2026 turns out to be a very short sailing season, but with PJ as crew for the week we joined the OGA Summer Cruise.

After picking PJ up in Cambridge and taking look at his boat we drove down to Woodbridge, to get the boat ready to depart the Tidemill on Sunday 19 July. With shopping all sorted before leaving Matlock it was just a matter of loading the boat and checking everything was ready for a week away. Sunday afternoon found us at the fuel berth, filling up and collecting a new outboard bracket, delivered to the Tidemill by Amazon and setting out into the river at 1625. We’d thought about picking up a buoy at Ramsholt but having failed to get in touch with Ian, the Harbourmaster we picked one up at the Rocks where we spent a lovely quiet evening. The river was deserted, the sun went down in a lovely glow and we enjoyed a spritz to start the week in style.

There would be plenty of water over the Deben entrance so we motored off the buoy at 1240 to motor-sail downriver in light cloud, crossing the Deben bar at 1400. It was a motor-sail down to Stone Point where we anchored with the Gaffers at 1700. We’d been following the WhatsApp group as they approached up the coast from Brightlingsea. After going ashore in the dinghy for the barbecue and briefing we returned for a nightcap and Bev rearranged the forepeak to make space to sleep, curled around the anchor chain.

Tuesday was the opportunity for Lady Skippers/Helms and Junior Helms to compete in the Stone Banks Race. As Bev didn’t fancy helming, we declared as ‘Gentleman Skipper’, remembering a previous failed race start here in 2023 when we spent a few hours on the mud! Low water nearly caught us again as we ran over the anchor, lifting it only just in time to set out for the race, starting between no. 2 buoy and ‘William’, acting as Committee Boat. We were last but two over the line, 15 minutes after the bell and watched as everyone raced off into the distance! We reached the Pennyhole Bay race mark OK but then watched as the leading boats all returned, providing some good photo opportunities! We found out later that ‘Transcur’ had lifted out twice this season, due to the amount of weed and ‘Capriccio’ had spent time scrubbing on the posts at Waldringfield. ‘Cachalot’ was certainly suffering from her lack of a lift out and scrub this year. Due to the tide and winds being against the slower, later boats we joined the group who retired after failed attempts to round Stone Banks buoy. However, it’s the ‘taking part’ as much as ‘winning’ isn’t it (?) and a barrel of beer awaited the returning fleet as they rafted up on the ‘island’ pontoon for another sociable evening at Titchmarsh Marina (although PJ and Steve crashed out early, sleeping soundly from about 2100).

On Wednesday, we declared for the self-timed Seaways Bells Passage Race leaving Walton no. 2 on a bearing at 1137. The course was simply to cross the official ‘Yacht Track’ into Harwich Harbour with Inner Ridge to port and Platters to starboard finishing with a bearing on Woodbridge Haven Buoy. Having motored down Walton Channel from Titchmarsh, we joined the group setting off then watched as the fleet gradually disappeared into the distance. Determined not to have to retire again, we sailed all the way, finally reaching the Woodbridge Haven at 1529. A neat gybe around the buoy resulted in the best sailing of the day as we made our way up the Deben to pick up a mooring at Waldringfield – last of the Gaffers to arrive apart from ‘Glee’ who had joined the fleet today, sailing up from the Orwell! We spent another enjoyable evening ashore at the Maybush Inn, a very popular destination for most crews to enjoy the sunshine and chat about the sailing. 

An alarm at 0530 on Thursday was rude awakening for a quick cup of coffee before motoring off the buoy to motor upriver to creep over the sill at 0700. The plan was to tidy up the boat ready to leave her for the rest of the summer and return to Waldringfield in the van where we could rejoin the Cruise fleet. After breakfast at the Maybush, Steve and PJ rigged ‘Linling’ the Gaffling with help from PTK and sailed down to Felixstowe Ferry. Bev drove the van down and we enjoyed a meal at the Sailing Club with the Gaffers before returning to the Tidemill for the night. 

PJ had offered to crew with Paul on ‘Capriccio’ up to Southwold before returning to Cambridge. Logistics of sleeping arrangements meant another early start from the Tidemill to take PJ to Felixstowe Ferry to meet Paul. We had breakfast on the cliff overlooking the entrance, watching the fleet depart at 0800. Having been asked by Ed to judge the Concours d’Elegance, we drove to Southwold, parking the van up in the Sailing Club in time for the Cruise evening meal at the Harbour Inn. On Saturday morning, Steve visited the ten boats who had reached Southwold and then joined Paul to take ‘Capriccio’ back to the Deben, departing at 1130 along with several other boats deciding to leave due to the weather forecasts. Bev joined the 19 Gaffers for the Adnams Brewery Tour but, watching the WhatsApp group it was clear those who had left were not enjoying the passage. Wind over some very lumpy tide and waves over 2m. were reported by several. Bev drove down to Ramsholt to pick Steve up. He and Paul had finally arrived at 2000, after an extremely challenging sail!