"Voyage without destination usually keeps to schedule!"
But this was not to be for the summer voyage of "Spray". Early in February with the arrival of the 2003 Tide tables and provisional dates for Drascombe rallies, a detailed plan was hatched including cross-channel destinations for the summer cruise. Unusually, considering the many stealth operations of "Spray ", the skipper declared his intention and objectives to family and friends. The result of this was a trusty collaborator and supporter in the form of the brave and reckless "Egret" of Chichester.
Thus it was to be that the two Coasters were launched at Shoreham- By-Sea one late afternoon in July. The key objectives of the cruise were to sail across the English Channel, collect bounty and cruise on to join a rally feeder cruise from the Medway to the East Coast rally at Bradwell. The planning of the cruise had to factor the available ports and the tidal flows of the English Channel, day-to-day tactics considered visibility and wind.
There were involved logistics for the completion of the cruise which included five train journeys, four trailer journeys, 2 staging posts for trailers, open water rafting up and unmanned towage.
After the boats were launched at Shoreham the trailers and cars were left at Worthing, 10 miles away, this involved the taxi journey on to Worthing Station and train ride back to Shoreham. The boats were made ready during evening then the skippers, Richard Goldsmith and Stephen Maynard, hopped back on another train to Brighton for a slap up last supper. Returning to the boats with a further train trip of course. All was in the plan!
An easterly going tide demanded an early start at 0600, with excitement and anticipation all sails were set and the lonely flotilla of two sailed briskly on a grey sea past the sleeping towns of Hove and Brighton. The wind was westerly and perfect for the first stage which included passing the massive 500 foot chalk cliffs of Beachy head, this tidal gate had to be passed before midday to avoid a choppy sea and an adverse tide to the first nights stop at the Sovereign Marina Eastbourne. By 1400 hours both boats had gone through the massive locks and were tucked up in the Marina. A successful first day. (26NM).
There was another early start on the second day from Eastbourne, we tried to sail but only making three knots, mostly due to a favourable tide, meant that we were soon rafting up for a good fry up breakfast as we drifted past towards Hastings. This rafting up technique is quite perfected by "Spray" and "Egret". Only one fender is required at the broadest beam of the boat, a bowline is pre-set to length, as is the stern line the whole arrangement is held stable by a spring from the stern to the bow of the anchored boat or lead boat if deep water drifting. Plates are raised, rudders lifted. Mizzen sails are set tight. Once rafted up in such a manner the Coaster sailor has a large dual galley facility and complex meals can be prepared for joint consumption.
After breakfast the heavens opened and we motored to Rye in heavy rain. A melancholy morning. Rye is a Cinque port * . Unfortunately due to silting and the longshore drift, the ancient town is now five miles from the coast. The approach is up the river Rother, accessible 3 hours each side of high water. The helpful harbourmaster arranged a mud berth for us in the centre of town. In our effort to ensure easy access the following morning, we positioned ourselves on a mooring unfortunately close to the wastewater outlet for the town. (20NM).
A rather noisy and smelly night, but otherwise delightful with excellent ablution facilities. To get out of port early in the morning meant a start at 0400, it was grey and cold and we didn't really cheer up until after breakfast at the harbour mouth. This was going to be a big day, one of the longest runs over open water to Boulogne.
The direct course was not appropriate for the wind or the correct crossing of the large ship traffic lanes. With a steady north west wind we sailed from harbour mouth to harbour mouth in 12 hours. Crossing both traffic lanes at 90 degrees and heaving to in the traffic separation zone in the middle for half an hour's rest below and a bite to eat. Five miles out from Boulogne we were buzzed by an official looking helicopter, but other than that it was a routine but long passage. After a quick shower in Boulogne Marina we hit the town, consuming vast bowls of seafood, rare steaks and bottles of wine, before almost falling asleep at the restaurant table! (43NM).
Plan A was to leave the following morning back to the UK, there was a provision for extra days so plan B was invoked and a rest day was called with more eating and drinking! The day after the tide required a late start at 1200. The morning was spent with a commandeered supermarket trolley collecting fuel, provisions and "ballast" (cheap plonk).
The port of destination was Ramsgate, 32 miles direct, but requiring some dogs legs in respect of the traffic separation zones. On such a long voyage one has to make with the tide and keep up with the ETA for various points. We were able to sail for the first 3 hours, but had to motor at five knots across the busy shipping lanes with only a brief afternoon tea stop mid channel before eventually reaching Ramsgate Marina at 2000. The west going traffic lane was very busy with huge shipping nose to tail. Followed straight after with the busy inshore traffic area around Dover Harbour, an interesting passage. We were quite relieved to get inshore of the Goodwin Sands for the last 2 hours up to Ramsgate. (41NM).
It was Saturday, the two long passages had been completed, Sunday was a rest day, we ate well and slept long in a very pleasant Marina and town full of Victorian buildings and memories of the time. Adjacent to the harbour was a home for Smack boys, the apprentices who went to sea in earlier times on the fishing boats. A benefactor established a home with a church beneath on the quayside. The church was commemorating 150 years since it was first established. Local dignitaries and bishops attended an evensong thanksgiving service which the Drascombe Association was represented by the skipper of “Egret”.
This area of Kent is not so prosperous, the marina was equipped with financial assistance from the European development fund. The town centre had character and many stores offering bargains, both "Spray " and "Egret " were provisioned with sun awnings from “Mad Max's” plastic shop for under three pounds and a luxury mattress each for the cabin for a tenner! This cost us an extra hour, but saved us a marina charge later, so the mattresses were for free!
The following day we motored in very little wind round the most eastern part of England and turned directly east up the Thames estuary. As we were motoring we chose to go round the island of Sheppey up the Swale. There is one bridge for road and rail access to Sheppey which only lifts up for large shipping. There was none around when we arrived at the bridge, which meant we spent 45 minutes dropping masts to negotiate the bridge. Needless to say soon as we had lifted spares the other side a large freighter came up the Swale and the bridge lifted!
During the day we had not stopped but to facilitate rest and eating and drinking
had simply stretched a springy towrope between the two boats. The skippers
were then able to get together on the lead boat, to prepare food, relax and
chat for a couple of hours each taking a spell at the helm as the voyage progressed
without interruption. During the day we saw some seals on a sandbank and also
had a quick look into the harbour of Whitstable. Famous for oysters and some
fashionable restaurants we now understand, but pretty dull from a Drascombe
Coaster in our opinion.
We spent the night at popular anchorage at the entrance to Medway named by “Egret”, and known henceforth as " Satan's bottom." (Sharlfeet). This was the first visit of "Egret" to the Medway; the skipper was tired, hungry, thirsty and disorientated, it was getting dark. Surrounded by black mud, squawking birds with a distant backdrop of huge floodlit container cranes, smoking chimneys and flaming refinery gas flares, the skipper yearned for his cosy creek in Chichester Harbour! We had intended to make for Gillingham Marina that night but the tide had turned against us. (37NM).
Refreshed and rested we made the Marina the following day, secured the boats, hiked to the station and caught a train to London. From Victoria another train back to Worthing, a taxi, and we were reunited with our cars and trailers. After a night ashore to attend to business, loved ones and laundry, we were once again reunited with our cosy boats the following night with cars and trailers ready for the following week.
Now we became part of a bigger picture, Bob Jack's feeder cruise up to the East Coast rally. The two Drifters, Coaster, and another boat launched and waited for us at "Satan's bottom". We were reluctant to leave the cosy security of Gillingham Marina, we ate and drank well, only dropping down to the entrance of the Medway and the anchorage at nightfall. The following day was another early start.
There was not much wind and we had to make the Havengore Bridge at high water. For those who are not familiar, the east coast never seems to be much water or much ground, some sort of brown stuff in between which is often either. This all makes the tricky navigation and strict timekeeping. Fortunately there are any number of navigational aids, which at 15 metres high in some cases are the highest things for the many miles along the coast. The Havengore is a lifting bridge, which Bob had arranged to open for us this fine morning. As planned the bridge opened and we were plunged to the delights of an East Coast backwater. Flower decked saltings singing birds and the smell of fresh hay, the occasional basking seal. A favourable wind had sprung up and we all sailed to Burnham, the Cowes of the east they say in the local tourist rag. (19NM).
A relaxing afternoon and social evening ensued. A good wind the following day along with a timely departure allowed the six boats to slip over another hazardous shallow area and up the Blackwater to join the East Coast Rally, a fine event masterminded by Jeremy Russell which is reported elsewhere. (20NM).
As usual, Drascombers’ plans are knitted and unravelled on a daily basis so only the three Coasters made the return trip as planned down to the Medway. This required a 0400 start as the moon set in a clear sky with the tide rushing out the Blackwater directly into a force 4 easterly. A lively chop was generated with much spray and crashing. In 2 hours we were out the Blackwater and in a beautiful dawn were able to set full sail with the tide and reach back to the Medway completing the journey of 42 miles by 1300. (Total 250NM).
As "Egret's" car and trailer was not quite in the right place a further cunning tandem raft tow was organised culminating in the disengagement of the unmanned boat to drift to a shore party who swiftly repatriated the boat on its trailer and dry land. All boats were subsequently safely landed in the excellent facilities organised by Bob Jack who must be thanked once again for his detailed organisation and support.
It was such that the cruise came to an end after two weeks fun afloat, all objectives delightfully achieved according to schedule, plans already afoot for next year.
Stephen Maynard "Spray", Richard Goldsmith "Egret".
*The Cinque Ports. Established in the late Anglo-Saxon era by Edward the confessor who needed to control the English Channel to keep the Norse at bay. The ports of new Romney, Dover and Sandwich were given the right to keep legal fees assigned in court cases. In turn the towns agreed to provide ships and men for defence when required by the King. Hastings and Hythe were later included to make up the five, or “Cinque” ports.
In the 13th century Rye and Winchelsea gained these special rights. Eventually 42 towns were part of this coastal defence confederation.