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 The Party Friday evening’s highlight for the Old Gaffers was a party thrown by David and Persephone Lewin (owners of ‘Moonstone’) at their West Mersea home. Because of the poor weather and the absence of a late launch service, only about half of the expected guests made it, but this meant that there was that much more for the 20 or so arrivals. The hospitality commenced with a glass or two of David’s special brew of cointreau, brandy and champagne, which left the assembly totally ‘Moonstoned’. The evening passed in a blur, but several eye-witnesses reported seeing a trumpet-playing penguin and a committee member dancing the can-can. Quite a party, and if David and Persephone are unwise enough to do it again next year, be sure you’re there! The Race The weather for Saturday, race day, was quite benign with a N’ly 3-4, which was fortunate for the party goers, and soon a sizeable fleet of smacks, bawlies, gaffers and classics, plus a few moderns, was milling around the start off the Nass beacon. Committee boat Advent started the fleet with real gunfire and with the course to the first mark being down river on a close reach, there was much shouting and jockeying for clear wind at the start. After the that it was a question of follow my leader as the fleet zig-zagged up to the finish at Osea, with much gybing and poling-out of stays’ls, but no un-gentlemanly windward work.  The Parade of Sail The weather improved further as the fleet had lunch at anchor off Osea; there was some hazy sun and the wind backed a little, promising a beat up to Heybridge. This parade is actually a race, with prizes but no handicapping, so first home gets the trophy as well as the best berth and first chance at the free beer. The breeze was now down to F3 so the fleet was still well bunched at the final turn at Herring point, before the finish at the end of the prom. The channel buoys were not marks of the course, so there was much corner cutting, which resulted in the beautifully restored Saltair running firmly aground right on the point, close to high water on the highest tide of the year. Bona was unable to pull her off, but she was finally re-floated by Janet Frost’s motor launch, before she could become a permanent fixture of the landscape. (Saltair, not Janet). In fact Saltair was already in the running for the prize for self-inflicted injury, as she ruined a very creditable position in the morning’s race by going the wrong side of the Thirslet mark and having to beat back against the flood to re-round.  After the free beer and cider at Taylor’s yard, there was supper at the Queen’s Head available to all competitors. This departure from the usual OGA upper room riot in the Little Ship Club wasn’t a 100% success as diners had, in the main, to eat outside which inhibited the usual socialising and celebration of the OGA’s founding. The organisers had made a big effort to attract side shows and stalls to the Hythe which made a colourful scene and attracted a good crowd of locals. After the prize-giving, there was a drum band and shanty singing and in the evening, a live rock band for the energetic. The berthing arrangements were an improvement on last year when boats, as well as skippers, were seen falling over after closing time. This year, there were pontoons at the Hythe and late arrivals were accommodated in adjacent yards, so all crews spent a comfortable, if freezing cold night. True to form, Sunday, departure day, was beautiful with sun and a nice breeze from the east to give an energetic beat down river and probably the best sailing of the weekend. In all, a very good weekend, well organised by Gerry Courtney and her band of helpers. “So fare thee well, my old Pye End, No more will I search for you in vain; It’s not the leaving of Levington that grieves me, It’s the rounding of Collimore again.” Passage race The five day forecast for the week looked quite good; sunny, dry with the chance of a shower on the Tuesday, gentle winds, maybe a little blow with the showers. It lied. It blew old boots for Saturday’s Passage Race, allowing Pete Thomas in Transcur to average over 6.5 kts to Pin Mill. But he was narrowly beaten on corrected time by Pete the Knife in Reverie, who roared up the Orwell flying every sail in the locker, showing a lot of courage and most of his starboard anti-fouling. Twenty six boats made it to the Haven marina in Ipswich dock and were berthed up more or less together by the friendly harbour master, in good time for the first social event – a convivial party in Brian and Lorna Hammet’s waterside penthouse. Convivial once you had got in, that is; an amphibious assault group rowed across the dock, led by a barefoot wild man brandishing a large Bowie knife and a pair of oars, but were unable to force the main entrance and had to join forces with a flanking group and enter via the side entrance, having bribed the local Stasi to get the entry code. Regatta games  Everyone brought a bottle and there was apparently very little left at the end, so it must have been a good party and it was probably fortunate that nothing more taxing was called for on the Sunday than the Regatta. This is a series of silly waterborne games, organised by Mike Robertson and taken very seriously by the competitors. How serious is illustrated by the rubber dinghy sailing race, which included several square-sail rigs, one sporting a topsail and another a raffee. This wholly down-wind race was won by Bob Berk who flew a Flying Dutchman spinnaker on his rudderless inflatable and was lucky the lock gates were closed, otherwise he might have made a record North Sea crossing. 
An afternoon of dinghy sailing, rowing and sculling races, including chasing rubber ducks, was rounded of by the traditional dinghy football match, refereed by Mike with some imaginative decisions. This "match" had already moved on from some well-mannered water pistol duelling and oar splashing to the bucket-chucking stage when Boniferry (t/t Bonify) brought out her secret weapon. An enthusiastic operator was needed so Olivia, youngest crew-member of Rely, was fished out of the dock (where she seemed anyway in danger of being clobbered by flailing oars) and positioned in the bow of the flubber with the fire-hose attachment to Bonify's reserve bilge pump. Howard and Sue took turns to row and operate the pump while Olivia, who apparently couldn't believe her luck, sprayed both teams and shrieked with delight. "Pump! Pump! Pump!" she cried whilst showing a remarkable ability for her age to distinguish between spectators (who really should not be drenched) and participants (who really should). A fine performance - well done Olivia!
On the social side, we had been given the use of the local (unfinished) yacht club and were entertained by a quartet of lady musicians calling themselves Fourplay, who poured out a string of songs and shanties all evening. Difficult Decisions Monday was supposed to herald the start of serious sailing with a race to the Deben, but the forecasters promised force 5 or 6 NW’ly, which might have been manageable en route but the wind over tide conditions at the Deben entrance would have been character building to say the least. So the wise decision was made to have a gentle cruise down to Pin Mill for more merry-making at the Butt and Oyster in the evening. There were only a few non gaffers in the Butt and they were treated to the full OGA experience; a six piece band, shanties, recitations and gaffer-talk in full flood. I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t get a few more members that night. Ramsholt Ramble 
Tuesday’s forecast was still promising force 6 for a time, so once again there was no racing; most of the fleet jogged across to Levington, whose hyper-active harbour mistress managed to fit everyone in. But the cancellation of the Deben trip meant we would miss the dinner already booked for 50 odd at the Ramsholt Arms that evening; or would it? Someone had the bright idea of going by road and before you could say Pete-the-Knife, it was all arranged. That is how 50 odd gaffers could be seen in convoy proceeding down the narrow Suffolk lanes to Ramsholt, headed by – wait for it – a classic 1966 Bristol MW6G, 39 seater motor coach, with owner-driver Tony Buckland double-declutching to the strains of ‘A Black Velvet Band’ and other shanties. Needless to say, the OGA took over the pub again and enjoyed a great meal, with ‘seconds’ for all, followed by more music and laughter.
Wednesday, halfway through the week and no sign of decent weather; the forecasters now promising N’ly F6 to 7, occasionally 8, but 4/5 later. Always ‘later’; there was even talk of future weeks dispensing with boats altogether and touring waterside pubs by vintage coach. Wednesday evening’s barbecue provided an excuse to use the excellent OGA marquee, recently purchased using a bequest from Roger and Karen Needham, to huddle in from the rain. The highlight of the evening was the announcement that the Pennyhole Bay race would be held the next day, Thursday. ‘Later’ had finally arrived. Pennyhole Bay Race 
Fifteen gaffers and two bermudans emerged from Levington and set off in the cold and penetrating drizzle, to race down the Orwell, around a few cans off Dovercourt and finish by Stone Point in the Walton Backwaters. Crow powered away from the start, pursued by Gwenilli and Transcur and then Fanny of Cowes – flying a spinnaker down river in the N’ly F4 – with Bona roaring along, trying to save his time on Crow. The wind piped up out in the Bay – Crow saw 26 kts/F6 at times – and the smaller boats began to struggle. Reverie, as usual flying everything he possessed, decided to reduce sail within yards of the Stone Banks gybe mark and disappeared some distance down wind before getting sorted, while Molly Cobbler in hot (wet?) pursuit, had her mainsheet jam at the gybe and had a very close encounter with the buoy. Her skipper then made a rare sensible decision and pulled down a reef, allowing Molly to overtake the now-struggling Maryll and fend off Reverie. At the finish, Crow was first over the line and on corrected time, followed by Gwenilli, Bona, Fanny and Transcur, with Molly heading the ‘second division’ - finishing an hour after Crow - and never-say-die Geoffrey Osborne in the 16 ft Calidris bring up the rear. In the Bermudans, Rhumba finished ahead of Random.
Seaways Race What a difference a day makes. Friday’s forecast was for a gentle N’ly and the sun actually emerged for a time, Robin in the re-named ‘Grey Days’ tried to take a photo of it but wasn’t quick enough. However the improving conditions persuaded 19 gaffers and 3 bermudans to the congested start line off Stone Point for the postponed Scandinavian Seaways race, to beat against a faint breeze to Pye End, but mainly hurried along by the spring ebb. The opposing wind and tide provided some amusing incidents – Tab-Nab eased gently into the mud and was overtaken by her dinghy, while Carima crossed the start-line three times, once going backwards. There was a massive wind-shift at Pye End which effectively split the fleet in two, only Bona, Transcur, Crow, Fanny and Charm escaping down the long reach to Stone Banks. These five made it almost to the Outer Ridge mark before the breeze died completely, but decided to persist even after everyone else had sensibly retired and motored off to  Wrabness for the barbecue. After a couple of hours the NW’ly breeze came back to give them a sail through the harbour but died again up the Stour.
Transcur, Crow and Charm retired at this point – maybe they could smell the barbecue – but Bona and Fanny struggled to the bitter end, Bona finishing first after seven and a half hours, beating Fanny by less than 4 minutes on corrected time. But the most spectacular finish was provided by Charm, stealing gently up the Wrabness shore in the gathering gloom; the buzz of conversation at the barbecue died away as she approached, to be replaced by another, alien, sound. Across the still water came the haunting sound of the bagpipes – the lone piper on Charm’s foredeck was none other than skipper Robert Hill! Such talent we have in the ECOGA. The barbecue itself was well attended and well organised by Mike and Sandra Robertson; and very good it was too, especially the lamburgers! Two Rivers Race The promise of a fine bank Holiday Weekend had tempted another 4 boats to join the fleet, including Elfreda and Fleetwing from Maldon, and 20 came to the line for the Two Rivers Race on a beautiful Saturday morning. There was a very faint W’ly breeze, so faint it was difficult to stem the ebb and both Reverie and Molly Cobbler were swept over the line before the start and were unable to return. Once again, Bona, Crow, Fanny and Transcur drew away, but were eventually stymied by the baffling winds off Collimer Point, tantalisingly close to the finish at Pin Mill. While they drifted aimlessly, Moonstone, Kelpie and Charm made use of every wind shift to disrupt the usual finishing order. In the end, Fanny beat Crow to the line, but the race was won on corrected time by little Moonstone from Kelpie and Charm; Bona was the last boat to finish, taking two and a half hours to cover the final two miles. In the bermudans, only newcomer Flamingo – a lovely Stella – finished in the trying conditions. Presidents Cup Race 
And so to the last day, Sunday, the race for the Presidents Cup and a fitting finale to the week. Good sailing weather was back again at last with a promise of hot sun and a F3/4 NW’ly. The race started off Harwich breakwater, downwind to Pye End and Pennyhole.
The usual Fab Four of Bona, Crow, Transcur and Fanny pulled out enough lead to be able to reach across to Stone banks and Fox’s before a wind shift made it a beat for the rest of the fleet; but then the sea breeze came in and blew everyone to the finish at Levington in great 
style.
Bona beat Crow across the line by 2 minutes and also was first on corrected time. Transcur was second, Fanny third and Crow fourth, while Molly Cobbler was best of the rest. The full complement of five Bermudans finished, with Rhumba once again beating Random. There was a great dinner in the Lightship in the evening, with entr’acte entertainment provided by Persephone Lewin’s five piece brass ensemble. Such was the popular acclaim that they were persuaded to do it all over again. Then came prize giving with every boat getting something; the overall points series for the week was won by Bona for the gaffers and Rhumba for the Bermudans, and suddenly it was all over. Many thanks to organisers Peter Thomas and his committee, who had made some tough decisions during the week, but everyone agreed it had been a great event and couldn’t wait until next year. Bernard Patrick  Maritime Woodbridge 8th/9th Sept What a marvellous weekend this turned out to be. Building on the success of last year, the organisers attracted more boats, more stands, more people and good weather.  The ECOGA was well represented with Bonify, My Quest, Quiz, Good Intent, together with a stunning raft of Albert Strange designs; Charm (the ‘other’ one), Nirvana, Firefly and Sheila while Arthur Ransome’s legacy of the area was represented by Peter Duck, Nancy Blackett and Ragged Robin – all local boats. There were also a number of local Deben Cherubs there and other classic craft ranging from the obligatory Thames barge, via a 44ft half-size replica of the Sutton Hoo longship, to Claudia Myatt and her coracles. What a feast for the eyes! The ECOGA had a stand in the shed, once again using the new marquee to the full and had a lot of interest and signed up several new members. Lots of ideas were tossed around to improve the Association’s presence next year. Swallows and Amazons 14th -15th July Well it had been a wet and cool summer, and this weekend promised to be similar, so the lack of campers was no surprise. Indeed it was a select bunch that ventured down to Walton this year with just over twenty boats entered – half our usual number and we missed the Jewels and the Scows in the fleet. However it was rather nice - a bit more peaceful for the organisers, still enough boats to give a good race and loads of prizes to go round. 
Saturday morning started with registration and breakfast in the club – very civilised! The race was looking rather hairy with strong westerly winds getting up a good fetch along Hamford Water and round the point. We therefore decided to shorten the course and send the fleet tacking across the Wade, round Honeypot and flying back to the club.
It was a wet course for most of the little boats as they tacked across the Wade, and extremely wet for the youngest skipper and crew aboard Blue Peter Rabbit as they took an unexpected dip, however managed to right their dinghy before their own parental safety boat plucked them out of the water. Once round Honeypot it was a fast sail home for all.
As I sat in the club house at the finish line, it was no surprise to see the Kentish greyhound, Phoebe, leading the pack, however I was delighted to see how closely she was followed by our local smacks boat Lettuce, who achieved a brilliant result. Third over the line was hotly contested between the second smacks boat, Happy Days, the first Traditional Gaffer, Felicis and the first New Classic, T/T Marlin. Felix brought up the back of the fleet in stately style – this day being one of her few sailing days she has each year now with her true old gaffers aboard. 
Meanwhile Arthur Ransome’s Hillyard Lottie Blossom (aka Ragged Robin and now cared for by the Arthur Ransome Society) joined Margaret J, Deva and other OGA yachts in the pond. Lunch at the club was followed by the boat boot sale and paper boat race. Both events were smaller than previous years – but just as much enjoyed. Prize giving was followed by dinner at the club and an evening of lively music thanks to the local Onion Band.
On Sunday the kite flying picnic made a fine spectacle on the shore at Stone Point . There were 12 entrants as well as those joining us for lunch . The task was to sail to Stone Point and to launch your kite in the shortest possible time. Points were given for speed, originality and for kindness shown to the holder of the kite during launching. The out right winner was Colin Stroud who sailed speedily from the club, leapt ashore and flew his kite in an instant. The children's section was won by Olivia Blackburn with her beautiful Dragon kite. Joint second was Josie Thomas with Rainbow Fish and William Thomas with Breathing Jelly Fish. Prize giving was held on the beach with prizes for all and then we drifted back with the tide. A lovely end to a fabulous weekend. As ever we owe much of the success of this event to the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club. Despite the setbacks this year, the club and in particular the commodore Roly Jarrold and new steward Paul worked wonders at the last minute to ensure we had a great weekend. Paul even offered to get up and cook us breakfast – which was a real treat. In addition to this the club as ever managed the race and safety boats and provided a great band for us on Saturday night. TARS have also supported us again this year, not only with the presence of Ragged Robin, but with the generous donation of a prize. Tessa Hodgkinson.  North Sea Classic Passage Race and Shipmate Classic Yacht Regatta 21st – 29th July This event in July was tainted by the sad death of Jon Wainwright during the passage race so an account of it is inevitably similarly tainted. The bad news reached the early arrivals in Holland on Sunday morning. The crew of Bonify were informed while breakfasting in a bar in Ziericksee which by that same evening should have been ringing with Jon’s famous laugh. Even now it hasn’t quite sunk in that we’ll never hear that wonderful sound again. The fleet from the North Sea Passage Race arrived later the same day and the shock and the sorrow that was felt by everyone then permeated the Dutch event from beginning to end. It is a tribute to Jon’s party spirit that we all felt we should try and make the best of it and party on, though it was hard in the circumstances. It is a tribute to Jon himself and to the friendships he had made over the years in Holland that wherever we went the news was received with shock and his presence was badly missed. Fleet Roll Call The East Coast contingent consisted of: Avola, Bonify, Elfreda, Fanny of Cowes, Gromit, Gwenili, Kestrel, Reynardine, Transcur and Vashti. 5 Dutch boats including Ragamuffin and Raven had enjoyed a cruise in company on the East Coast and then participated in the North Sea Passage Race too. Ziericksee Ziericksee is a perfect first stopping point from a North Sea crossing to the Rumpotsluis: there are old-fashioned windmills and massive mussel boats at a quay lined with little houses and bars and restaurants. Rafted up on that same town quay you can sit quietly in your cockpit supping Dutch beer trying to pick out your own mast reflected in the large windows of the house immediately opposite or gaze beyond at the windmills and try to work out whether the furling arrangement for the canvas lashed to the sails is anything to do with Wykeham-Martin… Steenbergen – Herring and Corenwijn Monday morning the fleet cruises the 18 miles to Steenbergen. Back along the short canal from Ziericksee into the Oosterschelde and the first obstacle is the 3 mile long Zeelandbrug (bridge). If you are confident you know your air draught accurately and if the electronic tidal gauge over one of the spans gives you enough clearance you can pass under it. But taller yachts must wait by the lifting bridge for the next scheduled opening. Then North East along the Mastgat and into the Krammer lock (Krammersluizen). The next vast waterway is the Volkerak, busy with commercial traffic. The long low laden barges are not easy to spot from a distance but outside of the main buoyed channels there are useful little buoys marking a route for smaller boats so it is quite manageable. From here we pile into the picturesque little lock for the Steenbergen canal. 
The little port of Steenbergen owes its place in the Dutch Classic Yacht Regatta to its “discovery” by Jon Wainwright many years ago but how he ever fell upon it is hard to imagine. It is not shown on the charts (apart from the lock at the canal entrance) and you really would think you were in a backwater of the Norfolk Broads as you wend your way the last couple of miles between reedy riverbanks with just the odd little signpost to confirm that you are on the right route. Pouring rain meant that it was a rather soggy fleet that arrived in Steenbergen to raft up. Reynardine was with us still, crewed by Dutch friends of Jon’s, determined that she should make it to this, perhaps Jon’s favourite event.
As crews gradually dried out the rain held off and the festivities began – albeit in a rather low-key way. The team of organisers from the Watersport Club Die Spoye were unmistakable in snazzy red T-shirts with their trademark Black Moustache logo. They leapt from boat to boat dispensing vouchers for free herring (excellent this year we were told – particularly fat and succulent) and free Corenwijn being served up in the boat shed turned party shed on the quay. Corenwijn is a mature version of the traditional Dutch Genever and the trick is to tip your head back and slurp it down quickly. Same technique with the raw herring too…Delicious! Tributes There were many moist eyes in the party shed on the quay as tributes were paid to Jon in English and in Dutch. For once it was Lorna Hammett (“The First Lady” as Jon called her) and not Brian who gave a short but moving speech and Joachim (Dutch Gaffers President) needed no translation when he declared himself “kaput”. Jon’s widow Margaret, known to many East Coast gaffers but not to the Dutch, had travelled to Holland to make arrangements and she spoke movingly and honestly about Jon and his boats. Not Willemstad – Steenbergen again 
Tuesday 24th should have seen us sailing on to Willemstad but this was not to be. Out in sea area Thames the forecast was for a Force 9 and although during the day the local forecast for Vlissingen/Ziericksee crept down to “just” a 6 the organisers confirmed that Willemstad harbour was still full of boats and couldn’t accommodate us. A second day and night in Steenbergen it would be instead.
“Doing a Wainwright” Perhaps every crew will have their own special meaning for the expression “doing a Wainwright”. The crew of Bonify cherishes a delightful memory from Steenbergen in 2003 of seeing Jon, Shippers and Alison struggling to manoeuvre a shopping trolley filled to the brim with booze supplies across the quayside cobbles to load on board whichever Nobby submarine they were on at the time - down to periscope depth by the time the operation was complete. The supermarket is very convenient here so this particular morning we silently thanked Jon for his inspiration as we made the most of the opportunity to “do a Wainwright” and replenish stocks by the same method. Stormbound There is one big busy bar/restaurant right on the quay in Steenbergen – but not on a Tuesday! Tuesday is closing day and not even the prospect of business from hungry and thirsty crews of a couple of dozen or more stormbound classic boats was going to change that. Still at the instigation of our Dutch gaffer hosts we made use of their terrace for a very sociable bring-your-own aperitif session. The skipper and 11 year old cabin boy of Bonify teamed up to supply barbequed nibbles and attempts were made to get Brits and Dutch who didn’t know each other to mingle. The briefing for tomorrow’s “fun race” was given in both languages and then musical gaffers entertained us (Paul Wright on mandolin, Graham Jenkins on fiddle, both on vocals). Some jolly pictures of this occasion can be seen on the Dutch Old Gaffers web-site (see Links section on our own site www.eastcoastclassics.co.uk). Dinners then went with a swing – Galway hooker Moorhen, with help from the galley on Ragamuffin, managed to feed what seemed like half the fleet on their vast open deck and new friends were made. “Fun Race” Downwind 10 miles along the Volkerak on Wednesday morning to lock through the Volkeraksluizen . The start of the “fun race” is at 14.00 just beyond the Haringvliet Bridge so it is essential to make the 13.00 opening of the bridge. However this is high season and the lock is busy. Even with 20 or 30 boats going through at a time there is a queue building and by the time some stragglers come through they are unlikely to make even the 14.00 bridge. Bridge-keepers in Holland are not generally “kind” to yachts. If there is a timetable they will keep to it and from their lofty viewpoint the queue of road traffic they have halted, building up by the minute, must exert more pressure than a few boats patiently circling below. Today however is special: yachts are convening from the convoy from Amsterdam, from Willemstad and from Steenbergen so there is a fleet of over 90 classic yachts gathering for the start within full view of the waiting traffic. Perhaps this magnificent sight softens the bridge keeper’s hard heart because he keeps the bridge open for a few minutes longer to allow the stragglers hammering towards him to make it through. As you may guess from the above comments Bonify didn’t make the start in time (held up before the lock replacing her fan belt). We kept our ensign flying but sailed the 14-mile course upwind in the sunshine and the stiff breeze and were timed home at Hellevoetsluis in 90th place out of 91! Regatta 
The Regatta at Hellevoetsluis is a huge event with over 180 boats and the civic reception at the town hall on the first evening is a noisy affair attended by a couple of hundred people who chatter over the officials’ speeches – but you could have heard the proverbial pin drop when the sad news of Jon’s death was announced by the organisers. Everyone was moved by Brian Hammett’s emotional tribute and perfect silence was maintained for a full minute in respect for an old friend.
This Regatta used to be just for “Sharpies”: the VKSJ was founded in 1982 for “Klassieke Sherpe Jachten” as opposed to the traditional Dutch round and flat bottomed boats. The Regatta was first held in 1989 for VKSJ members but has evolved over the years, with no little influence from our own OGA World President who has attended the biennial event ever since its inception and Jon Wainwright whom he introduced to it soon after. For the purposes of the Regatta a classic yacht is now defined as “a boat which in shape and appearance brings to mind the years before 1950” so although the majority of participating yachts are sleek racing boats with pointed bows, deep keels, gleaming varnish and brass or stainless steel (and mostly Bermudan rig) there is a warm welcome too for Old Gaffers, both UK and Dutch, including this year a contingent of Dutch Cornish Crabbers. Havoc was wrought on the carefully planned 10th Anniversary timetable by the weather: racing went ahead on Thursday but high winds (and a forecast of Force 8) forced a cancellation of the evening’s party in the tent and of Friday’s races. Saturday was supposed to be a “sit in the harbour and look pretty for the visitors” day but the racing programme had to be caught up so there was racing in the end all weekend in very breezy conditions. Racing 
For the details of the racing you’ll need to consult the competitors – odd anecdotes reached us on the shore but I am sure we never got the full story. James Palmer (Kestrel) returned to port after one race with a dislocated finger after a clash with Moorhen that had left him also short of a block on the end of his bowsprit. Rushing towards the town to find nearest the hospital he found himself just in time to be bundled into a taxi with Victoria from Elfreda who had injured her hand defending her ship on the mooring from an all-too-sharp “Sharpie” that hadn’t quite managed a full turn in the harbour prior to mooring up. James was later photographed precariously balanced on Kestrel’s bowsprit affixing a new block with one hand – in the background can be seen Victoria’s Sharpie adversary and just beyond James is the crew of Gromit sleeping off their own exertions.
Kestrel had triumphed here last time (in 2005) but this year it was the turn of Fanny of Cowes, making her Netherlands debut in style. Fanny stormed round the courses - in particular she seemed to cope best with being over-canvassed in the high winds. At Sunday’s prize-giving in the tent the 2 Nigels (skipper and crew) generously poured their prize champagne into their trophy and shared it with a noisy and boisterous crowd of Old Gaffers. So noisy and boisterous in fact that we nearly missed the surprise that followed: Surprise! “Spirit of Tradition” The 2007 Spirit of Tradition Award seemed sure to be awarded, as it has in the past, to another of the beautiful “Sharpies” but after some long preamble which we weren’t paying much attention to (as it was in Dutch) the organiser switched over to English, said the judges wanted to show that it’s not all about varnished perfection and that they wanted to pay tribute to a couple who had attended every Regatta since its beginning - the winning boat was “De Avola”. Brian and Lorna, not even aware that they had been nominated, hastily put down their champagne glasses and hurried up to collect a very handsome trophy. Brian thanked the organisers for this great honour and accepted it in Jon Wainwright’s name too (although later the judges were at pains to point out that Avola had been nominated on her own merits even before the sad events of the crossing). That was not Brian and Lorna’s last surprise of the evening – on returning to “De Avola” in the outer harbour they found her bathed in floodlights and proudly flying a huge winner’s pennant – all rigged-up in their absence. Moved and uplifted by these events Brian was heard to announce over his umpteenth celebratory nightcap in Avola’s wheelhouse that next Regatta she would be participating in full, races and all! Experienced racing crew with 2009 availability please apply to “De World President c/o De Avola” …and then it is Monday morning and it is all over – from here we all make our own way home, some in more of a hurry than others, and look forward to meeting here again in 2 years time - which should just about give the Dutch Sharpies time to get back in their sheds and re-varnish. Sue Lewis and Howard Wheelton. The weekend-long event began on Friday with a passage race to the Colne Bar, (with optional extension to the Green Man Bar at Bradwell) and the weather showed its teeth early on, giving northerners a testing beat down the Wallet to the rendezvous at Brightlingsea for registration and pint at the Colne YC. Forty nine boats entered and thirty two turned out for the start at 09:30 off Bateman’s Tower, with the smacks going off first, beating into a moderate SSW’ly. They included the impressive and newly restored 70 ft Pioneer, racing for the first time in her 143-year history; but a sail plan designed for trawling off Terschelling isn’t ideal for today’s smack racing and class leader, the 44ft 1885 Aldous smack Alberta was soon ahead. The gaff cruisers started 15 mins later, with skippers shaking out reefs to make progress against the flood and through the wind over tide lop, towards a turning mark which proved so elusive, some even doubted its existence. 
If the first leg had been all about tactics, the next, up to Thirslet Spit off Osea, was more a question of survival, especially for the smaller boats, as a succession of squalls swept across the river; Molly Cobbler and Plum were knocked flat, but recovered with only a moderate quantity of the Blackwater aboard. Thankfully, the majority of the fleet rounded the Thirslet mark before the tide turned and then had a wild ride down wind and tide to the Colne and more than enough breeze to make over the ebb to the finish. At the front of the gaffers fleet, state-of-the-art boat Crow trailed the East Coast One Design Wizard up to Thirslet, but modern technology eventually came out on top after an old-fashioned luffing match on the run to the finish, Crow crossing the line a mere 8 secs ahead.
On corrected time, Alberta just beat Wizard, with the 110 year-old smack Ethel Alice third and Crow fourth. Meanwhile, John Wainwright in Deva brought up the rear, the last of 21 finishers, winning both the Old Harry trophy and the Plodders Pot. In the Bermudan class, Clive Church did his usual demolition job on the opposition, finishing almost half an hour ahead of second place Elfreda, with area president Rob Williamson third and last finisher in the class. Once the fleet was moored up, there was free beer for all crews at the smack dock before prize-giving in the marquee. One of the biggest ovations at the prize-giving was for the installation of Mike Peyton as an Elder Gaffer. Rob Williamson said that Mike had done more than anyone, through the medium of his cartoons in the yachting press, to spread the Old Gaffers message. The evening was rounded off with a great buffet supper and traditional jazz in the Colne YC. Sunday was a day of rest, compared with the exertions of the previous day, with warm sun shining on the concours d’elegance in the morning, judged by the Deputy and Lady Deputy of the Cinque Port Liberty of Brightlingsea The open boat race and Parade of Sail up to Wivenhoe took place in the early afternoon and once again, the Wivenhoe SC put on a great hog roast lunch with home-made cakes for ‘afters’; it’s always such a pity the receding tide forces an early retreat back to Brightlingsea. Competitors were tucking in again in the evening at the ColneYC’s carvery in order to top-up before Monday’s race/cruise to West Mersea for a sea food lunch at the famous Packing Shed. This rounded off a truly memorable weekend of sailing and socialising in the traditional Old Gaffers style, but let’s not forget that none of this would have happened without all the hard work put in by Richard Giles and his committee. 
Britannia trophy –First gaff rigged boat across the line; Alberta, Barry Tester EC Old Gaffers trophy – First boat over 50 yrs old on corrected time; Alberta, Barry Tester Tom Bolton cup – First fishing boat across the line; Ethel Alice, Darren White Sheave trophy – First EC built and regd. fishing boat across the line, Harriet Blanche, Andy White Stone trophy – First boat in Class 1 (28-38’); Bona, Ian Smith. Boat World Rose Bowl – First boat in Class II (under 28’); Wizard, Sean Jacob. Hunt trophy – First ex-working boat in Class II; Deva, Jon Wainwright. Cruiser trophy – First bona fide cruiser; Crow, Bob Berk. Austin Edge trophy – First vessel, two or more masts; Charm, Robert Hill. Class IV trophy – First boat over 36’; Sunbeam, Malcolm Cameron. Old Harry trophy – Last boat inside time limit; Deva, Jon Wainwright. Plodder’s Pot- Last boat home; Deva, Jon Wainwright. Tom Felgate cruiser trophy – First Bermudan; Rhumba, Clive Church. 1st Bmn Owenda Mike Woodhouse Open Boats; - 1st - Lettuce - Mike Feather Packing Shed; - 1st Gaffer - Crow - Bob Berk Race - 1st Bmn - Rhumba - Clive Church 
Now in its third year, this East Coast Old Gaffers event continues to be very popular, with its blend of racing and socialising in the quiet seclusion of the river Stour. This year’s event was run in association with the Holbrook Boat Owners’ Association, the Shrimper Association and the Royal Hospital School, whose splendid buildings overlook the river. The RHS is a prestigious public school originally established to educate sons of naval officers, but now offering places to both boys and girls from all backgrounds. The rally was established in 2005 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar and also to celebrate the strong links with the navy that the school has had since Nelson’s time.
This year, 26 boats arrived at the Wrabness anchorage, out of 31 entries, a good turn out in spite of the F7 winds on the Friday and the threat of an 8am start to Saturday’s cruiser race. The entries included a six-strong contingent from the Shrimper Association to augment the School’s own fleet of four Shrimpers. Another welcome visitor was Charles Stock who had wisely brought ‘Shoal Waters’ up from Heybridge three days earlier in more benign weather. Fortunately, the forecast near gale didn’t appear and race officer for the morning race (and World President) Brian Hammett set a mercifully short course down to Harwich and back. First home, and on corrected time, was Robert Hill’s graceful yawl ‘Charm’, heading off the Shrimper ‘Bumble Chugger’ and Peter Thomas’s 1889 smack ‘Transcur’. ‘Charm’ is a 1920’s design based on Albert Strange’s Venture and is a welcome addition to our east coast fleet. The tides and the presence, or absence, of water tends to control events on the east coast and organiser Mike Robertson had his work cut out to fit in a crowded schedule. No sooner had the cruisers finished racing, than it was across to Holbrook creek for school dinner. There was barely enough water in the tortuous channel even for the open boats and Shrimpers and most found the mud at least once on the way in. Phil Wetherill’s RIB, ‘Sparerib’, was called into service to ferry the cruiser types ashore and eventually about 40 people sat down to a splendid meal in the school’s magnificent dining hall and no one got detention for being late. We then had a conducted tour of the school by four young pupils, whose politeness, knowledge and enthusiasm for their school reflected very well on the establishment and its staff. The Shrimpers and open boats then went off for their own races, while cruiser types relaxed before the evening’s barbecue. First Shrimper home was Robin and Gillie Whittle in ‘Bumble Chugger’’, beating second place crew Robin & Judy Gibbon in ‘Emily-Ann’ by only 18 seconds. The School Shrimpers raced for separate prizes, first home being ‘RHS Hawke’, second ‘RHS Blake’ and third ‘RHS Collingwood’. ‘RHS Howe’ had to be left at Shotley following a technical problem with her engine. The open boats race was won by Martin Atkinson in ‘Spinegar Tom’, while Mel Fox took the smack boats prize. 
As the evening approached about sixty people congregated on the beach at Wrabness to enjoy superb lamb and mint burgers, beef burgers and immense hot dogs – thanks to John Ambrose, Clare and Julia. The evening was rounded off with prize giving and then more drinks and gossip around a driftwood fire, before crews either turned in or made their way back to Holbrook creek to enjoy a peaceful night, with the sound of a nightingale singing in the woods above the anchorage.
Once again a very enjoyable rally, forging even stronger ties between the Royal Hospital School and the OGA, both organisations with great respect for traditional values. It was organised to the split second by Mike Robertson, with the invaluable help from the school’s IT Director (and HBOA Vice-Chairman), Andy Woollard and Holbrook Harbour Master, Peter Page. 
Morning race1st – Charm (OGA) 2nd – Bumble Chugger (SA) 3rd – Transcur (OGA) RHS Shrimpers 1st – RHS Hawke 2nd – RHS Blake 3rd – RHS Collingwood Private Shrimpers 1st – Bumble Chugger (SA) 2nd – Emily-Anne (SA) Open Boats 1st – ‘Spinegar Tom’, Martin Atkinson (HBOA) Smack Boats 1st – Melvin Fox’s Smack’s Boat (OGA) At breakfast (bacon and eggs etc. in the Club, brilliant!) the talk was all about forecasts, which ranged from the official shipping forecast’s NE5-7 perhaps gale 8, to BBC Essex with NE2 backing NW3. Race organiser Don Garman wisely ignored the former but prudently brought the start forward to 10:30, by which time there was a nice sailing breeze to bring the ten starters to the line. The wind was very fluky, with massive shifts, and the rain was torrential and cold. Rose from Leigh sensibly retired, unused to the arctic northern weather, and Deirdre explored the mud on the south shore, from which there was no escape for several hours. The Area President in the bermudan Maid of Tesa led at the turning mark by the Baltic Wharf, and the first gaffer was little Molly Cobbler, exploiting the shifts and dying wind. Unfortunately, her skipper in his excitement, failed to locate the mark and carried on downstream to the next green buoy, taking Gwenili and William with him and allowing Mary Ritchie to become leading gaffer. It was then a short hitch up to Cliff Reach and back and what would have been a processional reach home. However, the weather had another trick to play – the wind died completely, causing the whole fleet to anchor for an extended brew-up. Eventually a zephyr came in from the east, just enough to stem the ebb and provide hesitant progress back to the finish. Mary Ritchie, flying an enormous ghoster, just beat Maid of Tesa to the line and was followed by an increasingly sodden fleet, with Molly Cobbler bringing up the rear, having taken almost six hours to cover just over eleven miles. In the open boat class, the sole representative was Colin Stroud in his lovely ten-foot lug-sailed Dabchick. He was given a mercifully short course to minimise the time spent sitting in a puddle of rainwater and had his own private prize-giving while the rest of the fleet were stationary a few miles down stream. A barbecue was scheduled for the evening, but in view of the weather was replaced by civilised cooking in the club’s kitchen. Prize-giving followed, with gasps of disbelief and expressions of lack of faith in the handicapping system when Molly Cobbler was announced as the winner, with William second and Gwenili third; but the innate bonhomie of the gaffers shone through, aided by generous helpings of home-made apple pie and lemon tart, and a great evening rounded off a splendid weekend. Once again, the Fambridge YC had put on a memorable event in spite of the elements, but it would not have succeeded without the hard work of ‘Fred’ and Trevor Rawlinson, the local team of Pauline and Don Garman and club secretary Peter Moss. We’ll be back next year, hoping for better weather. 
1st - Gwenili - Martin Goodrich 2nd - Rose of Paglesham - Mark Emmerson 3rd - Molly Cobbler - Bernard Patrick Crouch Race 1st - Molly Cobbler - Bernard Patrick 2nd - William - John Warren 3rd - Gwenili - Martin Goodrich Classics 1st - Maid of Tesa - Rob Williamson Open Boats 1st - Dabchick - Colin Stroud Then it was no other boats which were not gaff only, as the sole remaining classic berm returned south to base, “ I am not motoring all the way up there in this etc…”. Next excuse I heard was “ I have left my Passage Race Declaration form in Ipswich, so I think I will go back there”. The Albert Strange Yawl Charm, nearly did the same thing when her main became unlaced from the gaff, but then decided what the hell. HMS Bonifiy’s roller jib got into problems, but made a similar decision. Gwenili hit the same stuff too and lowered a lot of sail. Meanwhile the smallest and oldest boat in the fleet (Deva) got into trouble off Orfordness with a blow from the North, and just handed her jib and topsail and slotted in a reef….. no choice for her, she had to get to S’wold, because the prizes were aboard! It was a bleak sight in wind and the rain, the White Plastic Navy notable by their absence, just some old gaffers slogging away to windward, now into the tide too. Patient Griselda, who was right inshore broke her tiller, not in the best situation, as well as being single handed. But Skipper Richard Symes managed to locate her spare tiller, fortunately could easily remove the stump of the broken one, and managed to replace it. The survivors limped into Southwold in atrocious conditions, only to find their pre-booked berths were taken up by a large fleet of gin palaces, who claimed they were unable to proceed to sea because of the weather. And their crews had gone home. Despite the fact that the little old gaffers had managed to punch their way through in ancient boats with only string between the planks to keep the water boat….. And these guys were going south, not against the elements. We were all found places in the end. Just like to remind those who look down on wooden boats and gaff rig with contemporary disdain, that actually we get there come hell or high water. Henry in Ladybird did not have quite the same struggle coming round from Lowestoft with the wind astern, but it was still a fine effort in so small a boat. Having got through that hell, it was actually worth it, such was the welcome from Southwold Sailing Club. The current committee have actually got the club very well organised. Although they weren’t cooking, we could order take-aways from the town and the club would provide plates and cutlery.  With the conditions as they were, and with the gear failures etc, we decided to award the prizes on the basis of least engine hours! Ladybird won, followed by Charm and Bonify. It was a lot calmer the next day when we set the course for the Sole Bay Race. Though it was still damp and grey, Southwold being the only place in the UK not to be sweltering in 28 deg! The start of the race was off the Southwold Pier- we even had spectators! Then it was a very broad reach to Dunwich, lost port of the East, to a mark just opposite the famous Café. Then the really tricky sailing started. The wind went very light and kept shifting through 90 degrees. The local advice was to short tack along the beach, getting in as close as possible, so as to stay out of the tide. It was quite eerie with the waves seething into the shingle. Sometimes a superb lift would come along, other times there would be nothing, hardly any wind and a header on both tacks. The fleet were very close together, must have been quite a sight from the beach watching this little fleet of gaffers almost within touching distance. The next mark involved dashing out from the beach into the current to round a mark off Southwold Harbour entrance- it had been advised that if we shortened course it would be there. Deva got very excited that she might catch Bonify on the wrong tack and go ahead on the line. But actually the committee boat was there just to say that we were doing the full course, and the finish was off Dunwich Café, somewhere down wind in the distance where Bonify now was! The Club did a nice meal for us in the evening, and we were entertained by the Rum Old Boys, just like the olden days. And we had the Adnams prize-giving, and that was just like the old days too! Everyone got a prize, for good technical reasons, but the winner of the Sole Bay Cup was Charm, who won on both line honours and handicap. Second, despite the handicap, was Deva, followed by a very creditable third by Ladybird, well into the prizes this year. These boats won a barrel of beer each (some of you may remember drinking the Deva’s barrel at the East Coast Race at Brightlingsea!) And there were lots of beer in many bottles prizes as well!  People were dying of sunstroke in the Outer Hebrides, but not at Southwold, the next day. For the Nancy Oldfield Cup race, we had been promised a North Westerly breeze, so a course was set to round a virtual poached egg with an aerial on it (believed to be an Environmental Agency measuring buoy) out at sea, before going to Dunwich and back to finish off the harbour. Well you have guessed it. The wind went NNE, and instead of being able to lay the mark, we had to beat wind and tide. It took Deva five hours to make good four miles.. All those behind her retired, leaving Charm, Bonify and Gwenili tacking into the gloom for ever and ever, searching for an invisible mark. No spectators to see the gaffers out here. Visibility dropped to a couple of hundred metres, we were doomed to an internal beat! The rest of the fleet retired, and it was not until the later evening that the last boat Deva crossed the line. Never mind, the club had cooked our cook- your –own BBQ, so we could get straight down to the eating. Then it was time to calculate the results- should have been straight forward, but a lot of extra calculating had to be done as we damn near had a tie for second place! Charm won the Nancy Oldfield Cup, Bonfy just scraped a second place over Gwenili, and Deva’s long suffering crew got a prize for his suffering! Gwenili also took the Blyth Bugle Trophy for the most improved headsail setting over the weekend! We also held a collection for the Nancy Oldfield Trust and many people got up and spoke on how much they had enjoyed the event, both from club and OGA sides. The smaller entry had been drastically hit by the weather, but even so most of the practical things had worked very well despite the conditions. Everyone left with a prize or token of a happy weekend, many thanks due to Adnams who supplied “Goody Bags” and beer prizes. We had had the same sort of sailing as when it was a fully sponsored event. We did not have fireworks or big live bands on outside stages, or what might be classified as the “Public” side of the event. But it was the real Southwold! Our thanks go to Southwold Sailing Club, who made us so very welcome, and we hope to repeat the event next year. 6 gaffers attended- Avola(Francis Jones Cutter), Gromit (Falmouth WB), Bonify (Colin Archer), Transcur (Essex smack), Bona (Bawley) and Reynardine (Buchanan Yawl). Some were looking very smart, others were awaiting their 2007 refit!!  We gathered on Good Friday night, and enjoyed a nice meal at the Royal Harwich. Arrangements were put in hand for the next day. As this was just a gentle rally, nothing too competitive, we decide to have a race to Wrabness! Avola, resplendent with our new official starting flags, set the fleet on its way. Reynardine was first across the line, but she was soon overtaken by Transcur then Bona, despite setting topsail and new headsail, but maybe it was the barnacles! The feeble north wind virtually went to nothing as the boats approached Collimer. It was a nice day, and there was a sea breeze from the South and East about to start. With the flood tide it eventually became impossible for Reynardine & Gromit , (who both had to engine that bit!) But Bona and Transcur persisted and eventually managed to get to Shotley Spit, where the tide would help them. The course was shortened to Ewarton, Transcur winning from Bona, a fine effort by both vessels. But it was a lovely day out for all of us. A couple of us carried on to Wrabness for a late lunch, making sure moorings were picked up under sail, under the eagle eye of Pete the Knife. Apparently there is a new entry rule at Wrabness, all gaffers must hand in their engine keys prior to arrival. Sculling is the preferred means of dinghy power also. The sea breeze caused a slight chill, so the softer ones amongst us fired up our heaters. Avola had a huge flash back, while Reynardine’s went into Chernobyl mode, a bulkhead nearly catching fire!  Back at the Royal Harwich, the prizegiving was held, every attending vessel receiving an Easter Egg! 
Nearly 70 members and guests attended the Annual Dinner this year in early March. The Leigh Cockler Alice and Floray sailed round from Alresford, her bogie stove adding significantly to her carbon footprint! There was also some very impressive OGA top brass as well- I think I counted at least THREE presidents (including World and ex-World) , PLUS a delegation from Conway/North Wales, including the World OGA webmaster.
Denise and Trevor Rawlinson had made a magnificent job decorating the Dining Room and the tables, the RBYC can be very proud of them. And normal Dutch visitors will be pleased to note that the meal was of a greatly improved standard, beautifully served and expertly cooked. As the meal finished, toasts and presentations were made. Roger Taylor gave a moving talk on a “South Sea Voyage on a Square Rigger”. This account ended tragically with the square rigger becoming embayed and beating back and to for days on end against a gale, losing ground every time she wore ship until eventually she grounded and had to be abandoned. And to eclipse that- what did we have on a magnificent starlit night? – A Lunar Eclipse of course! Who said the Crouch Mafia has lost its influence. The evening was over far too early, and suddenly the bar shut and it was over for another year. Many thanks to Denise and Trevor for all their hard work.    |
