Steve Rowley

Took the last of the ebb tide out towards Gunfleet Sands wind farm. Nice reach in fresh conditions which got stronger. As the tide turned we headed back in. Fine reach, not quite hard on the wind but still needed a heavily reefed genoa, both reefs in the main and reefed mizzen. Lou-Lou Belle felt nice and comfortable, rarely over pressed. Once we got abreast Bradwell the wind dropped so shook out the second reef in the main and rolled all the genoa out and mizzen. Carried on past Ross Revenge then ran back to the marina. Topped off a fantastic sail with some epic parking!

Lou-Lou Belle is back from Uncle Simon’s Drascombe Health Spa and is on top form! Brilliant to be back afloat again. Forecast was F4 gusting F6 but I don’t think we saw F6 gusts. Still there was enough wind and we were flying along. Reefed everything for the return leg into the wind and Lou-Lou Belle felt very comfortable. Once the tide turned against the wind a chop got up making it a wet ride. Did epic parking!

Early start and a beat along Mersea then up to Tollesbury. Variable conditions but a beat sail. The whole rally has been a blast! Great sailing and great people.

A blustery forecast prompted us to sail up the Colne under genoa and mizzen (plus a bit of motor) to Wivenhoe where we tied up to the sailing club pontoon for a brief coffee. By the way, I had Big Dave with me as we decided to only take 3 boats. On the way back to main went up and we short tacked back down the channel making good progress against the last of the flood tide. When we got back to Brightlingsea entrance Dave and I carried on as the wind freshened. We had a fun surf back in. Another fabulous day!

After Storm Floris suspended sailing for 2 days it was brilliant to get back afloat. Our destination was Brightlingsea, the wind was poor to begin with but filled in nicely. Wind over tide in the Brightlingsea channel and lots of boats made for an exciting approach! We’re now docked on an offshore pontoon, we can only get ashore by ferry, I’m rafted up to Big Dave.

After a smashing breakfast in the cockpit we set off for Mersea Island. Three of our boats which were ahead of me were involved in a MOB rescue! We then tied up on a pontoon for lunch. Once back in the Blackwater me and Lou-Lou Belle enjoyed an exciting beat past Ross Revenge in fresh conditions. She was going like a train! Cracking second day. Come home for the night, back tomorrow.

After not a great deal of sleep we embarked on the first day of the rally. I sailed alone out to sea on the last of the ebb tide then headed back in on the flood to join the rest of the fleet at anchor off Osea. After lunch we motored up Lawling Crewk almost to Blackwater Marina then sailed back. Some lovely wind to begin with but died off later. Fantastic day of sailing and a new experience sailing with other Drascombes.

It was a pleasure to have Nathan, Claire and James’ 12yo on board as Ship’s Boy. We tacked out of the Blackwater on the ebb tide in lightish winds. As we were reaching back and forth off Mersea a motor cruiser anchored waved to us. Turned out they had a fuel tank leak and had run out of petrol. They asked if they could buy some from us or get a tow. I said no to both but did offer to contact the Coastguard as they had a VHF but didn’t know how to use it! Coastguard asked us to stay on scene but eventually broadcast a Pan Pan and a boat offered to tow them in.

The original idea was to set off into the night after work but a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, torrential rain and 50mph gusts meant I slept (poorly) in the marina before setting off early Saturday morning. I headed off on the last off the ebb towards Brightlingsea and took the new flood up the Colne. The wind was light and sporadic. As we headed up the Colne past Brightlingsea it began to fill in. We had the avoid racing Optimists and smacks. Once we were back in the Blackwater it was the forecast 5 to 6 so it was a long, wet wind over tide beat back to Bradwell. The conditions were the strongest we’ve been out in requiring some heavy reefing but Lou-Lou Belle did very well and we learnt lots.