After a month away on our rail trip to Greece in March and a couple of days in London for the Classic Boat Awards our first visit to Suffolk was 24 April this year.

Steve made a start on fitting out ‘Cachalot’ with a well overdue few coats of varnish, we met up with friends, played pickleball (in high winds) for the first time and generally enjoyed being back in Woodbridge despite the somewhat stormy weather. Having neglected the van since November, it needed a good clean out and Steve gave the coachroof a well-overdue few coats of varnish and bent on the sails. 

We joined the OGA Deben Rally over the Mayday Bank Holiday with Steve sailing ‘Cachalette’ down to Waldringfield as the wind abated and Bev taking the van to sleep in the Gaffers camping ground behind the Maybush Inn. Sadly, Steve had to row and motor back to Woodbridge on Saturday as the centreboard was stuck fast in the case with gravel and sand from being hauled up on the beach. There was an excellent day of talks in Woodbridge on Saturday and we returned to Waldringfield for the barbecue in the van, having given up on sailing for Sunday due to a mixture of the weather and appeal of live music from Vernon Northover in Woodbridge. After a couple more days tidying up the boat we returned home.