Sailing 2004 – Charles Stock & Shoal Waters

Charles Stock – Sailing in Shoal Waters in 2004.

23rd January

Jim hired a Sigma 36 from Southhampton – Hamble marina for Friday night – Round the Isle of Wight in perfect conditions on Saturday to Yarmouth – Visited Cowes and Folly on Sunday

65 miles

March 13th

Launched

16th

To Maldon on tide

18/20

Mersea, Strood and Ray Island – BSC

25 Miles

Round Northey and Fullbridge.

26/29

Hired Hustlers One and Two – Jim and sons Daniel and Ryan – Upton dyke- Ranworth – Hickling – Horsea – Upton dyke.

1st April

Round Northey to Sadds

6/13

West Mersea – Burnham – Shalfleet – Conyer creek – Havengore – Wivenhoe BSC

154 miles

Two afternoon trips on tide with Joy (Chris on holiday).

3 May

Trip to East Mersea Beacon and BSC

5/6

Rat Island and Point Clear Creek to study shifting shingle – BSC

12/18

Ipswich – Manningtree – Snape – Butley river – Woodbridge Walton Backwaters – BSC

160

24/25

With Joy to Lawling for night – Mersea at LW – BSC

1st/3rd June

To Maldon – Mersea with Joy – Fish dinner- BSC

7/9

To Ray Island – Colne beach – Rowhedge – Rat Island – BSC

14/16

To Ray Island – Woodrolfe Creek – Flood – Osea – Lawling – BSC

21/22

St Lawrence Bay – West Mersea – BSC

25/30

Walton Bustway – Ipswich – Pin Mill – Bridge – Parkston Bustway – Rd Horsea – Bustway – BSC

100

2nd July

Overnight to meet Balmoral on visit to Maldon. Duff Info!

5/7

West Mersea – Colne Beach – St Osyth – Ray Island – NE gales – BSC

10th

Day sail Osea area

12/14th

Faversham Creek – Milton Creek – Lower Halstow – Havengore – BSC

100

21/23

Key Reach – Battlesbridge – BSC

28/30

Lawling Creek – Colne beach – Maldon – BSC

3/5 August

Ray Island – Virley/Salcot – Ray Island and BSC via Bradwell

14/18

With Jim on Summer Wind from Amble to Hamble.

485

25/26

Lawling Creek and West Mersea – BSC

30/2nd Sept

Rochford – Pyfleet – BSC

4/7

Walton Backwaters (Bustway)

15/17

Brightlingsea – Colchester – BSC

19/23

St Peters – Denghie Lighters – Ray Island

Total nautical miles in Shoal Waters to date, – 1078.

83 days or part days afloat – 52 nights aboard.

All trips made from and to my mooring at the Blackwater S.C. No engine used; no tows accepted. A little auxiliary power in flat calm from a paddle and a quant.

The Bustway is a tiny, superbly sheltered, anchorage deep in the southern end of Hamford Water recommended by John Lewis in his book, A TASTE FOR SAILING.