Photos By Terry Pullen [W863] and Martin Orchard [W854]. Hint: Left 'click' on all text links and photos - drag the resulting larger version by it's top border.          All rights acknowledged for HTSC and SSC photos/logos.

East Coast Cruise organiser Stephen Clampin introduces new crew Bev Pengelly to the joys of Wanderer sailing.  Bev gives here account below of this popular cruise weekend's cruising and socialising based for the first time on Harwich Town SC - Editor.

I really didn’t know what I was letting myself in for when I first met Stephen six months ago. He had told me that he liked sailing and that he had a boat called a Wanderer. But never having set foot in anything smaller than a cross channel ferry, it meant very little to me. All through the winter, Stephen talked about sailing and showed me some pictures of his boat. It looked quite small. And it didn’t have a plug for my hair drier!

Stephen was organising a cruising weekend for other Wanderer sailors at Harwich in May and asked if I would like to be his crew.
“Well, what do I have to do?” I asked worryingly.
“You control the small sail, and help balance the boat”, he replied.
It all sounded a bit complicated but I promised I would give it a go.

As May approached, I began to feel a little nervous. Stephen suggested we go out for a trial sail so that if I really didn’t like it, I could opt out of the cruise weekend. The May Day Bank Holiday seemed like a good time.

Holiday Monday dawned unusually warm, bright and clear.
“Mmm, nice gentle breeze”, commented Stephen. “Good day for a sail.”
Oh yes, I almost forgot, you need wind to sail…

We removed the cover from ‘Airhairlair’ (daft name!) and Stephen began to thread ropes here, there and everywhere. It all looked like a cats cradle to me.
“Don’t worry, I’ll tell you what to do in good time – just enjoy the ride”, he said.
Having changed into some very unflattering clothes, we wheeled the boat down to the water.
“Oh, God, I’m going to get my feet wet!” I screamed.

Up went the sails, making a lot of noise as they flapped in the wind. “OK, you can get in now”, ordered the skipper. I scrambled over the side. Stephen turned the boat seawards, hopped in himself and pulled in the big sail. I pulled in the little sail, as ordered, and we were off. Wow, we were sailing. It felt scary when the boat leaned over a bit. But it was fun. We sailed up the estuary and back, had a drink at the sailing club and packed the boat away. It had been a nice day. I think I could cope with that again.

Two weeks later was the cruise weekend. We met up on the Friday evening with some other Wanderer crews for a meal at the local pub. They all seemed like very nice people and obviously shared a passion for their boats. Sometimes though, it sounded like they were talking in a foreign language, using words I’d never heard of before, like fairleads and transom and bailers. However, we spent a convivial evening and retired to bed after listening to the local weather forecast.
“South Westerly, force 4 to 5”, said the man on the radio.
“Is that good?” I asked.

On Saturday morning we ate a hearty breakfast and drove down to the boat. We looked out over the harbour wall. I noticed that the sea was a bit rougher than the last time we were here. It was windier too. It’s funny how you notice these things when you’re about to go out in a boat…

By eleven o’clock there were six Wanderers at the top of Harwich Green slipway. The plan was to sail up to Manningtree, have lunch and return by five o’clock, before all the water disappeared. (I still don’t understand where it goes!) One by one, the crews launched their boats while others helped with the trolleys. When all six were afloat, we turned past the Town Quay and headed up the Stour Estuary. Apparently, we had to sail close to the wind to get to Manningtree (it felt rather too close at times) so we had the sails pulled right in. We made a scheduled ‘coffee stop’ at Wrabness beach, admiring the wooden chalets on stilts, built at the waters edge. Onwards to Manningtree, we arrived at High Water, so there was not much beach left. Wet feet again.
Down sails and over to the Stour Sailing Club for a glass of lemonade. Yeah, right! More chat. But soon time to go.

On the way back we had the wind ‘on the beam’ according to the skipper. The boat went faster. Much faster. This, I was told, is called planing. It didn’t take long to reach Harwich again. Everyone helped to recover the boats but I was still exhausted after pulling ours up the slipway. I was now very much looking forward to a shower and a hair drier. Later that evening, we met up with the others at a restaurant and once more enjoyed a nice meal in good company. I like ‘Apres sail’.

Sunday was even windier but we decided we could manage the conditions in the estuary. Today, we would go up the Orwell. The trip across the harbour was rather bumpy but once into the estuary it was a comparatively smooth ride. We made a beach stop near Pin Mill for coffee, (very civilised these Wanderer people) then onto the Royal Harwich Yacht Club for lunch. Now, this is what I call a sailing club. There are built in hair driers in the changing rooms. And a washing machine too!

The return trip started OK. We made good time to Levington, just before the bend in the estuary. As we rounded the bend, we met the full force of the wind blowing into the harbour, head on. This is where we had to start doing this zig-zag thing to get to where we wanted to go. As the tide had turned into the wind, it made the water very choppy indeed. There was a lot of spray coming over the deck and I must admit to feeling a trifle scared. However, the boat coped well and we gradually made our way back to the slipway. I was very pleased to put my feet on firm ground again – even if I had to get them wet!

As everyone packed up, there was much discussion about the challenging conditions we had encountered. David Hewett very kindly presented me with the book ‘East Coast Rivers’ for having survived my ‘initiation by fire’. We went home tired but having (mostly) enjoyed ourselves - I have the bruises to prove it!

I slept well that night, rocking gently in my bed.

Bev Pengelly W1318.



Those participating in the WCOA East Coast Cruise 2003 were:

Stephen Clampin & Bev Pengelly W1318 [Organisers]

David Hewett & Lorraine Kindley W980

Terry Pullen & Dave Furze W863

Mark Evans & Dave Drewery W1438

Martin & Alison Orchard W854

Martin & Georgina Foggo W1388