Steve Rowley

Today was all about leaving one temporary home, Waldringfield, and sailing to our new temporary home, Woodbridge. We had to tack up the Deben with the tide which went very well except getting too close to a moored boat whose owner had to fend off - very embarrassing, but no harm done. After picking up our new mooring off the Tide Mill we rowed ashore and got a lift back to Waldringfield with Jim Jenner in his lovely Lugger.

Next Saturday we’re moving from our temporary mooring off Waldringfield to a mooring we’re borrowing for free off the Tidal Mill at Woodbridge. There was a boat squatting on the mooring but I had been told the squatter had moved on. Plus,Stephen, the owner of the mooring asked that I repaint the mooring number on the buoy. So as the tide was against going down river, and it would be quite windy at sea, we decided to head up to Woodbridge, check the mooring and do some painting. The wind was on the nose so we motored up river, towing Baby Belle in case she would help with the painting. When we got to Woodbridge the mooring was free of squatters and the painting was done hanging off the bow of Lou-Lou Belle. We returned down river on the ebb tide with just genoa and mizzen. A lovely little trip rewarded with a pint of 0.5% Ghost Ship in The Maybush before driving home.

After almost a month away it was lovely to be back aboard Lou-Lou Belle! I didn’t have a plan for the day but found out my mate Jim was helping with a Waldringfield SC Go Sailing event so sailed about with the fleet. All very nice. Than I was invited back to the club by Jim for a cup of tea. Rather than carrying on sailing I thought it rude not to accept such a kind invitation so enjoyed chatting to Jim and a chap called John who’d been aboard Jim’s Lugger. What a lovely day!

I’m hoping to borrow a mooring off the Tide Mill at Woodbridge for a few weeks once we get back off holidays so I decided to take the incoming tide to have a look at it. There was quite a convoy of boats heading up river but tacking down river, and going beautifully, was the iconic Peter Duck which appeared to be sailed singlehanded by a lady in her senior years! Once up at the Tide Mill I struggled to find the mooring eventually locating it with a tatty blue boat on it. I’ve been in touch with the mooring owner so hopefully it’ll be empty when I need it. I considered tying up at the Tide Mill quay but the metal ladders looked like they get in the way. So I briefly moored at Woodbridge Boatyard’s pontoon to have a quick word with Donna about a Plan B if the Tide Mill mooring isn’t available when I need it. We motored most of the way, only sailing briefly on the way up river with light wind from behind us. Nice to get afloat.

Isobel’s David got here for 0800 and we set off for Waldringfield. The dinghy ride out so Lou-Lou Belle was fine. I was squeezing out of the cabin when I accidentally pulled the cord on my life jacket which then inflated triggering my distress beacon which was hastily deactivated! 15 minutes later HM Coastguard phoned to ask if we were okay - what a reassuring service! We then took the ebb tide down the Deben, tying in a mainsail reef along the way. As it about an hour from LW we tacked out of the river and past the Safe Water Buoy. Conditions were bouncy but okay. A couple of times David mentioned the big black cloud to windward. We hove to again to make a cup of tea and eat David’s Welsh Cakes which he’d kindly bought all the way from Wales. As conditions were getting more spicy we both put on oilskins and I double reefed the main and rolled some of the genoa away. Then the big black cloud delivered a 30 knot squall with rain, big waves and much spray. We dropped the main, rolled away the headsail and motored back into the Deben sharpish paying particular attention to the navigation marks as it was just gone LW It was then a peaceful sail back to Waldringfield. Very exciting!

We set off 2 to 3 hours before HW on the flooding tide. The wind was blowing directly up the river and quite gusty on occasion. We passed Woodbridge quite quickly and decided to carry on. When we got to Melton (Larkman’s Boatyard, now the Deben Boatyard) it was obvious we would need to turn round soon as I spotted Wilford Bridge carrying the A1152. At which point we ran aground! As all the sails were still up the anchor went over the side sharpish. It still wasn’t HW so I wasn’t too worried. Once the sails were down we managed to get off the mud with a bit of a struggle. Rather than tack down the river we motored all the way back to Waldringfield. I nearly fell in while trying to retrieve a welly from the dinghy, got soaked from the waist down. A very pleasant day, the Deben is a beautiful river!

After a cheeky Greggs breakfast we were quickly motoring away from Woolverstone Marina. I decided not to sail down the Orwell as the wind was light and there was nearly 2 knots of tide running against us. But once we were abreast the Felixstowe container terminal up went full sail to see if we could get out of the entrance. But with wind and tide against us, and time marching on, the genoa was rolled away and the main dropped, we motored through a bit of a chop. As soon as we could head northwards the sails went back up. A very broad reach, slightly gusty wind and a quartering sea meant the Tiller Pilot was struggling so I hand steered. The conditions probably warranted a reef but Lou-Lou Belle was enjoying the occasional surf and being nudged up the bum by Baby Belle who was also trying her hand at surfing. After a gybe we were heading into the Deben entrance which has a notorious reputation. The safe water buoy was easily spotted followed but three channel markers and we were in the Deben! We may not have passed the correct side of two of the buoys but as it was nearly high water it didn’t matter. The Deben is a beautiful river and we enjoyed all the twists and turns up to Waldringfield. I phoned the boatyard and Donna explained which buoy I should pick up. Lou-Lou Belle is now snug in her new temporary home and we are both basking in the glow of a job well done!

One last sail before the long tow home. Sailed with Dave for a while before he headed for Torbay and we headed out to sea Lovely sail, conditions got better throughout the morning. A fantastic trip to Tor Bay, the Drascombe Association rally was brilliant!

After an 0900 briefing we set off with Helen and Paul onboard. The plan was coffee in Paignton then a sail round the bay. But the wind was flukey so we just had a lovely sail before returning to Brixham for beers. A smashing day out with lovely company.