Summer Cruise to Ramsgate 2015 organised by Roger Camp
Itinerary: Sat and Sun night Ramsgate, Mon and Tues night Dover, Wed night Ramsgate, Thurs and Fri night Chatham. Sat return to the River Blackwater.
Southern Hey – Jackie and Roger Camp
West Marie – Danny Ainge
Last Orders – Cheryl and Mike Cutmore
Chemma – Andrew and Christopher Williams later joined by Anne and Emma.
Top Cat – Clive and Sue Shenton – engine trouble sadly withdrew
Tide Runner – Jane and Lewis Smith
Serupin II – Margaret and Roy Bellord
Last Dream – Sue and Pete Arnold
Mare Lutra – Peter Booth and Eddie
Skylark – Alison Rowles and Dave Matthews
Hebredian Girl – Jan and Pete Reay
Saturday 8th August depart for Ramsgate: The planned passage through the sandbanks proved not to be viable. Led by Tide Runner, another route was taken across ‘Middle Sunk’. Ramsgate was very busy, everyone vying for a birth. It was difficult also to find table free at the local restaurants. The Tapas Bar on the Quay managed to fit us in and was good. Later most of our fleet had drinks at The Royal Temple Yacht Club which had views overlooking the Harbour.
Sunday 9th August Traditional walk into Broadstairs. It was a beautiful hot day.
The annual Folk Festival meant Broadstairs was totally packed. I have never seen so many Morris Dancers in one place! We went for ice cream at Morrelli’s, then sunbathed on the beach and some of us went for a swim. We returned to Ramsgate via the bus. In the evening we all assembled for Fish and Chips on the beach and were mobbed by hungry gulls. Alison tried to discourage the gulls with threats of a certain examination only a vet can do – not sure they understood! Everyone went for drinks aboard Skylark after. Mike and Martine (Jan Reay’s Brother and girl friend) joined us on the beach and for fish and chips. Mike being a keen swimmer went for an evening swim too. No one was brave enough to join him!
Monday 10th August discuss possible change to itinerary due to weather shift. The decision was made to cut Dover from the itinerary as we would be able to get there but wind and tide direction could make an exit difficult. Staying a further day at Ramsgate then on to Queenborough. Wednesday and Thursday Chatham. Roger and Jackie found a great cafe and had roast beef and a cuppa for £5 a head – Roger a happy man now! Some found Thai Restaurant – food good; relaxed service (slow). Some dined in to finish up food stocks. Marie Lutra and West Marie decided to explore the Swale and meet up with the rest of the fleet for the planned Punch Party.
Tuesday 11th August depart Ramsgate for Queenborough. We all moored up against the concrete barge in the middle of the river for a Punch Party. Recommendation was to dine first as a solid base needed as the strength of the punch is disguised by delicious flavour.
The Punch expertly made by Jackie and Roger Camp, certainly did pack a punch – delicious! Lots of laughs a merriment. Jan Reay telling everyone a fascinating story of how she saved the life of her nieces hamster by specialist massage. See Jan for full details – she has hidden talents!? West Marie and Marie Lutra headed for the pub and reported having a very welcome carvery dinner for £5 a head. Tide Runner headed to Dover to meet up with their daughter Chloe and fiancée Pete, as they had planned a trip to France. Later we hear they had made it across the channel in 4 hours. They postponed the trip for a day due to thunderstorms then woke to poor visibility but this soon cleared and they decided to go for it. Danny in West Marie carried on up the Thames to Limehouse where his son lives to pay him a visit.
Wednesday 12th August, 9.30 departure for Chatham Marina. Roger timed beautifully for free flow entry, which cut out the hassle of locking in. All happily berthed on one finger of the Marina before 12 Noon. The girls taking on the job of helping to berth the boats. BBQ planned for the evening.
BBQ lit at 7pm prompt. Everyone gathered and after eating copious amounts of meat we took to the marquee for shelter where Eddie sang a few numbers while strumming Jackie’s newly purchased guitar.
We were all encouraged to sing along. Pete then produced his ipad which contained a catalogue of singalong ‘vintage’ tunes. Dave gave an amazing rendition of The Rawhide theme tune. We all sang along, danced, clapped and whooped!
Thursday 13th August. Weather rather windy and rainy. Everyone slept late after BBQ and finishing off the remaining punch. A trip into Rochester by bus was on the agenda. The skies opened and it poured with rain accompanied by thunder and lightening for several hours. We were unable to venture from the boat until approx 3.30pm. The Williams had an early meal or went to the pictures. We thought the pictures was a good idea and saw Minions. Marie Lutra saw Mission Impossible which was reported as being good.
The Camps, Arnolds and Bellords unperturbed by the rain took the bus into Rochester. They spent some time sheltering from the rain. After purchasing rain coats and umbrellas they emerged only for the sun to come out! Uncharacteristically, Roger enjoyed the shops and made three purchases! They then found a Weatherspoons for dinner and returned at about 8 pm. The remainder of us decided to dine at the Chinese self-service restaurant that we have visited before and thought was good. Jan and Pete Reay viewed boat ‘Tigley’ a Contessa 28 which they loved and decided to purchase. A few drinks were had on Heb Girl later that evening to welcome Tigley to the fleet and say goodbye to Heb Girl.
Friday 14th August. Everyone returning to Brightlingsea as good southwesterly breeze forecast. Conditions looked promising but the sea became wollowy and uncomfortable. The sun did come out for a while and we managed to have a sail. Unfortunately water very low and we were unable to get into Brightlingsea. Mike and I decided we would have to wait quite a while before we could get in and thought it best to return to Bradwell. But the water was too low to get in there too! We were still circling round at 9.30pm. By the time we had enough water to enter the marina it was dark and we had to find our way in using a torch! Heb Girl, Skylark and Southern Hey managed to get into Brightlingsea and got together aboard Heb Girl for drinks. Serapin II, Last Dream and Marie Lutra anchored along Pyefleet Creek for the night.
We departed Saturday 15th after seeing Marie Lutra and Skylark arrive in Bradwell, and giving Last Orders a bit of a spruce up. We were very pleased with our new purchase and the trip was greatly enhanced by the absence of any major catastrophes. Well we did manage to get a halyard caught round the radar reflector but this was swiftly put right by Christopher volunteering to go up the mast for us. Thank you so much. It was such a nice day we decided to go for an amble along the river bank before heading home.
An enormous ‘Thank You’ to Roger and Jackie Camp for a thoroughly enjoyable week.
See you all at Ipswich for the next Marconi gathering. Happy Sailing!
Cheryl Cutmore ‘Last Orders’