A Rally-ette Dwindles to Two

The Easter holiday forecast was as usual ‘iffy’, with Sunday promising strong NE winds, and Monday an unsure no-wind-to-strong-wind. However, 5 boats had booked for the Burnham rally-ette, and it looked promising. However, forecast changes and overrunning maintenance made the number dwindle to just two, Solace and Alice.

A Fast Sail to Burnham

Notwithstanding, several East Coast members still arranged to rendezvous by land at the Swallowtail Pub for a Saturday meal, with Brian and Andrew on Alice due to arrive Sunday, as they were racing on the Saturday. Solace, with myself and Steve on board, left her overnight anchorage at a very reasonable 0900 on the Saturday morning and motored in light SW winds, which were forecast to ‘back’ NE on the Sunday. However, as we left the Medway, the wind started to increase and we hoisted a sail.

As luck would have it, the light SW started to back earlier than predicted, and increased steadily as we journeyed. We made not only a fast (albeit chilly) sail through the sandbanks of the Thames estuary, but as we beared WSW to enter the River Crouch (usually a motor head to wind), the wind backed still further and we had a fantastic goosewinged sail up the Crouch, all the way to Burnham. By about 3pm we were alongside at Burnham Yacht Harbour and marina.

An Evening at the Swallowtail, and a Cancellation

Welcoming pre-dinner drinks for the land-based arrivals were held onboard Solace before we decanted the short distance to the Swallowtail Restaurant. Eleven of us in total enjoyed a good meal in great company. During the evening, the forecast slowly worsened, with Sunday and Monday predicting strong NE winds. Given this, Alice sensibly cancelled, and the rally of 5 became just a solitary Solace.

At the end of the evening those who were land-based departed, leaving Steve and myself to ponder our plans for the remainder of the Bank Holiday. Given the ‘promise’ of a good sail back on Sunday (and an unattractive forecast for the Monday), we decided we would curtail our stay and head back home the following day.

Heading Home Into the Wind

As expected, the NE winds created quite a steep chop with wind over tide as we left the River Crouch. We bounced up and down waves for 2 hours into the wind, until we could turn to starboard and make a fast, albeit wallowy, journey back to the Medway.

Sailing rarely consists of fixed plans. The East Coast runs SW to NE, and any trip almost invariably results in head to wind in one direction. Still, we had a great weekend so early in the season, and it is always enjoyable to catch up with fellow East Coasters.