Marconi Sailing Club
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Single Handers cruise to London by Neil Pembleton
THE SINGLE HANDED FLEET VISIT LONDON 21st July to 2nd August 2009
Winner of Mamgu Trophy 2009
Roger Camp (Southern Hey) was organising a Club cruise to St Katherines’s Dock in London this year and a number of single handed boats were interested in joining in. However they all had previously experienced the thrills and spills of the “Well oiled system” for locking into and out of St Katherines’s. Unanimously they decided that their collective hearts could not stand the stress and trauma of another such experience so decided to go to Limehouse Marina. In addition they decided to extend the duration and take in a visit to other anchorages as well.
Thus it was that Pat Black (Tamarisk), Bob Godbold (Icarus), John Chisnall (Charlotte), Bob Whittaker (Chappie) and Neil Pembleton (Trumpeter) found themselves leaving the Club on Tuesday 21st July in a steady ESE 4 and assembling at Brightlingsea on the first leg of the trip. Later a planning meeting was held ashore over a leisurely pint at which it was agreed to depart at 04.30 the following morning so that there would be sufficient water in the Spitway for Tamarisk.
So on Wednesday 22nd July departure was made at 04.15 and with a SSW 4 blowing good time was made to the Spitway. Once through sails were stowed and iron topsails engaged for the run down the East Swin. The wind steadily increased and by the time that Blacktail Spit was reached an indicated SW 5-6 was shown on more than one windspeed indicator. This made for very interesting motoring across to the Medway Channel, passed the Montgomery and into Queenborough, which proved surprisingly sheltered so moorings were picked up by all with no problems around about 11.00.
In the evening Tamarisk and Icarus provided a very efficient rubber duck taxi service to the shore where we indulged in a meal at the Flying Dutchman. As we had already been caught by the Harbour Master and paid our overnight fee, we agreed to depart the following morning at 07.45 to avoid paying for a second day. (Note for the uninitiated, the fee is payable from 08.00 to 08.00 the following day or any part thereof.)
Thursday 23rd July saw the fleet depart as planned at 07.45 on the next leg to Erith Yacht Club in a SW 2 which gently increased to a 4 during the day. Arriving at Erith at 12.30, moorings were once again easily picked up. However one of the party did discover that finding the vacant mooring with the clean new strops was not the best of ideas. As we all assembled on Trumpeter and were enjoying a pot of tea, we were hailed by an Erith boat and had to move the one of our party to another mooring. The moral is to find the mooring with no strops, or at least strops so weed encrusted that when on board the foredeck is covered with interesting sea life.
Once again in the evening Tamarisk and Icarus provided the taxi service ashore to the Folgefonn which is the clubhouse for Erith YC but soon to be replaced by a new shorebased building. We were made very welcome and as we enjoyed a beer, Frank Burgess (who had initiated the contact with Erith) and Murray Bates arrived. Frank was in his element amongst old club members and we all enjoyed a very convivial evening. If you are intending to go up the Thames, it will be well worth contacting Erith YC in advance and asking to use their moorings, especially on a Thursday which is their Clubhouse evening.
Friday 24th July saw a leisurely start at 12.30 with a forecast W 4-5 becoming SE 3-4 and mainly fair. As the group moved up the Thames the sky became more and more overcast with a light drizzle setting in as we passed through the barrier. Passing the Greenwich Dome a vicious squall swept through with quite heavy rain but only lasted 3 or 4 minutes. On entering Greenwich Reach, Trumpeter called Limehouse Marina who wanted to take three boats in the first lock and two in the second. On the basis of the (un)democratic decision made by Trumpeter, Icarus and Chappie were assigned to the second lock. Passing Hilton Pier another call was made to Limehouse who confirmed that the lock was ready for the first boats and the second group would be able to enter within ten minutes.
On entering the lock, we each received an envelope showing a plan of the marina with our berth highlighted and additional information inside. Clearing the lock, we heard the second group being called in and saw that they had only waited eight minutes. We were all berthed by 14.30 approx.
It must be said that throughout our stay the staff were extremely helpful, friendly and being a pre-booked party we enjoyed a club rate of £19.00 per boat per night regardless of length.
In evening we had a meal at the Cruising Association headquarters before adjourning to the “Grapes” for an evening of gossip.
Saturday 25th July we made a tour of the area around Limehouse, locating Tesco’s, a couple of restaurants, and the Docklands Light Railway station. In the afternoon using our Oyster cards (reduces the cost of travel) we made our way to Canary Wharf and the London Docklands Museum which at £3.00 each proved excellent value especially as the ticket is valid for one year and multiple visits.
After eating on board, a pilgrimage to the “Prospect of Whitby” was made which was followed by a nightcap on Icarus.
Sunday 26th July was the day the “Other Fleet” would arrive at St Katherines. The crew of Trumpeter and Charlotte were first to reach St Katherines and attempted to have some lunch in the Dickens, after waiting over an hour in a not very busy bar, we left and found another café – we ate but only just.
The others joined us about 16.00 as we saw the first of the Marconi boats arrive outside the lock. We were amazed to discover that St Katherines were using radio to check and collect the details of boats as they arrived. Just a pity that they did not use it to call the boats one at a time into the lock reverting instead to type with then usual free for all scrum as the lock opened. Just over half the fleet made it into the first lock as we went round to help them berth in the East basin. After the eternal wait they came into view, berthed and we were offered light refreshment on Shell Seeker while waiting for the remainder who finally made it about an hour later.
It was agreed to meet at “The Pommelers Rest” a Wetherspoons pub just over Tower Bridge for a meal in the evening and then the single handers made their way back to Limehouse while the others set off along the Embankment in the light rain.
Monday 27th July saw our group doing our own thing, while Icarus, Charlotte and Chappie visited Woolwich Arsenal Museum, Tamarisk enjoyed a lazy day in the sunshine on board and Trumpeter visited an old work colleague.
In the evening Icarus, Tamarisk and Trumpeter enjoyed a meal at the local Italian (La Figa) which was excellent value with a main course which we struggled to finish and a bottle of wine. Later we all met up for a night cap on Charlotte.
Tuesday 28th July was to be our last day in Limehouse before departing for Chatham the next day to join up with the St Katherines fleet so a leisurely day was spent in preparation etc.. Then early to bed.
Wednesday 29th July we all listened at 0520 to the forecast which indicated that the wind would increase to a SW6 about the time we would enter the Medway. In view of our experience on the trip from Brightlingsea to Queenborough, we very easily made the collective decision to delay our departure until the following day. With the benefit of hindsight, this may not have been the best decision.
The marina once again were extremely helpful indicating that we might need to move Icarus but that proved unnecessary as the regular berth holder conveniently stayed at Teddington rather than return.
Thursday 30th July found us listening to a forecast suggesting an initial SW5-7 decreasing 3-4 so we decided that we would depart at 06.45. This meant punching the tide for the first hour or so before the ebb set in but we estimated would get us to the Medway channel as the tide turned to flood and help us to Chatham.
As it happened we had a WSW 3-4 down the river allowing us to motor sail under genoas. All went well until we turned into Sea Reach with the tide still under us. As I reached the Mid Blyth buoy, I could see dark menacing clouds gathering behind us. Rapidly donning wet gear, reducing the size of the genoa and putting the washboards in the hatch, I waited for it to arrive.
Minutes later we were enveloped in a heavy rain and hailstorm, after the windspeed indicator showed 32 knots, I decided that I was not going to look again. Luckily with the tide still under us and the wind virtually dead astern the water was quite smooth. As I reduced the genoa still further, the sacrificial strip at the foot was torn off for about three feet.
Luckily as we approached the Nore Swatchway the wind eased and the decision was taken to stay at Queenborough overnight knowing that an early start would be made the following day to return to Brightlingsea (Nothing to do with Queenborough only wanting £8.00 compared with the unknown but much higher MDL fee at Chatham.). The harbourmaster managed to collect our fee but also transferred two cans of fuel from Icarus to Chappie, perhaps they do have a heart after all.
Friday 31st July found a forecast of SW 3-4 backing SE 4-5, slight, fair, good being issued so we departed at 07.45 (avoiding the harbourmaster on his early morning rounds).
The wind initially was SSW 0 and gradually filled to a steady S 3 occ 4 as we headed down the East Swin, through the Spitway and into Brightlingsea arriving at 13.45.
The other fleet from Chatham started to arrive about 15.00 with Shell Seeker being the last.
On our way to Brightlingsea, I had contacted Winkies to see if they could accommodate us only to find that they had a party of 19 due to sit down at 21.00. They offered us a 19.30 booking on condition that we left by 21.00 which we did. Needless to say the party at 21.00 comprised the crews of the other fleet.
Saturday 1st August was a quiet day with a lunchtime visit to “The Rosebud” which in the past had provided excellent pub grub at a very reasonable price. However it has changed hands and has moved its food up market (£6.50 for an open sandwich) but the beer is still good.
During the early afternoon Tamarisk, Chappie and Charlotte departed for the Club.
In the evening Icarus and Trumpeter decided to try the restaurant at “The Yachtsmans Arms” which proved to sell excellent food at a reasonable price so may well see further custom from us.
Sunday 2nd August found Icarus and Trumpeter departing Brightlingsea at 08.50 headed for our home moorings at the Club swiftly followed by a number of boats from the St Katherines fleet. After a brief sail the wind progressively died and the iron topsail can into its own yet again and the mooring was picked up at 11.50.
So ended the singlehanded fleet’s trip to London. Ten days of varied weather and sailing, ten days of enjoyable and relaxed company, ten days of memories for the winter months ahead and planning of next year’s trips.
On the negative side it was unfortunate that we did not join up with the other fleet at Chatham and missed their meal at Winkies.
Neil Pembleton – Trumpeter.
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