23 yrs ago off Bradwell - a different view

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tillergirl

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It's wet, my back hurts, I've got work I ought to be doing so this is the best I could come up with to avoid the work.

This is 23yrs plus one day ago, when the Blackwater was festooned (is that the right word) with laid up ships. I seem to recall they were all magnetic! Didn't matter what way the tide was, what way the wind was, you always ended up scraping past their anchor chains.

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It always struck me that by the time you could see the anchor ball, you could see the anchor chain!
 
Great pictures. Their 'magnetism' made round-the-cans racing with the BJRC more interesting in the 70's & 80's! I remember counting over 20 at one time, and they included the 'Norfolk' train ferry (in British Railways colours) and a gas platform at one point.

If I remember correctly, the last two to go were the 'Aliakmon River' and the 'Aro' - both towed away for scrap.
 
No business for them, I'm afraid. Six at this time as I recall. Two years before there was an old British Rail Ferry as I recall. They changed each year but I think this was the year with most.
 
Re: 23 yrs ago off Bradwell - a different view

Those were the days. I used to race BJRC too, in a red Mystere "Miss de Mina" with singular lack of success. I have to say I was sorry when the ships went.
 
Re: 23 yrs ago off Bradwell - a different view

Those were the days. I used to race BJRC too, in a red Mystere "Miss de Mina"
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I remember "Miss de Mina" - I raced an Aurthur Robb one-off 'Vanity' then a Listang 'Ca Va Bien' then. Some succes with both. They used to get sizeable BJRC fleets then, and with anything up to 40 boats ranging from Swan 44 down to Hunter 19 starting at Osea Pier, it certainly got a bit 'busy', didn't it?
 
Re: 23 yrs ago off Bradwell - a different view

Indeed they were, great fleets. You must have sold Ca Va Bien to Alastair Moncrief who raced her for a while. The fun stopped when people like Jim Wilkinson started cleaning their bottom every week & winning all the races (only joking Jim). I am told Miss de Mina is still around.
 
Re: 23 yrs ago off Bradwell - a different view

Anyone got any pics of Brightlingsea Creek from the 70s, with the OYC ketch Master Builder (aka Master Bater) moored just inside the creekmouth buoy, and various other splendid boats moored down the middle of the creek (including Prunella more or less on the sailing club start line)? Those were the days! There's a lot less water in the creek these days...

Mike
 
Re: 23 yrs ago off Bradwell - a different view

Can't do 70's but I think this was 1960. I went with my parents to Brightlingsea while they looked at this 1931 Rampart - which they bought. I learnt to sail on the Gremlin dinghy you can see on the back.

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Look at the cars. I reckon that is a Ford Consul to the left. Commer Cob to the right - or is it? Wot no Colne YC!

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Sight to warm your eyes. Just wood and mud - and a Vauxhall Velox? I note that the humble launching trolley has not evolved much in 50 years.

This was Philae. Had the most magnificence saloon aft. Mahogany beams, pale cream paint and a cocktail cabinet. Plummer blocks for the high mile long prop shaft. Marinised Austin Healey petrol engine for main and a Stuart Turner for wing - no it never went then either.

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Currently being rebuilt at Boston last time I heard.
 
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