The East Coast Classics Cruising Logs Shoal Waters at Forty Four There can’t be many owners of old gaffers still sailing the same boat with barely diminished enthusiasm after 44 seasons, still without an engine and still working the winds and tides along the east coast, visiting every river from the North Foreland to Orford Ness. Yes, you guessed, Charles Stock is still putting the majority of us to shame, even in his eighty-first year. The summary of his log for 2007 shows what you can do and how far you can go in a 16ft boat, without the need to make extended passages, just by watching the weather and working the tides: March 26th – 30th; 5days / 50 miles Launched at Heybridge, anchored overnight off Northey Island. Then to Rowhedge via Ray Island, Nanny Goat beach and Rat Island and return to Heybridge. April 14th – 16th; 5days / 60 miles To the Crouch via the Rays’n, around Bridgemarsh island and back to Heybridge. April 20th – 24th; 5days / 110 miles To the Walton Backwaters and up to Beaumont Quay; up the Stour to Manningtree, up the Orwell to Ipswich and then back to Heybridge. May 16th – 21st; 5days / 110 miles To the Walton Backwaters again, around Horsey island, up the Stour to Manningtree and Holbrook, down to St. Osyth for the launch of the smack Maria and back to Heybridge. June 1st – 4th; 5days / 45 miles Up the Blackwater to Fullbridge, then up the Colne to Colchester and home via Pyefleet creek in the fog. June 7th – 10th; 4 days / 90 miles Across the Thames via the Havengore and around the Isle of Sheppey; back through the Havengore, around Potton island in the Roach and back to Heybridge. June 20th – 27th; 8 days / 135 miles Up the coast to the Ore and up to Aldeburgh. Up the Butley river to the Mill and then back to the Walton and Frinton club, before going to Pin Mill, back to Walton and home. July 9th and 19th Just around Osea and up to Maldon. Sept 5th – 9th; 5days / 100 miles Into the Thames through the Havengore to Leigh-on-sea and Benfleet, then back to anchor off Shoebury beach and through the Havengore in the dark. Back home via Mersea to arrive on the mooring at 23:00. Sept 13th – 14th; 2 days / 40 miles To Colne beach and Rat island and home. Sept 19th-20th; 2days Force 5/6 winds constrained cruising to the upper Blackwater and a visit to Mayland SC. Oct 3rd-5th; 3 days / 20 miles Down to Mersea and up to Maldon. Oct 18th-22nd; 5 days / 90 miles Up the coast again, into the Deben to Woodbridge and back home. Total mileage at the time of writing, 850 NM in 56 days. Charles Stock Shoal Waters We would be pleased to look at any material you may have for our new site Please E-mail richard@marketingoverflow.com