Welcome to ‘Up the Creek’, the newsletter of the Lower Halstow Yacht Club.
Commodore’s Ramblings
During March’s committee meeting I tentatively made the suggestion that we should perhaps try and re-introduce “Up the creek” in some form, to try and keep members more up to date of what is going on at the club, despite the notion that I might be shooting myself in the foot having to think of something to write for the traditional Commodore’s “bit.”
At first there was a stony silence with no clear enthusiasm for the suggestion, but the word “Blog” was uttered and the mood changed, and the idea took off with Michael agreeing to his former role as editor, leading to this first edition for some time in its new format.
As ever Michael will be dependent on member contributions so please do get involved and send in details of your sailing experiences, know -how and anecdotes. Fishermen please feel free to share your secret spots guaranteed to provide a good haul.
We’ll endeavour to keep you posted of what is going on. The most recent development is the surprising acquisition of a small 2 man hovercraft. I say surprising because this has been discussed on several occasions over the years and I had always been quite sceptical for various reasons, but I came to the conclusion that the only way we could efficiently refurbish all moorings properly to the sinker chain was to have a safe and easy way back from the raft, which will be crafts most important use. Steve and I went out on the 3rd April to see how easy it was to check moorings using it. The softer the mud the more difficult it becomes with a lot of manhandling of dirty chain. It would have been easier using a radio to convey result to a shoreman to do the recording, as an old iphone dictaphone we used had it’s own problems.
In future years this work would ideally completed from November- end of February. I’m in the process of putting the results on a spreadsheet which Dave will send out in due course, or may have already sent out. There’s quite a few still to check so please continue to check your moorings and let us know the result.
The club welcomes this years new members Joe Robinson, Daniel Burch Andy Wootton, and returning old members Mick Drury, Alan Douglas and Darren Stainsby.
What ever your thing, have a good season.
Graham.
First tentative flight on the hovercraft during a training session from the provider, The British Hovercraft Company:
Melvyn’s new yacht
Pyewacket is a Sadler 25, which I purchased from Michael Frankish when I joined LHYC, some 4 Years ago, a well known and well travelled vessel within the club, but I was new to sailing, raw, but very keen.
At every opportunity i would be out on the water, up Stangate Creek, around Bomb Bay and Shoregate, gradually my confidence grew enough to enter some Top of the Tide races, I was getting to know the boat, and the ropes.
My first Red Sands Race was more of a battle against the tide, I chucked in a few pirouettes here and there, and at times I was going astern faster than i was going ahead, but at least the sun was out, and i was within touching distance!
The Towers were but a mile away, so close and yet so far, but the tide had now turned against me, in the end I relented and turned on the iron wind.
I was actually enjoying this sailing lark, some sterner tests lay on the horizon, I’m sure, but for the time being i thought it best to take my VHF course, and then the Coastal Navigation Course at the Club, but also taking onboard what is sound advice, the best way is to get back on the water.
My second Red Sands Race was somewhat more eventful, colder, wetter and windier but one thing I did learn was that Pyewacket is a safe, sturdy little boat, she can take the weather, sails well, is reliable, but her only down fall being? Headroom.
So now I need a bigger boat, yep, apparently its a trend.
On my first trip up the East Coast I discovered I was in desperate need of a sprayhood, however, I also discovered, purely by accident, a Sadler 29, called Karraway.
Last year, on a trip back to the East coast along with Moonwind, Schamune, Lethera, Papillon 2, Catherine 2 and Nick who hails from Erith YC, but joined LHYC as he often does on some trips, we discovered that Karraway was still sitting on the hard unused.
So, we made some enquiries, left a number with the Marina office, and enjoyed the rest of our trip. The months passed and I heard zilch, nothing, the season came and went, Karraway, was pretty much abandoned and forgotten.
That was until Christmas. Totally out of the Blue the owner contacted me and asked if I was still up for viewing the boat, in fact I told him there and then that, subject to a thorough inspection i would like to buy it. His reply was simply, she’s got to go.
Myself, along with Steve and Rog, met Tony and his Wife, we got on board, looked her over, then went for coffee to discuss all matters financial. After some horse trading, Steve and Rog left me to make a final decision along with the owners.
Needless to say, Karraway now belongs to me, and, over the months since Christmas we have been going back and forth to Bradwell, getting her ready to bring home to LHYC. As mentioned she has been on the hard for some eight years, the spray dodger has been cleaned and new windows fitted,( thanks Angie ), the fuel tank completely drained and cleared of Diesel Bug residue, filters changed and a new impellor fitted.
Departure day had arrived, Friday March 14th, we pushed off the hammerhead 1 hour before HW, and headed out of the moorings.
The wind was NE gusting 20 kts, our ETA at Bradwell was around 2000 hrs, all on board knew that until reaching The Wallet it was bang on the nose, and wind over tide, yuk!
In fact Lethera pushed on very nicely indeed, we made good time, and, as the light began to fade, the jib went up, and we crossed the Wallet.
With the swell now coming from our Starboard side, LW was upon us and Ken had decided that under these conditions we should leave the Buoy well to Port, we crossed the Spitway with plenty of Water under the keels, astern of us, a deep yellow coloured moon started to rise above the windfarm, in the stars above, the Chair was easily identified in the clear cold crisp night air.
Gradually the light grey bulk of Bradwell Power Station could be made out just off our Port side, we kept a good lookout for the unlit Yellow Race marks, and finally, at approximately 2010 Hrs we turned to Port behind the water intake, slowed down and kept a beady eye out for the marker Buoys, we could see the bank barely 100 mts away but we were almost upon the First channel mark before we saw it, then the Second and then the Third.
As the light improved, aided by the Marina, we moored on B berth, next to Karaway, Melvins new Boat.
The next 2 Days were spent finishing off the jobs, engine filters, lights, electrics, tiller pilot etc etc, on Monday we left Bradwell and made our way to Blackwater Marina, the wind strengthened a little in the afternoon, so we picked up a mooring buoy whilst waiting for enough water, both boats berthed about 30 minutes before high tide.
So, after a trip into Maldon, a walk to the Petrified Forest, St Peters Flats and Church, and a very nice Sunday Lunch in the Kings Arms, and of course the meals on board, the last one resulted in the decision being taken to leave at 0300 Hrs Wednesday Morning, and, again it was a little on the chilly side, a good frost coated the deck.
The sun warmed our backs as we motor sailed down the Swin choosing to cross the Yantlet Channel at Sea Reach No 1, the wind completely disappeared as we passed the Montgomery, one ship came out of Sheerness Docks but we were well over to the right of the Channel and it posed no problem at all. Lethera and Karaway rafted up in Bomb Bay and waited out the last couple of hours in what had become a warm bright sunny day.
The first trip of the Year had successfully been made, I had got my new boat back to LHYC. I would like to thank Ken for his assistance and acting as safety vessel, and Rog and Steve for all the work carried out prior to and on the trip back.
Melvyn Worrall
Racing
Before Covid we generally had a good turn out of yachts and dinghies for the club’s races. This has died down in recent years, so let’s try to resuscitate the racing. I will be trying to co-ordinate and provide better communication for the races this year. Even if you don’t fancy a competitive sail, come along for a cruise up the creek and back with other boats around should you need a hand. It looks like the tides for the weekend after Easter will be good for a Top of the Tide race, so let’s make an effort to get some boats on the water then. There is a whatsapp group around from last year – please let me know if I can add your name to that.
And if anyone would like to propose any other events – fishing competition, dinghy cruise or whatever, I can publicise that.
Dates for the Diary as follows.
Work party dates are 17-18th May and 11-12th October. Red Sands race 1st June, Pursuit Race 19th July, 20th July Alternate race day, Round the Island race 2nd August, 3rd August alternate race day, 16-17th August alternate race day
Top of The Tide races can take place when the tides are suitable and will be broadcast in good time for you to get your barnacles scrubbed off…:
Please send any contributions ( photos, stories, passage reports, jokes, advice…) for future editions of Up the Creek to utc@lhyc.org.uk or contact me (Michael on Foreness) with any comments. It will me more interesting and useful with your input. Thanks to Digital Dave for guidance in putting this together, and to you for reading to the end! Michael.
