Daisy III - end of a chapter

 

Sadly, the previous post signalled the end of my time with Daisy III.  I loved every minute of owning her.  However, changes in personal circumstances, principally dog ownership, has changed the way in which I want to sail.  I'm no longer needing a boat which will keep me out at sea for days at a time.  Daisy IV, whilst smaller, provides a more versatile platform for a springer spaniel.  Being an open boat, Kizzy gets to clamber all over.  Additionally, going ashore is a doddle.  We have even camped aboard.  So, after much thought, Daisy III went on the market last Autumn and I'm pleased that she now has a new owner.

I've always thought that we are merely custodians of our craft.  It’s been an absolute privilege to sail in Daisy III and I hope to meet her again on the water one day.

End of career mini-cruise 18-21 July

 

Little wind across Dovercourt Bay, returning from Harwich

So, after 33 years, it is time to hang up the mortarboard and take permanent rest from the chalk face.  Much more sailing to come - hopefully, this cruise is just the start of it!

Tuesday….Launching at Bradwell, two attempts were made to depart from the Blackwater, the first being thwarted by leaving the iPad in the car!  Winds were southerly which made for lumpy sea conditions and, as usual, I left it a little bit too late to take the rest of the ebb up to Harwich.  So, I anchored in at Pyefleet for the night.

Wednesday…early start, at 0430, motoring up the Wallet to Harwich.  Winds emerged, finally, off Walton for a reach across Dovercourt.  A brief coffee-stop inside the breakwater in Harwich Harbour was followed by a pleasant beat up the Stour, eventually anchoring in the lee of Stutton Ness.

Thursday…early start at 0500, moving to a deeper anchorage for further sleep.  Then, motoring across to Walton before a light south easterly set in for a slow,  but pleasant trip back to the Colne.  A brief trip up the Colne before an about turn into the southerly, beating back to Pyefleet.

Friday…north easterly F4, reefed main with furled mizzen.  Trip back across to Bradwell.  Anchorage opposite the marina for successful deployment of new, electronic pump for water ballast removal.  Return to slip and to dry land.

87.8nm

Early 2023 sailing

 

The first two sails of 2023 were from Woolverstone Marina.

River Orwell, Harwich Harbour.  29-30 April

This trip involved a sail out through Harwich Harbour and then back, in fairly benign conditions.

I dried out for the night just off Woolverstone and then pulled her back onto the trailer the following morning.

23.3nm

Woolverstone to Suffolk Yacht harbour - 3-4 June

This trip resulted in a welcome rendezvous with Amazon, with whom I have previously sailed.

Winds were quite strong and from the north east so, following some pleasant sailing on the Orwell, I decided to purchase a berth in Suffolk Yacht Harbour for a comfortable night, prior to a return to car/trailer the next morning.

Amazon's skipper was able to take some video of Daisy III, which feature below after my own offering.

End of 2022 sailing

As it turns out, 2022 wasn't a particularly productive sailing year.  For various reasons which aren't worth writing about, other things took priority.  However, I did manage two further trips

Walton Backwaters, Rivers Orwell and Stour, 3-5 August

This trip illustrates one of the causes of the lack of sailing - the introduction of Kizzy, the English Springer Spaniel to our life!  We're working on her sea legs, but she is more interested in swimming in rather than floating on the water…!

I launched on 3rd of August at Titchmarsh Marina, and sailed over to the Orwell, overnighting opposite Suffolk Yacht Harbour.  

The next day, Sally, Gilly and Kizzy joined me for a lovely sail up the Orwell, beaching opposite Woolverstone so Kizzy could have a run around.  I then dropped off the girls at SYH before sailing round to the Stour, overnighting in Ewarton Bay.  Finally, I sailed back to Titchmarsh.

Dried out in Ewarton Bay.

34.2nm

Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere, 20-22 August

Again, with Kizzy aboard, we did some sailing on the Norfolk Broads.  

For the first time, I launched at Martham boatyard, who were most accommodating, particularly since it was also 'changeover' day.  Excellent, sheltered slip and good parking for car/trailer.

I collected Sally and Kizzy from Hickling, and we sailed round to Horsey Mill for the night.

Unfortunately, the trip resulted in breakages to the mainsail track slides on Horsey Mere, so rather less sailing happened after that…

16.4nm

Whilst I was always on the look out for further sailing opportunities in the Autumn, it just didn't happen, so Daisy III was wrapped up for the winter.

End of term mini-cruise, River Blackwater, 20-22 July, 2022

Evening sail across to the Colne

On Instagram, this has been dubbed the 'end of (yet another academic) year mini-cruise’.  Weary but glad to be afloat!

This cruise came at the end of term and also followed on from a few days of record-breaking heat - it was good to be out and about with a slightly cooler sea breeze, although that had developed into a stiffer easterly, by the end of day 2, so I decided to come home a day early, and postponed any serious coastal passage-making.

On day 1, having faffed around in Bradwell Marina, there was insufficient time for a sail up to Walton, so I diverted to Pyefleet for a relaxed evening.

Day 2 allowed for a jaunt up the coast to Holland-on-Sea, hove-to for for elevenses.  Then, with the turned tide, I sailed back to The Blackwater and ended up in a delightful anchorage in Mayland Creek just off the Steeple Bay holiday park - great protection from a developing easterly, and drying out overnight.

Day 3 could have been another day at sea, but the easterly winds put me off.  I sailed and then motored over choppy 'wind over tide' waters back to Bradwell.  A longer cruise will have to wait for more suitable weather…

White: 20 July, 9.7nm; red: 21 July, 30.6nm; green: 22 July, 6.6nm.  Total length 46.9nm

Harwich harbour - 9th July

 

Launched at Suffolk Yacht Harbour for a day sail.  Over to Stone Point, Walton Backwaters, for lunch and then returning.  

A particular feature was a good bit of video of Daisy III in action, and also the Pin Mill Barge Match as a great backdrop.

17.6nm

Half term cruise 30th May - 1st June, River Blackwater

 

Showery weather off Osea Island

This was the first opportunity for a cruise since acquiring a puppy which, as any dog owner will know, takes time to train…

Anyhow, this blog is about boats not dogs, although it is hoped our new friend might become a feature of future sails.  But, for now, still sailing mostly solo.

This launch on the Blackwater was a brief window of opportunity and the weather was quite suspect, although the main showers tended to happen at convenient times, usually when anchored and often in the middle of the night.

The cruise followed the usual pattern on this estuary, which is a trip across to the Colne for a night in the Pyefleet Channel, and then a sail up the Blackwater the next day.  On this occasion, on the second evening, I spent the night anchored off Osea, on the south side, which was modestly successful, but always destined to become bumpy for a small boat at a point overnight when the tide turned against the wind.  I should have persisted with looking for a quieter spot up Mayland Creek or Lawling Creek.  

Threatening skies never far away, but mostly managed to hold off whilst in motion.

Day 1 (red): 15.4nm; Day 2(yellow): 21.7nm; Day 3 (green): 6.1nm; total length 44.2nm