the Mayland Mug Trophy Race on the 1st June. It was a light airs displacement sailing affair in a NE to E 2-8 knots on a soft running tide under grey skies.
It was the first of four Mayland/Harlow (Blackwater) joint trophy races and sadly not well supported by either club. The biggest disappointment was the Sandhopper class that felt that the light airs and in the bay/creek course would be too demanding for them to race on!
H(B)SC put out six assorted dinghies with MBSC fielding six more. The windward start against the tide passing the spit can to port resulted in a rafting at the windward end of the line and the door open for the smarty pants who hit the line in the right place. It was noted that the return of the H(B)SC fleet would indicate that not much has changed with boats being too early on the line and going the wrong way up the beat with no regard for tide and the wind bends around the boat yard pontoons.
Jacko and Lorna showed a measure of skill and picked up on the lifts and quickly broke clear not to be seen again and with well-practised spinnaker work and only thwacking of one race mark had a good day.
Martin Tarling in his Laser recovered well from a poor start and as usual did a very workman like job on staying in the wind patches and with smooth tacking and boat handling finished 2nd
Dave Islin and Don Ares in the Fireball (not a great Fireball day) made a good start and was clear of the pack and with his gentle words of wisdom and encouragement bouncing off the marina to Don and the rest of the fleet, kept all those sailing on their toes, to finish 3rd

Notables: Nick Longshanks in a Laser made a brilliant start and had a well sorted first beat rounding the Jetty mark in front the faster boats but with shifty winds sadly slipped out the back door.
Jan Nuttall sailing a Pico (not a great Pico day) had her moments but along with the new boys on the block also in a Pico failed to finish but did show that the Pico can mix it with the faster boats.
All in all it was a tough day at the office and the first light airs day for a long time. The next trophy race is at H(B)SC on the 15th at 9:45 and it will be race on as it is the Osea Cup a race around Osea Island and we should assume that the Ballers will be burning seaweed on the jetty in hope that the winds blow heartily and they don’t have to think too much. Lets hope we see the Sandhoppers in the race for there must be enough time and distance to get their kites flying.

For full results
!! now read on dit dit dit

Merlin Magic Essex (Brightlingsea)

2008-05-19T19:45:00.009+01:00

For the first time this year four Merlin Rockets came to the line at Brightlingsea to contest who is cutting the custard. It was a full on event sailed in the bests of conditions; sun 12 to 16 knots across the tide. Each team had the lead at one point and also thrashed about in last place. It was noted that all overtaking was off wind with mostly boat handling errors. In the current sailing climate the volume of chat about boats, strings, crew weights and sails, it should be said that the boats sailed are of no consequence in relationship to the people sailing them and the skills required to win a sailboat race, as opposed to just sailing around the race cans in the shortest time.
Eyeball to eyeball dinghy racing can hurt; it does damage your sense of humour! There can be only one boat that crosses the finish line first, great to win but the pits to lose. And then we have the post bar inquest as to how the race was lost. It is at this point we can see that no one loses, each team is keener, sharper and more resilient for the experience, each gains some tips and knowledge and wishes to prove just how lucky the lead boat was to be lead boat at the finish!!
It would appear to me that racing a modern Merlin is about sailing skills and not what boat with what string. The art of stating and going the right way is everything. Boat handling and teamwork cannot be bought. Being extremely polite to your crew when things are going tits up is an essential part of keeping the marbles on the tray.
I can tell you that my crew looks stunning laid sunny side up on the fore deck whilst hauling out the spinnaker from under the bow in the Colne chop, but alas a helm needs to sail twice as good with a flat boat, gob shut and head up the mast.
For Ozzie and Mel (race winners and winners of the day) having upped the kite on a beam reach and powered to the front from last place, the trump cards where down, and for Jacko and Lorna having stonked the start and led at the first mark, dropped to last and pulled up to second (the word lucky has a new meaning)
The newest members to join the fleet, Dave and Celia Charlton, whose racing skills can only be said to be red hot are a welcome addition the Merlin fleet, finished in third place. For Craig and Jayne the understanding of the words “you’re never lonely in a Merlin” and “the fight for last place, it’s never over till it’s over”, plus Craig being responsible for having the club restructure the PY handicapping sum, is doing his uppermost to put more onto his race elapsed times, but with only 90 seconds separating the four Merlins I am not sure that it matters at all as boat on boat racing is what sailboat racing really is.
The Merlins are set to race in Pyfleet Week with a class start this year, the week itself has much to offer the Merlin sailor, the venue is ideal for the Merlin Rocket and you don’t get ripped off, and the club even lets Jacko sit at the bar, well some times if nobody’s there. The next race in this cutting the custard series is on the 8th June at 11:00 HW at 16:19.
If you’re feeling lucky give it a go.
Now read on dit dit dit

Thanks to Al Wigg for the Pics

The Douglas Charlton Blackwater Travellers Trophy

2008-05-08T18:57:00.008+01:00

The Blackwater Travellers Series started on the 3rd with the Britannia Trophy, an open handicap event held at the Blackwater S.C. Heybridge. It was the most splendid of weekends with a sunny warm S.E. 12 to 16 knots of steady breeze.
With a 6 race, 5 to count over the three days, series supported by Maldon brew we might have be forgiven for thinking we had died and gone to heaven. The fleet made up of a fast variety of new and old dinghies from 49er to the glorious timber clinker built Sprite, made the starts one of the most demanding and skilful sailing moments one could possibly wish to encounter. As is the way of dinghy racing the thrill of the start on the tide in a mix of fast and slow boats led to groans from the race box and some very lucky competitors. But in all starts and restarts the fleet behaved well and not once was a naughty word used. The courses set were testing and a joy to sail with not too much farming and mystery as to where the race marks were hidden.
With asymmetric boats, single-handed boats and the traditional classes, plus catamarans the national PY numbers is still a mystery to the majority of sailors and the sailing skills factor unknown as a factor! and each class wishing for more or less wind. To win the event on the PY numbers is a bonus to go with the pleasure of sailing in the event.
I can tell you that the winner, Philip Newman (Phantom), made cracking starts and was often seen at the top of the first windward legs leading the Fireballs and Merlins, and was not seen to be rocking and pumping down the runs. (Unusual for a Phantom sailor). His starts, mark rounding and tactics were the winning factor. But more special was Philips joy of the race, taking on the Fireball and the Merlins boat for boat, a very worthy winner with 11.5 points.

Runner up was Jacko and Lorna/Al Wigg (Merlin Rocket) with 14 points. Sometimes known as the boat of laughs on account of the endless stream of errors and hands full of string pulling and the odd idea of leaving the rudder in the Dinghy Park, scraped and battled their way around the courses, occasionally putting some interesting team work together, but was seen to be in the right place for most of the time.
Ian Smith (Vortex) finished in 3rd place with 23 points. I know not what to say on account that we never saw the Vortex. It was gone in a flash and sailed for the most part on the horizon somewhere and was off the slip before our return, but for sure little error was made and a good time was had in what could be said to be not ideal conditions for a Vortex.
The Blackwater S.C. famed for its Fireball fleet appeared a little subdued. George Whitchurch, overwhelmed to see Jacko again, made the visitors welcome and Martin Scarth sporting a new Fireball as ever rallied the fleet lending a boat, sorting and nurturing the newer members. It would appear that the loss of Nigel (regular crew) led Martin into a sight seeing tour of the river, zapping across to the Scum-bells and into the saltings, but in good spirits and offering to put Jacko in his tea group with biscuits, and on passing out to Southy creek with a little bit of trawling (but no fish) kept the fleet knocking at the door. The leading Fireball was Julian Wild and Ben Arnold who put 4 good races together but sadly could not quite get in the chocolates.
Races 3 and 4 combined count for the Douglas Charlton Blackwater Travellers Trophy with the next race being at Brightlingsea on Aug. 16th at 14:00, the Carol Cruickshank pursuit race.

Full Results

I would like to thank Douglas Charlton Accountants for there sponsoring the Blackwater Travellers Trophy series and the Blackwater S.C. for running the Britannia Trophy as an open event and for all the club members for their help and support in making the river Blackwater a friendly and pleasurable place to be sailing.

Easter Mayland...sea, snow,wind and freezing

2008-03-26T21:12:00.009Z

High winds, snow and freezing conditions cracked the Maylandsea Bay Easter Regatta.
Sea spray lobbed high in the air from the sea wall, travelled across the commodores lawn at 40 knots both on Friday and Saturday and as the wind died down on Sunday a goodly layer of snow and a wind chill factor ended another days sailing.
However Monday’s winds were fair and the skies had brightened. The club elders gathered and the smells of bacon and coffee wafted out from the clubhouse.

What was left of the dinghy fleet with a stout sense of ‘lets go sailing’ rigged the boats as Geoffrey, Mike and Richard heated up the race box and manned the support boat. The wind now 16 knots N.E. and gusting 20 knots and as cold and dense as it had been all winter, put a brilliant end to what was now one race for the Easter Cup.
The winner of this event was with no doubt Ann Dyson sailing a Laser Radial closely followed by Richard and Mike in the Support boat. Ann showing great courage before the start, plaining up and down the start line looking as she was going to give Jacko and Lorna in the Merlin an Easter egg poaching. Jacko and Lorna won the start and were not to be seen again, but over all they put up a very lack lustre performance (all very boring). On the other hand Ann, loosing the start by being slightly too far down the line at the flag, dropped, tucked in and settled down to the tacks hanging in to see if Monsieur Jacko would go farming in the saltings or possibly sail a new and more challenging course. For Ann the race turned into the most impressive performance the club as seen this year. The course had every point of sailing with the windward legs against the tide and a punishing long tight fetch back to the club line. As a large black cloud passed to the west the wind rose and held steady up in the 20 knots plus for some time, distressingly just a bit more than Ann could keep hold of. But in a truly outstanding sail proving that you don’t have to be 80 kilos and 2 meters high. And as she flashed across the finish line some 97 minutes after the start a well respectable round of applause and worthy cheer rattled out from the club veranda.
Ann will in due course be awarded (to keep) the splat the duck trophy and the Easter Cup for an outstanding result in the only race not to be blown off or snowed in.

Thank to Peter Freshwater and Richard Lytheer for sending in the photos

Maylandsea Bay Frosty series

2008-03-10T19:32:00.011Z

Grey skies and a solid 10 knots from the S.W. greeted the runners and riders on the last race day in the Maylandsea Bay Frosty series. It was written in the seaweed that it was to be a last race cliffhanger and with the Race Box now in the hands of Geoffrey Walkley who summed up the conditions, eyed the gathered competitors and set a fair course around the cans in the Lawling creek. There (as is the way) was some banter as to who needed to do what to win the series.

To the left sailing logic:

And with approx. two hundred and something years of sailing wisdom in the leading boats rattling around the top of the slipway, reverse tactical logic and an adjustment of sailing clothing failed to prevent another wickedly poor start from some of the fleet leaders. However it was Dean and Rob (younger blokes) that won the start. The following fleet rounded mark 0 overlapped, with Martin (Laser) well placed on the inside. The fleet quickly split with Martin and Nigel (Fireball) leading around the marks in the Bay and out to Steeple Point. The windward leg back up Lawling Creek and into the Bay was spiced up with the wind backing, only to head steadily towards the top. Jacko, this week crewed by Alan Wigg, slowly sorted their way through to take the bullet.
However, it was Martin in the Laser who badgered away and stayed in the race two finish 2nd and 4th overall. A very worthy result putting Martin and Dean who had been swapping places throughout the race on equal corrected time in 3rd place.
The last race was not to be lost. A keen start was had by all, with Jacko and Al Wigg rounding the first mark, hotly pursued by Martin and Nigel. Martin gained an overlap, only to see Jacko break clear on the upping of spinnakers and jibe inside at mark 1. It was race on. It all slipped away for Jacko and Al as Martin and Nigel upped the pace on the reaching legs out to Mundon navigation mark and back to Steeple Creek, following exercises in farming carried out on the submerged salting at the head of Steeple creek.

To the left Al Wiggs return:

It would appear that lifting rudder blades are not as efficient at digging up lugworms as fixed blades, although it appears that it encourages the helm to have two goes at gathering more worms, whereas a boat resting on it’s nose and rudder blade seems to have a greater deterrent and really gets the crew actively involved watching for grass in the water.
To the right: Martin and Nigel, having regained the lead on corrected time in Lawling Creek were not to be messed with again and took the bullet. But sadly the 3rd placing in the penultimate race cost them the series to be 2nd overall.
For Dean and Rob in the Hornet time just ran out, finishing 2nd on the water and 3rd on corrected time and 3rd in the series, but being able to mix it with the fireball and breaking clear of the Merlin they just needed a couple more races to sort the competition out.
For Jacko and Al Wigg! The words “I should be so lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky” rang out around the men’s changing room (and where was Legs) and what of the Jacko jam pot.

To the left Rger details with beer mats how the capsize occurred: Notables: Roger, crewed by Dave, had a good go at robbing Peter of the Splat The Duck Competition putting in a marvellous capsize just off Lawling point ending with the mainsail in the trees on the shore. But no worries, Peter kept up a full round of steady duckings all through the series and was not really touchable and won by a short swim and a backwards roll.
Sailboat racing is alive and well in Maylandsea Bay with many sailors returning year after year much too the appreciation of the club elders who maintain the club and it’s facilities for the benefit of us all. The sight of Len Wright pulling pints behind the club bar and the gentle encouragement given to Jacko on how to put more string into a Merlin is warming to the heart.
A programme of “friendly” sailing in company around race marks in Maylandsea Bay is being put together to help new sailors join in club events and details and help can be found at the club or contact Alan Jackson.

To the right Martin Tarling leadig Laser:

Next Race Day March. 21st a 10:30 start
Results overall

Frosty! “I don’t think so”

2008-02-25T20:09:00.013Z

Sunshine and meaty squalls brought excitement/fear and a rapid opening of the Splat The Duck competition for 2008. Martin Scarth joined the fleet this week, front ended by Nigel Sheppard sailing a Fireball. Also we saw the return of home club sailor Kevin Whittle sailing a Laser and a second Hornet visiting sailed by Crystal Tips & Alistair. Also the return of Simon Sawyer sailing a Merlin, front ended by Ron (who now thinks he’s fit enough to crew).
Bill heading the race box set a course in Lawling Creek and with a SW 14 knots lumping 20, the fleet put to the water and it was clear very quickly that the shelter given by the club house and Maylandsea had lead the fleet into a relaxed state of mind as the fleet appeared to be struggling to gain control as they approached the start line.
The race box decided that too much excitement on the club veranda was not to be tolerated and undecided on who was and who was not over settled on the three boats that did return to restart rather than have a general recall.

This was clearly wrong as is shown by the photos taken at the time. But sa la vie it is unlikely that it altered the result (by much).

Dean and Rob (one of the boats that restarted) got back into the race very quickly with nippy spinnaker work in what was now quite a testing ride, beavered away to finish 4th. Martin (Laser) as always sailed well, maybe pushing the start a bit and removing some of the creases in his new sail, finished 3rd. Jacko and Lorna also restarted and were seen to be in the deepest of conversation for a lot of the race. The words “it’s freezing” came across very clearly as Lorna (sunny side up) hung over the bow to retrieve the spinnaker from under the stem. Jacko been a gent looked for a seal wearing a woolly hat (lost in the winter) finished 2nd. Martin and Nigel looked a little serious as talk of premature starters wafted around the slip. Martin and Nigel did have a testing day heightened with the disappearance of the race mark Stripy and the decision of the support boat to place it’s self a ¼ of a mile further down the creek from where it would have been. All boats finished with Martin and Nigel taking the bullet.
Notables : Kevin (Laser) returned, having dried out following last years dunking in the winter series, sadly opened this series’ Splat the Duck competition right out side the clubhouse, much to the enjoyment of the Sandhopper spectator audience. However for Simon and Ron losing time to go around a now submersed, hanging on the dagger board, Kevin was not an open option. Luckily Kevin was un-bruised and with encouragement from the clubhouse remounted and finished the race. As for the comments about Ron’s eyes been on stalks and Simons precision steering losing only nanno seconds.The pairing took a dipping on a (“I will talk you though it”, jibe). Mr Playle was also seen “looking for Jacko’s hat” in the waters.

Race 4 was a much more cautious affair; all competitors being on the same side of the start line. The tide had now flooded over the saltings and the breeze was easing down. For Martin and Nigel it was lets get on with it leaving the fleet for dead at the start, not to seen again and taking the second bullet of the day. Jacko and Lorna nearly started with the others but once more left a lot to be done. At the half mark almost got back in the race but failed to capitalize on gains of Lawling point and losing out, passing the marina to finish 2nd.

Dean and Rob battled on in the failing breeze and at times it looked like line honours may come to them as they sped past Jacko and made big gains on Martin in the Bay, but alas finished 3rd with Martin (Laser) 4th
This now brings us to the last race day in the series, on the 9th March at 11:30 with all to do and all to lose. It is hoped that the winds are fair to all and Ron’s dog finds something worthy to chew on. Full results

I would like to thank Peter Freshwater for the Photos

Coconuts and Frosties - Race One

2008-02-11T18:46:00.000Z

Brilliant blue sky and a testing light E to S 4-8 knot breeze set in over Maylandsea Bay for what the club wish to be known as the Frostbite Series, and race one was set to start. But with a slight waft of Pinacolada, Pimms and sun tan oil drifting through the rigging, long nights, darkness and frost seemed a long way off.
Bill heading the Race Box team set an ‘in the bay’ course containing all the points of sailing and with a short delay for Lorna to finish her makeup and hair styling the fleet got stuck in. It was at this point that Bill’s plan of a running start took its first of the series casualties. Roars of laugher rattled out from the club veranda as the fleet, with less than a minute to go, tide on to the line, hit the panic mode of starting. Surprisingly it was Jacko and Lorna who won the start (just) with Paul Wilkinson (Laser) in close contact and even closer Martin Tarling (Laser). The fleet rounded race mark 1 mostly over lapped for the short hop to race mark 0, still overlapped where another bun fight of enthusiasm took place and they found themselves on the first windward leg across the club frontage (it is at this point that Bill’s wish to entertain the club veranda audience became clear). The fleet now spreading out and rounding race mark 2 burst out into the Bay on a tight three sail reach scraping past the salting point at the far end onto a more relaxed reach to race mark 4. The shifting breeze lead to much place swapping and a close race through the fleet with Jacko and Lorna taking the bullet.
To the left : Martin Tarling
It was a real pleasure to welcome back Dean and Rob sailing a rather smart Hornet, so new that the down hill start sailed by the Mayland wild west rodeo riders was too much pressure and it was resolved with a leisurely launch and a joining in after the start option was taken. However showing good boat speed pecked away very skilfully through the fleet to finish 2nd
Martin (Laser), with a brand new first time up the mast sail, still with all the neat creases in place, had his work cut out but not to be fazed with unfavourable conditions stuck to the task to take a very worthy 3rd

Race two stands testament to the sport of eyeball-to-eyeball dinghy racing. Bill (if it ain’t broke don’t fix it) much to the appreciation of the onward looking clubbies, left the start as before. The fleet appeared to join in with the spirit of the occasion including Dean in the new Hornet and it was race on.
It should be said that Jacko now in his late forties and having recently completed therapy with a behavioural etiquette therapist, a course designed by M Scarf to help sailors in awkward positions whilst on the racecourse, failed miserably. Appearing to have a game plan that failed before it had begun, launched the verbal starboard cry on the port fleet as the start gun fired (begged belief) the nearest of the fleet seeing Jacko’s Rocket travelling slowly along the start line passed both to the front and the rear; Jacko putting in a sloppy jibe and coming to face to face with the back of Ronet’s head and a disappearing Paul Gray, sailing a Kestrel, along with half the fleet.
Ron and Laura (who we have not heard much about of late) finding themselves leading Jacko brightened up instantly - this could be their day. Unfortunately someone forgot to put the centre plate down and on nearly rounding the first mark, slid sideways pushing Jacko and the remaining fleet out towards Maldon. But still in front and quickly getting a grip, headed up on to the beat. Covering Jacko on the next two tacks the number of shiny teeth between the ears began to grow. To the right: Roger walking the plank

I hate to say it, but with the shifty breezes you have to be sharp or lucky and in blink of an eye the Ronet’s had slipped down the order. Paul now with a healthy lead following a brilliant start was now up against the Hoover Manoeuvre Dean and Rob showing good boat speed and keeping Jacko covered, slowly sucked Paul in. On a downhill reach separated by only a few boat lengths disaster occurred as the two had sailed well high on the lay line and now bearing away found Jacko and Lorna at the Bay race mark. Dean and Rob sorted Jacko out regaining lead boat before Spit but could not make enough time up to finish 3rd
Paul sailed on well showing great concentration and was leading until the last reach from home when he appeared to lose a lot of space and time to finish 2nd
Jacko and Lorna it could be said “got lucky” but with the words “it’s never over till it’s over” repeated over and over took the second bullet of the day.
To the right: Deans new Hornet

This was a tough start to the series but in the superb conditions there is still time to enter as the series has two discards and four races to count.
Maylandsea Bay S.C. has its doors open and will welcome all to take part in this Frostbite Series.
Next Race Day Feb. 24th at 12:35

Thanks to Alan Wigg for the Pictures

Overall results

Things are looking good for M.B.S.C.

2008-02-06T19:03:00.000Z

For this weekend high pressure and a good racing breeze is set to fall into Maylandsea Bay for race one of the Frostbite series. The club, due to fatigue and low numbers, stopped running this series some years ago. I think it is a very good sign that Maylandsea Bay S.C. now feels the time is right reopen the event. The home club fleet is a tad thin on the water with the racing fleet being keen sailboat racers from all around Essex. If I have got it right this is the only race series running on the Blackwater at this time and for the all-round sailor it is a welcome return to this venue.
Maylandsea has much to offer in the winter months being protected by Mundon spit against the northerly winds, offers a varied assortment of water conditions and with 15 race marks scattered around the Bay and Lawling creek there is lots of room for gains and losses, at both the front and back of the fleet.
The racing in the past has been full on, but sadly lacks new blood and the established pecking order seems to prevail. However, the word on the block is that a new hardened attack on the prize booty is to be launched. Also we here that Keith is to put up his good sail! And Ron is to spend real dosh with an aim to put Jacko and Legs “in their place” and what of the fireballers I hear the reader ask? Well it looks like Roger has teamed up with Edward, who is on a new lease of life and threatening not to be late, and it looks like that’s it for the Ballers, for the rest of them are clutching Bus passes and sitting in the bar. Chris Roberts (the nicest Phantom sailor I know in the Bay has now removed the Laser bow from his amidships and is ready to kick ass big time around the Bay and we wish him all the very best.
We cannot write a preview without a mention of Fatbatt who defies two bricks and anything you can think of, with an unwavering enthusiasm for sailboat racing. The bit about going around the corners only thwarts his love of straight-line boat speed, we wish him well.
What of the Merlins, Jacko and Lorna are not shining; Ron and Laura are letting boat maintenance slide. Simon and Pies await for a race that ends with the start as Simon starts better than he finishes!! Chris is still varnishing, but we live in hope.
It can be said that there is no lack of entertainment in Maylandsea Bay, if we can all start at the same time and sail the right course without hitting the mud this has the potential to be the best pre-Easter series for some time

Race schedule
10th Feb. races 1&2 start time 12:40
24th Feb. races 3&4 start time 12:35
9th Mar. races 5&6 start time 13:41

Adnams ice-cream tours; the shadows shorten

2008-01-30T17:40:00.000Z

The enticement of salt spray and the calls of the wading birds is already drawing land locked strawberry beer Mickey takers out of the Dog and Duck. For four long weeks the welly-goggs and kit bag have been festering under the stairs. Feeling the heat from the sun is surely making the brain cell activate and with the breeze travelling through the whiskers we are surely ready to slip and be off. One of the best things we have ever done was to buy Zelda of Kent (Wanderer) to sit and watch the water pass is as good as life needs to be. Al Wigg and I have had as much pleasure sailing off for little beers, afternoon teas and brunch as ever we had in our Merlin Rocket racing around the cans.
The technique of reefing down and sitting in! fill us with delight. We have found ourselves in some pretty breezy stuff; the sort of thing that does blow your hat off, to the point that we replaced all the standing rigging. But all else is as old as the boat itself of which is solid in character and has a quality-moulded ship like feel about her. You can stuff a food hamper with cooking utensils under the foredeck, a broop-broop engine in the back below decks and sit on the floor and enjoy time spent. The river is surrounded with brilliant places to visit, either on the top of the tide or sail out on the ebb and return on the flood. Thank god the river is as a norm empty of grockles and trippers. The tides are good this year and love bunny is showing an interest in catching a few rays and posing on the aft deck. We have in the past talked with some of the club chappies on taking part in flotilla type events! But it appears that the lack of suitable tides (for them) and sailing ability stops the chappies from taking part. My fear would be that the average club’s boat owners’ boat is poorly maintained and rarely sailed and out side of Mundon spit would be a liability and un-lightly to reach Hythe Quay in time to buy a round of beers. The Osea Spring Brunch is not far off and we’ve worked out that the barbie works better out of the cardboard wrapper! Love bunny could have a hard-boiled egg next time.
We have now removed the long sharp point that we carved on to one of the oars on account that the seals seem to know of the plan to entice them closer and turn them into seal steak with orange sauce. We have had no luck with the fishes either. However to see Al Wigg get is dosh out from multi layers of sailing kit in the bar for the Jolly Sailor always is good for a laugh and the food is excellent. So if you should bump in to us (be more careful) we drink Adnams beer and recite the story of Strudders and the Caravanners to perfection and also how Jones-zee lost his sailing virginity in Maylandsea Bay (an awesome tale of courage and daring) and if you smell bacon butties and see a group sitting on the Osea beach surrounded in barbie smoke pop ashore we’ll share the bottle or take tea and toast. The Adnams ice-cream tour dates are to be published on this Blog shortly.The beauty of the Blackwater environment with its wild life is outstanding and an early sail down to West Mersea stunning (you get a good breakfast too) If you feel you would like to sail in company make sure your boat is up to it and you are fit with a strong bladder, moneyed up and able to look after yourself for Davey Jones’ Locker is not to be messed with and rescue is not an option. The tide turns every twelve hours. At the very least you need Al Wigg and rowlocks.

Alls well in Maylandsea Bay - now read on dit dit dit

Whirling Lows To The North

2008-01-22T17:08:00.000Z

At last there is some sign that high pressure may push the whirling lows to the north, and with the Maylandsea Bay pre Easter sailing now at last only three weeks away thing are on an up. It is unclear at this point if MBSC will follow set courses and back-to-back racing or not. We do know that there is a rumble in the bowels of the club and maybe this is a good thing for it may be that change is what is needed. As the sun moves up the hill a feeling of desperate need to feel the salt is rife.
For the other reader, the non-sailors did get to The France Show 2008. It was a bit of a disappointment. The entry fee had dropped to £8 and the place was packed full of the very bloke one would wish to
(Above: this Swedish star sorted Shacko life out with the use of magnets) escape from. The traffic meant five hours in the car travelling to and from the peace of the Tuscany Hills of Essex to the Zoo of the suburbs/docks/central London. There are too many people/motors to the square metre. Their ability to stand one on top of the other and queue around a block of exhibitor’s stands for a UK banger in a roll is not dissimilar to what happens abroad. What is the Brits frenzy to get a free sample about (its free!) and when you ask one to buy a bottle he looks at you like your mad. Who would put food in his mouth when ten or twenty bods had just had their fingers on it (a Brit). The show feature was over whelmed with families hovering to whip the seat from underneath you before you got to see it. Needles to say we did not get to eat. I fear that the show has gone forever; although it will be easier the sell stand space in 2009 to the French, but it is un-lightly to talk Franch. It should be said that it is an estate agents show to sell France to the Brits and what do you expect from estate agents as a show? It was a bit sad but I can remember the good show with the smells of onions, fromage, smoked garlic, and the sounds of the wine makers and people wheeling out boxes on little trolleys. Is Frarnch to fill up with Brits? Will the restaurants only open Friday to Sunday?
(When sailors meet Cancans do they do turns?) Will Frarnch become like North Norfolk nicely painted and empty? Well I can tell you that having seen south London’s A205 (curtsey of the Sat.nav.), the Blackwell tunnel, the A13 and the A127 life is for living and living is not as seen on the way or in London.The Dog and Duck is a luxury, like salty mud, wind blowing your hat off, the sound off the wading birds leaving the mud banks, the sight of the incoming tide, and time to see time pass.

The sun set at 16:31 and comes up tomorrow at 7:52, no worries, be happy dit dit dit

Blackwater Travellers Trophy 2008

2008-01-14T20:15:00.000Z

Things are looking up, for the sun is working its way back to the northern hemisphere and the shadows are getting shorter. We walked along the sea wall on the top of the tide this Sunday on a cold grey day with the views of Osea island, the saltings with the wading birds circling around, the cats paws speedily spreading out over the water in the knowledge that there was not a race to be had on the river, a sad state of affairs.
It is at this time that ones thoughts travel out past Bradwell and the outer navigation marks to the sights of the black crane jibs and blocks of apartments; the sandy beaches and the smells of Franch. With the GPS set it’s time for the passing of the barrier and Tower Bridge around the Embankment and Mickey-Mouse at Cheyne Walk and into Frog-land.
The France Show is where Shacko from the château in deepest Essex comes to feel warmth and gaze into the eyes of the fromage damsel, who can sell arms full of fromage to Shacko with just eye contact. Shacko knows few Franch words but does say “le vin, oui rouge vous remercient” as if he’d lived at the bottom of Boulogne Hill all his life. Memories of Paris and St Marlow, Shacko’s rather old, now well travelled beret puts a strange tone into Shacko’s one remaining brain cell, and with big brown eyes looking upon the displaced barrow boy, it is as much as monsieur Wigg can do to stop a woopy involving the ability not to say ”aucun merci”
Olympia is an enchanting iron building with the sun pouring through the glass roof and the sights sounds, smells and unknown, is intoxicating, far from sailboat racing, mud banks and wind shifts and yet the wafts of Franch the ease of looks, puts an edge on ones senses not dissimilar to getting around Mr. Fulcher.
An idea of following Mr. Stein down the French canals has been a tad slighted on account that the hotel barge is unlikely to be big enough for Americans and Shacko to stay the distance. In a broken English conversation with a French boat hire company in which the words “Noddy boats” was used last year it may well be that the hire of a boat is not an option either.
So not wearing pyjamas or a baseball cap and trainers but sitting quietly at the restaurant table as soon as arrived. The vin and fromage and gateau and dodgy Franch lingo - it is an answer to not sailing.

The dates for the 2008 Travellers Trophy are coming in, now read on dit dit dit

Blackwater Icicle 2008

2008-01-07T09:27:00.000Z

As the deep red glow from the rising sun appeared on the skyline it reflected off the river and its back waters like a ribbon of glowing lava under a clear cold blue sky; one had the feeling that it was to be a good day to be on the Blackwater. Maylandsea Bay S.C. greeted the gathering fleet with open arms, pushing out bacon sarnies and tea, with the Sandhopper fleet once again manning the support boats and the race box. Bill Wright being the principal race officer looked at the fleet of thirty plus boat and opted for a committee boat start off of Lawling point at the bottom of the bay. The fleet presented itself to the line and made a bang on start on the end of a soft flooding tide (well all except Jacko and Lorna who on being too early at the pin end bumped along a N12 backed off for a second go, now on port, took bunny pie from the laser fleet tacked off, hit the pin mark did the turn and eventfully joined in). The fleet made light work of the windward leg into a 8 to 12 knot westerly breeze passing the submerged remains of the spit and round the race mark at the top of the bay. There then followed a long run back across the bay and down Lawling creek. It’s not a very user friendly venue for the asymmetric sail plan with a need to optimise down hill angels, but on this day things were looking good as the soft tide did not eat up the boat speed. As the fleet spread out and rounded Doctor navigation mark off Osea Island for the windward leg to Coopers race mark, a rather one sided affair, the race was well on the way to being sorted followed by a grimly tight three sail reach back to Lawling creek. The Solo’s and Laser’s suffered against the strengthening ebb of tide taking a time loss passing Lawling point and race mark 4 and as the saltings gained height the race was over.
The fleet as a whole were the winners on the day having had the pleasure of a sail in sun and a pleasant breeze and for Piers and Peter, the race winners in a B14, the smiles at the prize giving said more than the words. In second place was Tyler Harmsworth in a Phantom and as he rocked his way past two Fireballs on the run out to Steeple he made Neil Fultcher look like a child of God who hardly rocked at all; shame on those of us that did not protest. Gareth Davies sailed an excellent race, starting well and leading at the first mark using the tide and finding a good race line, it is noted that he beat he odds that fast boats travel further in the wrong direction.
Notables: Race team Maldon had a good day with Dean and Rob finishing 6th in a Hornet, and Alex in a Blaze starting well followed by some pretty nippy boat work on the windward legs, with other team members making their presence felt, especially in the club bar.
Race team Blackwater, lead by Gareth (Musto Skiff) chased by slippery pole expert Nigel Sheppard (Fireball) supported by Martin, sadly not a great ballers day, but if it is the right day it’s the wrong course! Brian Sargeant toughing it out with Mickey Wright (Laser) a hard fought battle over the distance as 1st Laser and 12th over all.
Leigh-on-sea, race team Laser. Not an easy race for the Laser fleet but all finished.
Dave Islin: who slept in, then blamed a badly worded advertising poster for missing the start.
As a home club competitor I would like to thank all the visitors for their support. The club Sandhopper fleet for time spent in preparing for this event and on the day. The ladies in the Galley, for making it a better day.
The next race day is the 10th February, races 1&2 of 6, being Maylandsea Bays rendering of the Wooled Hat. More info to follow

Full Race Results

Thanks to Ian Milton for sending in the pics

Maldon Mud Race 2007

2007-12-31T13:21:00.000Z

As a sailboat racer who took part in the H.B.S.C. mud race in which the pulling or pushing of a 14 foot 100 kilo wooden sailing dinghy from the channel to the wooden slip was part of the event! The site of 181 assorted Palm Trees, Horses, Wonder women, Batmen, clowns and jail birds eager to race round a 400 yard course through 3 feet of beautiful blue mud with a silky brown topping, passing across the Maldon creek on their way out and the return (at low water) has a sobering enlightenment not dissimilar to cold jelled eels.
Essex Radio (event link) doing the verbals inadvertently were involved in a premature start (that no way was to be restarted!) with the promoting of a Mexican Wave “you ready at the left hand end - on the count of three…1 2 3” and a 181 competitors run into the mud. Cheered on by the crowded promenade.

The radio bloke did not know whether to call them back or run and hide. But it did not matter a didley-scott. It was a sight to see the winner step out a bit lively (just walking at times) and cross the finish line hardly mudded, playing the rich get richer card known so well in sailboat racing (a tad boring it could be said) second place had been held by a chap who tried the Penguin style of sliding across the ice propelled by the feet. Sadly this does not work on Maldon Mud and looked seriously life threatening.

He was absorbed by the pursuing mid fleet pack. It would appear that for most spreading the body weight on all fours is a worthy option (not a winning move but you do stay on the top of the mud) for those in the middle to the back! Well if you like mud you have got it, but no worries the rescue team is on hand, with rope, and with the careful passing of rope under submersed body parts you can be extracted before dark. I fear no money was raised in the infamous Merlin mud race where as thousands of pounds come from this event.

This ends sailing reports for this year on the Blackwater River, but do not despair next weekend starts a new year and the Blackwater Icicle Trophy at Maylandsea Bay - an early start 10:00 on a 5.02m tide. The race committee tell me that there are some special features to the event “I just can’t wait” now read on dit dit dit.

Zilch plus fog at Icebreaker Trophy, Hullbridge

2007-12-23T14:42:00.000Z

As the moon sunk into the frozen mist the signs were not good, the forecast was that a light breeze would back from NW to S! Only the keen removed ice from the windscreens. As it transpired sight of the north bank through the fog was a dream and a small fleet struggled with those miserable little split rings as the masts were stood and the frozen fog-let drops glistening in the rigging, hope was still high in the Merlin fleet that things could only get better.
It was good to see boats from Stone S.C. Creek-sea and Marconi S.C.’s and there was talk of a course to be set up river, but sadly it was a non-starter and Mathew Picket heading the race team threw in the towel. If there was a winner it had to be Lorna having been as good as can be and shiny as a Chrimbo fairy lit up Charles D’s eyes as she explained just what a performer she was in the front end of a Merlin and how lucky Jacko was to ride side-saddle behind her. By this time the tide had turned the fog had set in heavier and there was no sign of any wind.
The next race is The Blackwater Icicle on the 6 of Jan. starting at 10:00
Will the Fireballers make the start line? Will Batty fit in a boat at all? Will Ron hang out as a crew? Will Shed-burner sail his Laser or will he have been employed and be working for Mr Branson? Will Pies have recovered from a Christmas of arm wrestling? And what is this new and wondrous beer in the bar at Maylandsea Bay? And why is Lenny so happy? All will be revealed! Merry Chrimbo, now read on dit dit dit

picture below Simon and Pies Merlin 3230

Thrills and spills end the Maylandsea Bay Winter Series

2007-12-09T19:37:00.000Z

As luck would have it a window of calm passed over Maylandsea Bay giving the fleet chance to sail out races 7 and 8 of the winter series. By the time the 13 competing boats had rounded race marks 0, 1, and Spit the wind, SW at 18 knots puffing 24 knots, was sorting the partygoers from the dedicated yachters. The race box with a wish to please the gathered club elder’s set a mean short distance course around race marks in sight of the club veranda (a totally inappropriate action rendering the club elders rocking with laughter as they consumed coffees and then beers).
The broad reach to the jibe at race mark 3 gave the fleet a chance to demonstrate just how good they were and with the water being pleasantly flat, for wind over tide, and the cubic whammies roaring through the ‘ease and foot’ mode of sailing tested all. Also the jibe thwackingly good boom verses crew movement, with no chance of the kite collapsing without error, was a site to behold.
The rounding at the bottom of race mark 4 and feeling the full on force of the wind, the spray biting into your woolly hat and the sudden realisation that it was not that far too the top, did have a happy bunny feel to it. The windward leg itself was also a test with sudden backing shifts as the squalls whipped through.
With darkening skies and the wind building, race 8 was too be the race to win to win the series as Keith having scored a 2nd in race 7 was now a point down on Jacko and Lorna. It was at this point that Martin Tarling woke up, wining the start and building a good lead. Keith followed on around marks 0, 1, Spit, 3 and 4 and onto the up hill leg. Martin, hugging the saltings out of the tide on the north side, was overtaken as Keith gritted his teeth, sat out hard and belted through the outward going tide.
Keith toughed it out to win the race and the series for the second year and only had the smallest of moans about having to use his better sail!

For Jacko and Lorna sailing around in a mist off bubbly and party hats, that was not what put them 7 seconds short on elapsed time to win but a poor start and the tactical decision to sail out the tide with more tacks on the north side, as opposed to backing the corners with less tacks. But Jacko still claming to be an athlete, was also seen to be looking deeply into the eyes of Lorna and asking just how many bottles had been drunk.

Roger Smith in a Solo put a brilliant series together to finish 3rd overall showing that a man in his prime does not come in young trousers but does stay upright as others lie with the fishes. A truly well sorted performance sailed in the toughest of conditions
Martin in his laser had his moments, stayed the distance and was not fazed by Paul Weeden’s one-smarty-pants outing winning race 6, finished every race, always in the top 6 boats, may feel a tad robbed by the tie breaking rule, finished 4th overall
Notables: The Splat the Duck competition has never been so well competed for with dozens of nominations. In 3rd place Kevin and Nick sailing a Fireball had one too many dippings to keep on smiling/competing and pulled out of swimming/sailing altogether. Ron and Laura put in a serious bid with the flip-flop multi capsizes on more than one occasion and landings on the salting, plus gulping mouthfuls of salt water to finish 2nd. But much to their dismay a late all encompassing challenge on the last race day blew them all way. Peter Playle in a Laser with 7 varied and truly wish I was not here “why me God” splattering, plus rounding a mark not in the course and the thwacking of a support boat with an immediate capsize trying to escape verbal, won the prize out right

This has been an outstanding winter series and a credit to all that have sailed in her and on behalf of the competitors I would like to thank M.B.S.C. and the support boat crews for time spent in the wet, cold and windy conditions looking out for those needing their help; the Ladies that ran the galley for their warm words of support given, plus the tea and coffee, bacon and sausage rolls. The Race Box men for giving outstanding entertainment to the club member audience.
The next club race is the Blackwater Icicle on the 6th of Jan. Start at 10:00 all welcome
The next club series is to start on the 10th Feb. some 9 weeks away. This saddens me greatly as to be in the company of sailors who are happy to turn upside down in the water and jump into the saltings, plus the armchair champions telling of races won and lost, the sounds of the wading birds and the sight of the incoming tide as the days get longer is why I belong to a sailing club on one of the most rewarding rivers in the UK. The reader will need to watch the space as a new plot is formed to expand sailing pleasure and delay the house decorating yet farther. I have no doubt that Mr Wigg and I will be heading to Hythe Key for lunch or Heybridge for breakfast at the first opportunity.
Thanks to Richard and Nick for time spent sending the pictures
here are the Results Now read on dit dit dit

Was Muffin The Mule’s mate called Oswald?

2007-12-04T19:41:00.000Z

Life in the Dog and Duck can get exiting; a wonderful selection of real ales and a splendid menu puts a good end on the sailing day.
It came to pass that in a complicated conversation on the desirability of Andy Pandy’s jimjams and his relationship with Loopy Loo, stripes vertical or horizontal (as worn) could not have been more misleading, for as another log was placed on the open fire and Wiggy’s eyes slowly developed a glazed over shine “more Beer” as light filtered through the emptying glasses leaving an odd pattern on Jacko’s brow. “We’re not to have the Regatta stuff or the one with strawberries in” The wooden beams have been there from the time of Cromwell! But they are as hard now as when new - Jacko’s bonce having been soaked in brine only that very day and losing the well recognizable woolly hat to the fishes looked a tad spent. Fending off the eye of the barmaid and feeling the heat from the open fire blurted out “sod Andy Pandy, what of Muffin The Mule?” a response rippled around the bar. It appears Muffin the Mule is well known and well thought of in this pub. The conversation grew louder and it transpired that Muffin’s mate was called Oswald…. By this time the red onion had taken effect, more beer required and the slight smell of burning followed Jacko to the window. Wiggy was exercising in the boys’ room and the barmaid had the green money tin in her grasp. It must be said that both Wiggy and Jacko are flattered that they are made welcome and being recognized and in turn they have never thrown up or fallen over in the car park. So the question is: did Muffin the Mule have a friend? Was he called Oswald? And what was Oswald? Does any bloke drink strawberry beer? Has any one understood how fragile the life of a woolly hat can be?
Twirling low-pressure systems to the north could possibly put a wet end on the winter series. Now that’s better than talk of land yachting. Next race Sunday 9th at 10:00.

Maylandsea Bay winter series

2007-11-25T22:12:00.000Z

A subdued sun shone out from a silvery sky but a ripping tide flooding into Maylandsea Bay had long displaced the wading birds. With the wind N.W. at 16 knots the gathering fleet appeared buoyant and ready to take on race 5. Sadly the race box could not be encouraged to run the race postponed from the last race day and with the footy blokes getting a hiding, not much to watch on the telly, a 40 minute race was a surprise. But dinghy sailors, always good for a laugh took it in good humour, and even when told “move it” and forget about tea and buns for race 6 was about to start, although bemused rushed off into the onward coming tide, now a third of the way across the rigging hard standing in front of the of club. (Things need to be sorted).
By the time the fleet hit the start line for Race 5 the wind was 16 to 18 knots, sharp and clean and once again we saw Ron and Laura win the start daring all and sailing over the remains of the submerged mud of the spit; but Keith was first to marks 1, 0 and 2 and lead the fleet out into the Bay. Keith sailed to the south side of the rum line and fending of Chris (Phantom) and Martin (Laser) toughed it out, but in a short race of crash and burn every blink of the eye is a boat length and Keith finished 3rd on the water and 3rd on corrected time.
Chris Roberts, never a sailor to mess with made a good start and not thwacking any of the race marks, sailed a full on race showing good boat handling and looked a happy bunny speeding past Keith to be 2nd.
It was good to see Alan Wigg back in a Merlin. Al, who has more crewing skills (and years) than Kellys have turkeys in a shed, fitted back into Jacko’s ship better than Paxo into a Christmas turkey!
Jacko making a safe start (there’s no such thing) sat back and enjoyed the ride as Wiggy (slightly puffing at times) pulled, pushed and sorted the boat in a very impressive way. Not even fussed by Batty’s (505) rounding mark 4 in the wrong direction or Batty sailing off to North Shore (mark not in the course) and at one time seen pulling Jacko’s hat down over his head to keep the noise down!! made the team unbeatable.
Race 6 saw the return of Paul Weeden sailing a Laser. Paul who is known for being no fairy when it comes to a full on sail boat race, quickly settled down to an earthy dig in the talent box and put the fleet well in it’s place and won the race hands down. A well pleasing sight to see and a well needed demo on how to sail a Laser.
Keith hung on hard and sailed a good race but was out sailed to finish 2nd.
Martin Tarlin, the series leading Laser and always in the top 6, pushed hard but trailing Paul by 4 minutes plus must be looking at body fitness and the ratio of little beers to body press-ups. But it’s never over till its over and a 3rd place finish keeps it race on.

Notables: Ron and Laura are now leading the Splat The Duck competition with another credible 2 entries, one involving mark 2, a Laser and a Fireball. Laura looking particularly wonderful as she twirled around on the edge of the gunwale (not easy on a 7 foot 2ins. Merlin) bang on right out side the clubhouse. Kevin for showing us boys his body bruises in the shower with the line “the spinnaker twinning lines are too short so the kite is self flying but the jib sheet was on the wrong side of the spinnaker sheet and that’s why I fell onto the centre mainsheet hoop, (whilst capsizing with Ron) at mark 2. Roger and Edward are still in the running for the Splat the Duck having been awarded an honorary entry (for not been present and not capsizing).
The Ladies in the Galley for outstandingly good service and the help they dish out that is making the club the place to be on a winter’s day.

Next race day 9th Dec. 10:00 start followed by the prize giving and an introduction to pucker beer plus a look at what’s next in sailing at Maylandsea Bay. results

News from Maylandsea Bay

2007-11-19T18:19:00.000Z

The Woolly Hat 2008. HBSC has decided to let the Wool Hat 2008 series stay in the bottom draw due to the club holding work parties on the club jetty this winter.
MBSC are talking on restarting the Frostbite series starting in February 2008. More info to follow.

The 2008 Blackwater Icicle hosted at MBSC is looking on an upper, with a number of leading Sandhopper Helms nominating other Sandhopper Helms to represent the Sandhopper fleet in this classic winter race. And I believe that Bill Wright is keen to get out of his fireside chair and show Jacko a thing or two about sailboat racing. A hard hitting come and get me poster is at the printers. More info to follow.

Alan Jackson has landed the job of Dinghy Captain at MBSC. If the club doors had not been locked during the club AGM the job may well have not been filled at all.
Alan Jackson wishes it to be known that he expects the reader to support a drive to double the club sailing turnout in 2008 and he has no intention of doing house decorating, gardening or car maintenance and has no intention of increasing his family. So that just leaves sailing and waiting for the tide (needless to say there is a plan in the making)

I am also sad to reveal that the National Merlin Rocket committee have withdrawn the Silver Tiller status from the open meeting at HBSC for 2008. It beggars belief that this has happened as the reader will know the two islands race is well thought of by the Rocket men who have taken part in it for the last three years. The good news is that the Merlin fleet will be at Brightlingsea for a two-day meeting.

The Blackwater Travellers Trophy series will again be stepping out in 2008 and it would be nice to think that the newcomers bottleage will be competed for and won before Lorna L and Jacko get their laughing gear into play. The Marconi SC has already made contact with dates for 2008 and is hoped that the friendship and pleasure can reach out to all the muddy creeks around the river.

For those who find it just too boring to sail around the race cans I can reveal that the 2008 Adnams ice-cream tour dates have much to offer and Mr Wigg and AJ having polish Zelda’s bottom and filled the keel fixings holes will be at most of the watering hole surrounding the river. It is suggested that any persons thinking of following should raise suitable funds as the all day breakfast/boozing and tea/cakes is extensive. One should also check boat rigging and foils as the tide waits for no one (nor does Jacko and Al)

And lastly, the mud banks, so deeply scored and damaged this summer by thoughtless persons un-named will be relieved that no long term damage appears to have been done and the seals, bird life and crabs have returned; picture below.

No Prisoners taken, Siberian swordsman rides again

2007-11-12T20:23:00.000Z

A mean wind rattled the standing rigging as it whistled through the gathered fleet on the Maylandsea shore.
14 boats facing in every direction within the starting area looked a tad bemused as the race box flags where hosted but the flagstaff being down wind, the flags perfectly horizontal, where hidden behind the attached halyards. The race horn was also lost in the wind. The race box light signalling (a mystery to all visitors) indicated that someone was in and in a flash of brilliance Ron and Laura crashed the start line at the right moment to win the start and hiking hard through a horrendous squall, and with gritted teeth hit the port tack lay line at the first mark with Mark and Barry (505) a boat length behind.
As Ron bore off the calling for the spinnaker was clearly heard and a distinctive sound of clucking chickens travelled before them. However travelling to the Spit mark at a goodly speed and turning to look at a knee crunching windward leg against the fast flooding tide with 30 knot with whammies Ron was seen to put one butt cheek over the gunwale. Sadly, as is the way of dinghy racing, Ron and Lorna slowly slipped into the middle order following a splat the duck at the Stripy turning mark.
Batty and Barry played it safe and finished lead boat and 3rd on corrected time.
Chris Roberts sailing a Phantom, made his entrance to the series and a most welcome return it was, making an equally poor start as every one else sailed a blisteringly fast race, only hitting one race mark and executing some of the most speedy wareings about ever seen, showed good boat handling skills to finish 2nd and first to get his boat cover on.
(Boring I know) but Jacko and Lorna facing the wrong way at the start and joined in after with Jacko firmly tucked in behind Lorna’s well filled bodysuit “how much clothing can you get in a dry suit?” plodded away at another recovery. Crews that have sailed with Jacko will reveal that if at any time ‘enough is enough’ the word scotch is said by one or the other crew, the boat will return to the club bar immediately and scotch will be consumed with no questions asked. As it turns out the story Lorna tells is that she was screaming “Jack Daniels” over and over, (wrong word it appears! The word is scotch!) The tying of a rolling hitch around the tiller with the main sheet following a speedy jibe at mark 3, was a test to see if L had found her sense of humour (no, she had not) It may be that L’s uncanny use of the spinnaker whist reciting the Lord Prayer and sitting on Jacko’s lap on the aft buoyancy bags was the winning move. We know it was not Jacko’s boat handling. Most lightly just Jacko’s Jam but the duo scored their first 1st of the series.
The fleet decided one race was good and absconded to the bar
Notables Roger and Edward in a Fireball sporting a sawn of mainsail with 2 more notches in the diving duck completion. Now leaders. The RS 600 sailor who rigged his boat. Jacko’s attempts the fix the results. Simon and Pies have not been seen in the club bar. The Sandhopper fleet all in formation laughter. Keith Fedi has gone missing. And can Malcolm (Fireball) sail a course without adding or leaving a race mark out?
Next race day 25th at 10:30. Results

News from Maylandsea Bay S. C.

2007-11-06T20:54:00.001Z

A most serious meeting of the head honchos took place at the sailing club in which a most excellent and detailed report of membership and finance was presented to the gathered membership. picture Maylandsea with water Having listened to the reports, all the proposals and planed events I feel optimistic that the fat lady has not put her jewellery on yet, never mind entered the stage. Mr Wigg and myself had the plan to sit firmly on the hands and say nothing. But some how I am now dinghy captain and Wiggy is gagging to do something.
It would be most improper to divulge details but the clubs facilities are as good as you will see any where on the east coast with the club sitting on top of the bay overlooking the saltings and Lawling creek. It may be the trump card held by the club is its ability to run sailing through the winter season as it does not ice over and is sheltered from rough water with Mundon spit being to the north. The sailing water itself has all the fetches a racing dinghy team could ask for with the opportunity to chance clear wind out in the tide or lighter fluky airs closer to the headlands. Races can be won and lost in a moment with the knowledge that it will not be the same on the next rounding.
The Maylandsea Bay Winter series has already started but there is still time to race in 6 races with 1 discard, 5 to count. It is an all in handicap affair; one start, one course with tea/bacon sandwiches and a splat the duck competition (at the moment being lead by Kevin Whittle under a Fireball) with prizes for overall and best in fleet being more than three off. All are most welcome especially those wishing to sail in the back of the fleet where it is as hard to be last as it is to be first.
Racing will take place on the 11th at 11:00, 25th at 10:30 and the 9th at 10:00.
The Blackwater Icicle is to be sailed on the 6th Jan. at 10:00.
If I can be of any assistance at the club please do not hesitate to make contact (I am the tall blond one with lots of hair, in pink)Results to date

Thrills and spills on Maylandsea Bay

2007-10-30T17:27:00.000Z

Fifteen boats hit the start line on a day that saw waves and cubic whammies sorting the men from the men.
The start was won by Mickey Wright sailing a Laser. This was a short hop to the Spit nav can, a jibe and a long down hill run out to Mundon spit which was a joy to see as many of the fleet had not seen a squall or had a knee tremble for weeks.
A measure of care was required as the fleet speed outwards, passed Lawling point and into the full thwack of the incoming tide. As the leg, somewhat sailed by the lee to this point eventually led to jibe on. Roger and Edward, in a Fireball, opened up the entries to the Splat The Duck completion (and a very worthy, well executed Splat it was).
. . . . . . picture right: Kevin "I capsized to get out of the rain"

The fleet now turning Mundon mark and into the wind was well spread out and despite the horizontal wind driven rain sorted a well bang on the nose beat to Lawling mark. Jacko and Lorna lost ground to Kevin and? (Fireball) and Keith Fedi, sailing a Finn, as the fleet took on the shifty squalls and rare to see, the Maylandsea wave. (Jacko was seen to be waving at Roger, who was still with the fishes, but Rogers joyful response cannot be divulged). Race ended Jacko and Lorna, Kevin and? With Keith 3rd. Tea and sausages were consumed, mud removed and the full fleet took off down the slip like nobody knew it was windy. Jacko and Lorna won the start, hung to the marina side and popped in an elegant jibe, followed by upping the kite and were not seen again. Roger and Edward, much encouraged with being less wet, took up the challenge. Sadly being slatted on the nasty headers bounding out of the marina pontoons at the end of the first lap. Ron and Laura having put a good solid performance together in race one went for the “wish I don’t wish” could have been! Wet mascara “is that a fish you’re holding” splat jibe. But recovered better than Jacko would have, stayed the course and finished 4th.
Keith (who it must be said was not having the best of days) got a good start, travelled the down hill well and made a good gain on Jacko on rounding Mundon Spit catching a good lift, lost the race by the narrowest of margins to be second. picture left: Keith loving his return to Maylandsea Bay Unfortunately the rumour has it that a slight wrong order of mark rounding has ended a tough day at the office. It is my view that we need finishers, all the marks were rounded and no short measure was gained. Kevin in the Fireball (who had been hiding away in the Sandhopper fleet) made light of the first race and handed out loads of stick to Lorna’s plea for “just one lap please” spent time with the fishes, along with a number of welcome returning visitors. Of which I would like to thank, on behalf of MBSC, for their support in filling the water and adding joy to the occasion only out done by the laughter from the Sandhopper gentry as they summed up the sailing capabilities of the club dinghy fleet. I would add, “you have seen nothing yet, chaps” now read on dit dit dit

picture below: Peter reefed, and staying in the boat

Next race 11/11/07 at 11:00 Full results to follow

Lets go sailing (its the winter series at MBSC)

2007-10-24T19:00:00.000+01:00

This weekend sees the sailing move to the Maylandsea Bay start line for the start of the Winter Series. The Sandhopper fleet, now tucked up neatly behind the club bar and with the water furniture tonnage being humped out of the river having been swinging about on their mooring all summer, things are looking up and the best time to be out sailing has arrived.
It is unclear just who the runners and riders will be and if the MBSC race box is to split the fleet. We do know that the Ballers are in the most part out on a sicky with wonky knees, etc. But there is a rumour that Keith Fedi will be returning to defend the Trophy in his Finn. Keith, a race winner, is sadly missed having left the MBSC at the start of the year.
Martin Tarlin, Laser, also a race winner will be a welcome sight on the line although we believe he’s been hard pushed by Martin Cockersole, Laser. However Paul Weedon (a real hard nut Laser sailor) and always on the pace and never out the race is the Laser to watch.
The Merlin fleet is in a state of chaos. Malcolm Cross swapped his Merlin for a leaky Enter box! Laurence threatened to sell (but wisely, at a price no one would pay) and now has it parked safely under going cosmetic restoration. Simon and Pies, who it must be said have shown good boat speed at times, but are a tad hampered with Simon wishing to helm and crew at the same time (even we hear moving the crews cleats to aft of the thwart) is moving up the pecking order. Chris and Paul H! sadly have not been seen for a long time (far too long) having fallen victim to Batty’s alterative version of the racing rules (well as seen in the Telly Tubbies) and has punished himself by removing the deck varnish and storing the boat away. This is bad news for the Merlin fleet as Chris has much to offer in sailing skills and dynamic humour. The Ronet’s! Well… and well. Laura crew (and Matron) has her work cut out. Much work had been carried out on the boat in the spring but has not convinced Ron that sitting out equals boat speed and Ron with the new version of shorter toe straps can keep entirely dry in all but the heaviest of seas, and with the threat of spending more time on restringing the rig and Simon and Pies looking more speedy, the error factor is on the up. Jacko and Lorna at long last appear a tad more settled in the new ship and having spent time with the fishes and pondering how to set a sail the right way up, some times look like they could do something useful. However Jacko’s desire to film racing with a head cam is not going down well with Lorna who will not smile facing Jacko and makes noises that have to be edited out not leaving much to view. Jacko as hear to say “I take sailboat racing very seriously”, but looking at the teams’ starts there is room for improvement.
Racing starts on 28th at 11:30 and I wish all well

Blackwater Travellers Trophy 2007

2007-10-23T13:25:00.000+01:00

Blackwater Travellers Trophy 2007 summed up.

2007-10-17T21:25:00.000+01:00

The Dyer Cup, sailed from the Blackwater S. C. got a pass on account of 0-1.2 knots on a very still autumn day. This was a dull end to the re launch of the Blackwater Travellers Trophy 2007. The dates taken from the ten clubs surrounding the rivers Blackwater/Colne published programs had the good fortune not to have any clashes of dates. Each club has its own unique piece of sailing water, club characters and ambience, which brims over making sailing so special on the east coast.
The idea of a travellers’ series around the Blackwater has been given much encouragement and support from club members and club sailing secretaries.
It has not been possible to complete the full calendar or make good contact with all the clubs or the required persons, and the weather conditions on some dates simply blue the events out of the water (there is still much more to be achieved).
It is hoped that newcomers to sailing will find the thought of travelling to near by clubs to experience new soundings/courses and sailing against new sailors as a way to improve sailing skills, for we know that we learn so much more at an open meeting than sailing in the same pecking order at the home club.
The 2007 series winner regrettably turns out to be no less than Jacko and Laura (Merlin) MBSC with the runners up being Ron and Lorna (Merlin) H(B)SC and I personally feel that a much better challenge should be sought for the 2008 series.
I would like to thank all the competitors and club officials for their help in supplying the info and results that has made this small, but encouraging start, to an enjoyable sailing experience.
Info on 2008 series calendar and will be posted as soon as possible.
2007 results to follow

Sights and Sounds from the Maldon Town Regatta 2007

2007-10-08T15:17:00.000+01:00

I heard this weekend that H(B)SC is to run the 2008 warm up series.

Lorna Legs (bimbo) and I joined Jim and John (505) and the Ronet’s (Merlin) in a sail round the cans in Lawling Creek. It was a lovely day to be on the water but not a race – more about sail practice. Sad to say two boats split off from the main race of Solos and Lasers. But hey ho “a day in a life”.
And now for the reader here is a nobbling of pixels from the Maldon Regatta. I am still working on the Two Islands and the head cam pictures from 2006. This coming weekend is the Dyers Cup at the Blackwater SC, which sees Lorna’s first return to her previous stomping grounds.

Well as you can see that didn’t work too well and after week of trying I need to sort more brain cell

Maldon Town Regatta 2007

2007-09-30T13:54:00.000+01:00

This is primarily an Old Gaffers Rally climaxing at Hythe quay. The Dinghy and Cadet race are very much also ran’s. But lets look at the Dinghy race run by Maldon S. C. The club sits on top of the saltings over looking Herring Point and Colliers Reach with Northy Island in the background, an idyllic peaceful place steeped in a maritime history.
Three visiting Merlins from Maylandsea bay joined the fleet. The sun popped in and out as the wind puffed and faded NW / N at 3 / 12 knots. The tide was on springs at a gallop, eventually flooding over the promenade and leaving Northy Island little more than a few trees poking out of the water.
The course was a well thought out affair with the avoidance of over 50 old gaffers sailing up the creek. It was more about orienteering than just a few cans to round, a splendid scene. Simon and Pies (Becky) won the start and showed good speed holding off Jacko and Lorna on a fast close two sail reach for the jibe around the number 17 green nav. mark overlooked by the promenade, in front of the outward going Thames barges with the day trippers. Simon and Pies had a race of ups and downs falling victim to the tide and being misled by others sailing a variety of variations of the course.
Ron teamed up with Wiggy, a team again with potential to lift the pot. Sadly Ron fascinated with the bird life in the saltings (with Laura missing) duffed the start, there followed a long battle with the Blazes fleet, which he finally lost by 30 seconds on corrected time.
Jacko and Lorna having gained the lead with the kite going up on the outward reaching leg to Nipper, were not to be seen again and enjoyed the sites and sounds of the day with Lorna very much in charge. The site of the huge amount of sail heading into Colliers reach and with the circumnavigation of Northy Island and the search for Clarks and New Hall marks, on the south side, and the windward leg up Southy creek as Northy Island slowly submerged, made it a notable affair. The second half sailed off Herring point and back into Colliers reach, mixing it with the Barges and Gaffers in a shifty breeze on the top of the tide, was a spiritually moving occasion. Jacko and Lorna won the day having sailed the right course.
The day ended as the sun went down at Hythe quay, the pots and trophies awarded, the free beer passed around and the singing of sea shanties and tails of “we nearly won that but…” and as the skies darkened the band arrived a small but perfectly formed group of Rocket sailors gathered in the corner of the Jolly Sailor (which has a new wood floor and big dark sofas to die in) a place not unknown to Jacko and Wiggy who were still in the (Talk Like Pirates) mode.I would like to thank all at Maldon S.C. for doing all the work in organising the day for the Dinghy race that seems to go almost un-noted; and the rugged looking captain with much hair for not squadging me off the planet at the number 10 green can off Herring point.

A set full of results, music and video to follow

Info on Pyefleet Week 2008

2007-09-24T17:49:00.000+01:00

At long last I have more info on Pyefleet Weeks, past and coming. It has been revealed today, much to my dismay, that once again the 2008 Pyefleet week will clash with the Merlin Champs. This is misery, the thought of missing the champs or missing Pyefleet Week does not improve the sense of humour. It might be that an unknown person not able to find the go to go to Looe may well enjoy what is on offer in the peaceful surrounding of Essex. I now draw your attention to the link, Pyefleet Week 2007

http://sailingtheblackwater.blogspot.com/2007/08/pyefleet-week-2007.html

Harlow (B) S. C. Two Islands Race 2007

2007-09-16T17:38:00.000+01:00

16 Merlins gathered at the top of the slipway in brilliant sunshine with a soft S.W. to S. afternoon breeze and just a hint of sea breeze. The incoming tide, a gentle flow and full of long, soft green weed that had been lifted off the mud banks (looking for the racing helms foils) floated up through the creek.
The start was for some the end; picking the north side as it turned out was not the thing to do and for Mr Rainey, Jacko, Charles Davenport and Ozzie, all with the facial expressions of mortuary attendants, suffered as all other competing yachters disappeared at a goodly pace down the south bank.
Tom and Liam nipped into the lead as they passed Lawling point and headed straight down the middle, despite the lead boat taking a look around Goldhanger creek, popped the kite up and down, viewed the Thames barges (full off day trippers looking at the race through the bottoms of emptying glasses and was not seen again and so lifted the booty.
Duncan and Ian, making a fair start and just a tad puzzled at the lead boat verses Tom and Liam, but carefully observing the bow of the Thames barge and Northy Doubles navigation mark, picked off some hot lifts on port, sailed a smart race to be 2nd.
Mr Rainy and Vicki, recovering well from the deathly start, hit the north side of Lawling creek and headed for Osea Island (Kylie Minogue was not to be seen on the beach) and at a good pace worked their way up, taking on the armada of motorised craft supporting the Heybridge, around Northy Island, rowing race (in anything that floated) received a well worthy 3rd place.
William and Chris, sporting colours that blended in well with the Thames barges and classic craft, having made a fair start bucked the well known phrase of “if you can see Jacko your in the s**t” having had a conversation with Jacko and Lorna on just who the gun fire was intended for as they sailed down Colliers Reach. As it transpired it was for the finishing oarsman. William ducking and shifting weed finished 4th.
Notables: Laura Davison was not thanked at the prize giving but gave so much to make this open meeting happen, and did not kill Ron for making Jacko’s start look good. Charles Davenport and Steve Brown made an appearance. Tudor Owen (Whitstable) lost contact with voices from above. Simon and Pies (Beccy’s) boat did not need repairing post race. Mr Cooper was not racing for the bottle of red. No boats saw mud. And as I write this (Sunday) I see the weather station at Thorpe Bay is reading 23.6 mph gusting 33.4 mph. Good luck chaps and chapiess. I would also like to render apologies to Charles D for not looking harder for a replacement front-end girl.

The boat picture is thanks to Mr Longshank and the other, Tom and Liam.

Sad to say there is a video on the way

Newcombe Cup - Lowestoft

2007-09-04T17:04:00.000+01:00

The annual trip up the A12 to the land of fish and chips, Adnams beer, doughnuts, ice cream arrived. A small, but perfectly formed fleet sailed out though the harbour entrance into what might be compared to Rocky mountain rapids with the tide flooding in up the coast bringing Harwich just a long port tack away. The wind S.W. off shore, shifty, with a building selection of weighty cubic whammies squalling out from the beach and the pier of fun turning the choppy, sloppy wind lets into a pleasure park of wet stonking brown Neptune specials.
Brian (much respected) race officer of the day revealed a new and wicked toy for course setting to enhance the normal macrame handbag course, The sailing area, now mapped out correctly with sand banks and deep water channels including navigation marks, racing buoys all neatly coloured in the form of pegs were set out in a purpose made handy tray and a piece of string scaled to 15 miles exactly (to insure no short measure) was about to be wound around the little coloured pegs. This is a brilliant form of torture that Kenneth of the Halfway Y. C. would have died for. The course read Pp Kp Ws Es Rs Es Rs Kp Wp Kp Ws Ps Ms Ws Ps Ks Ws. (those of you with a knowledge of Klingon, as does Mr Wigg, will recognise the word for some one who spits alot) and fair go's, the beats on the tide were hardy and the reaches blattering, with the runs very twitchy.
Richard and Nicola won the start and were not seen again. Alex and Chris 2nd to the windward and 2nd to finish. And whereas Jacko and Lorna were 3rd to the windward and neatly sailed out the back door. The first over taking boat down the first reach was Liam and Rob who went on to finish 3rd. All in all not a vintage year but a honking hard sail at a unique venue in a top class fleet of sail boat racers.

Picture of a wave for Neil Fulcher to "pump at"

Stone weekend 2007

2007-08-25T18:05:00.000+01:00

Stone S.C. Essex Dinghy Championship 2007
This article is from the Slow Flight within this Open meeting and Sundays results are part of the Blackwater Traveller Trophy Series 2007

Hurray the sun came out! And it turned out to be a full-on 5 race series sailed in 2 to 16 knots W. to S.E. in the sun, “summer had returned” The Saturday race, an all in handicap 2-4 knots on an ebbing tide called for great patience and the art of missing the fine threads of weed floating just below the surface. The windward legs against the tide, the runs and reaches with tide sorted the shaker makers out from the following fleet. The race winner was a nice bloke and lady in an ISO.
Jacko and Lorna Legs, now sailing the newish ship and totally dazzled by the shiny gel coat in the brilliant sunshine, read the line transits as back to front! And started their own race, leading start to finish and was duly awarded the ‘Two Boat Lengths Trophy’
Sundays race 2 saw a good breeze and a committee boat start in the middle of St Lawrence’s bay. The sun shone and the race turned in to a nightmare with the wind oscillating around shifts that made front end girls number calling sound like a bingo game. Neil Fultcher, sailing a Phantom, wining the start and at time a huge lead only to be wound in and under great pressure to rock the boat “I have to pump to control the rocking” but not being fit enough to do both at the same time, was hovered up by Andi Riley sailing a Laser.
Jacko and Lorna, again failing to start well, and not really showing any great skill to windward hung in to put more edge on the finishing to steal the race. Lorna, not to be out performed on the beach by Big Phil, stepped out of the boat in to 1.8 metres of water and kept her nail polish dry.
Sundays race 2 started after a long 3-course meal including cheese and biscuits, a starting and an abandoning and more delays while the sea breeze took over from the S.E.
Finally sorted itself in to a pucker race, 12-16 knots wind over tide, short legs, punchy sailing. However the start line ended up not too good with the fleet charging down the line on starboard unable to cross it but fritting the life out of the boats wishing to get stuck to the race on port. Once more Neil won the start and was well ahead at the windward mark followed by Andi with Jacko and Lorna looking for another recovery. The race was much enhanced by the catamarans flying through the fleet in every direction, good to see them at such close quarters. Once more Lorna put some good down hill moves together (even when Jacko put an added part triangle in to the sausage) to put the race in the bag for the 2nd win. Neil 2nd Andi 3rd
Monday was a gay day, more sunshine, more wind and a good course had been set starting off the club line; wind over tide N.W.10-14 knots. It must be said that Jacko now with 1 OCS and 2 bad starts was receiving ear ache from the front-end girl. A request to keep close to the race box down tide on the race course side of the line but never the less well out the way of any one wishing to race, for the purpose of (Jacko to see what the transits actually looked like and a goodly squint at the flag order) was prudent!
As it turns out Andi (Laser) now with a 2,2,3, score line and in 2nd place overall decides to open the proceedings with an attempt to block Jacko’s path back to the pre start side of the line. Carried out with some artistic body language and well-articulated bunny pie! Now unbeknown to Andi, Jacko has spent time competing against the likes off Al Warren, Jim Park, and Biddle/Little, of which Biddle/Little mastered the art of close cover tacking on the slip whilst rigging! Prerace/pre launch. Nor the fact that a newbe Merlin hotshot attempted the strangulation of Jacko via spinnaker sheets attached to the spinnaker and boat, rapped around Jacko’s neck/head on a to die for blisteringly close three sailed reaching leg at Pyefleet week. Jacko having lived in a house with two teenaged children was not fazed by either, or any such events. Inquiring of Andi if he was aware of the Hunting rule? And was smartly informed that there was no proper course! And so took part in this alternative option to getting the best start poss. on the grounds that it took the pressure off him as far as the front-end girl was concerned. (Not sure on the rights and wrongs at the time of writing)
And what of the race? Well it turns out that Jacko made a fairly good start (for once) and rounded the windward mark 1st followed by Neil and Mike Stone (Phantom). There was much bunny pie on the merits of Neil’s sailing technique down the runs and the fact that following the passing of a large motor cruiser putting up two 60cm bow waves that Neil sadly missed them! Quote Neil “I was too busy sinking” best placed reply of the weekend. The fleet spread out a bit on the shifty beats and the added pleasure of the Thames Barges and classic yachts sailing majestically up the river on the top of the tide keeps you plugged in. Jacko took the bullet, Neil 2nd Mike 3rd
Last race saw Neil lead from start to finish in 6-10 knots with a long windward leg up to Northy Island against the tide in the afternoon sun. The water was flat and streaming weed. Mike sailed a good race finishing 2nd and Jacko and Lorna having encountered another attack of Andy’s rendering of pre start Americas Cup (I’d rather sail out the back door than race) clawed back to 3rd to take the series.This was a brilliant weekends sailing in St Laurence’s Bay hosted by a club that eats and sails to the full, it was well run and well supported. The water is unique to that part of the river Blackwater and has much to offer. Sundays result goes to the Blackwater Travellers Trophy a reworking of an old series hoping to build contact between sailboat racers on the River Backwater.

Pyefleet Week 2007

2007-08-24T18:03:00.000+01:00

(Merlin Magic Essex) part of Pyefleet Week 2007
This was not a vintage week for the weather but the sailing and the racing was full on.
Six Merlins sailed in the slow handicap flight part of the 108 boats taking part.
I can only write this peace as the way we viewed it from our place in the fleet.
The race was about who was to be top dog in the Merlin fleet. Graig and crew, new to Merlins had already become the club top rated boat and right from the start stamped authority over the fleet, winning the start and pulling out a good lead from Ozzie and Melissa, Jacko and Lorna. In the last part of the race having lost the lead but gaining a windward overlap on the hill reach became over powered and with the spinnaker sheets wrapped around Jacko’s neck, conceded a fowl and retired. Strangulation might well have occurred but was to follow later.
Race 2 and 3 also sailed in a goodly breeze saw dominance from Graig and Jane with Ozzie and Melissa threatening a win but Graig and Jane finishing with a good lead.
The gods of wind then descended and it was Thursday before racing returned.
Race 4 saw a tighter start with Graig and Jane pulling out a good lead but with Jacko and Lorna finding a way though up wind and hanging on to take the bullet.
Race 5 saw a tight start with Graig hanging on to 2nd until the wind god through a huge beast of a squall down the last run to finish splatting Team Graig just metres from the finish but still holding second place.
Race 6 the final race was win to win saw Graig winning the start but quickly loosing out only to regain it and not to be seen again. Jacko and Lorna got a bit of a gallop on down the last run to the finish but it was Graig's day with a sore line RAF, 1,1,2,2,1.
Jacko and Lorna having been lead Merlin and finishing 2nd over all for the last two years and now riding a new boat, it was race on. Sadly the lack of time spent in the boat racing and a tad bit of unfitness in Jacko’s end of the boat put them at a slight disadvantage.
Failing to start on time in race 1 meant catch up from the start. But settling down slowly pulling through to challenge the lead boat. Lorna relearning old tricks in the newly strung boat work away to take the lead on a down hill spinnaker leg. The unfortunate coming together, and Jacko’s wearing of Graig’s spinnaker was an indication that the race was on.
Race 2 saw Jacko and Lorna again fail to sort the start dropping in to 3rd place with a long gap to 2nd placed Ozzie and Melissa in a good 12 to 18 knots of breeze.
Race 3 was a tighter start with Jacko and Lorna popping out in 2nd but Ozzie and Melissa passing through the lee side and taking off big time. It was on the down hill run that Jacko finally lost the plot and following a jibe and total loss of control made an excellent entrance in to the splat the duck competition. Jacko was seen to spend a considerable time with the fishes and was heard to say how smooth and yellow the new boat was and how well it floated and that the glued on rudder fitting supported his weight well. But refusing offers of help from the passing fleet and the odd jibe about how well he floated gathered Lorna who had ruined her makeup the soggy offending spinnaker and him self back in the boat (it was noted that there was no cheer and applause as when they entered the water right out side the club house).
Race 4 saw a newly sorted sail plan in the Jacko boat. Not starting well and on the second part of the race Jacko and Lorna starting an up wind leg and lifted the weather side of Graig rounded in the lead. Once more Lorna played the kite string and the team took the bullet.
Race 5 saw at last the Jacko Lorna magic (or jam) that makes Lorna know that she’s picked the right helm (laugh I nearly did) taking an early lead and sailing free. With Jacko so keen he wished to do an additional round stopped only by a 30 mph squall and horizontal rain travelling through a now upside down following fleet and the shortened course gun, escaped another swim with the fishes.
Race 6, a need to win race, failed to happen. Gaining the lead only to lose it in the opening 400 meters and unable to up the boat pace and not till he last down hill run to the finish in the first lighter winds of the week meant runners up spot for Jacko and Lorna.
Ozzie and Melissa seemed to be on a back foot having had a good start in the new boat but feeling that the new boys in town Team Graig had won 4 out of every 5 races of late. Jacko’s arrival and long thoughtful talks on the beach saw Ozzie looking a bit more “mean” (not in Ozzie’s nature) making fair starts and having Jacko well sorted and Graig in his grasp taking the lead more than once in races 1 to 4, were looking more the biss. Sadly in the big puff at the end of race 5 it all went titsup. Desperately trying to avoid team Graig splat the duck move directly in his path called for rudder hard to starboard unfortunately the boat did but the rudder did not. The rudderstock now looking like a peeled banana ended Ozzie’s week with a DNF and a DNC
The Ronet’s staring Filf the dog (roving reporter) Ron and Laura had a good week failing to enter the splat the duck competition and Ron’s toe straps not braking (of which the items can now be sent back unused) found life tough but rewarding in the middle of the fleet some way back from the front end Merlins but maintaining a good spirit and cheerful attitude. Laura, a brilliant hard working crew, and always ready to punch out Jacko’s well being in any race was full of encouragement in Jacko big swim…….. Laura being a Pyefleet week virgin stayed the distance (it was quite a distance) and ever cheery finished 14th
The two vintage Merlin (apologies l need more info). On some races time was a long affair and again good blokes sailing well and staying the distance in well built worthy boats.All up a hard but brilliant week hosted by a friendly club for sailors hell bent on having the best of times.

Blackwater Travellers Trophy

2007-01-18T16:15:00.000Z

revisited...... some thing new for 2007