FullCircle
Well-Known Member
We were invited out on Dualin this weekend with Andy & Jo, for their Christmas Cruise over to Bradwell.
As discussed elsewhere, the weather looked iffy, but managed to clear for the dash across the river, so all well and good.
We arrived and about 20 odd boats were being very industrious, and managed to dim all the lights in Tillingham after they had erected vast quantities of Xmas lights all over the boats. There was even an illuminated inflated reindeer. very classy.
So, the plot was to meet by the biggest boat, and there was a fabulous array of seafood, and hot mulled wine, not to mention mince pies, sausage rolls and other tasty stuff. The estimate was about 67 attending, and I can attest to the fact that the pontoon was very close to submerging. It was certainly bowed.
What a welcoming crowd, and a very enjoyable couple of hours until the rain and the dark naturally dispersed us back to the boat.
We had a little pre dinner drink, and then, bouyed by the glow of the mulled wine, we strode boldly for the Green Man.
Usual Green Man epithets apply. Fabulous/tasty/great beer/reasonable prices/super service.
So we had a good night and weaved our way back to Dualin for a couple of snifters before despatching ourselves off to bed.
Only woke up at 6am by the front and rear storm warning devices. The forestay awakens the forecabin crew by strumming and humming, and the Rutland genny had a low and rising howl like a banshee before the pole conducted the resonance into the hull. The rain was just the background percussion on the hatchway boards.
Up for a leisurely breakfast, and quite simply the best bacon I have had in years. This was from the Tollesbury butchers, and was thick cut, beautifully moist, and no sodding water running out of it as you cook it. Yum, very yum.
We were to have a 'race', but most skippers prudently agreed that it wasn't perhaps the most seamanlike idea, as the wind was still 30+ knots at 1100.
We saw the blue sky break at about 1145, and we headed out of Bradwell, and let out a scrap of genny to take us down to the Nass in a following sea, which not surprisingly didn't take long.
We decided that beating back into Tollesbury was a non starter, so rolled away and motored back into the channel, and led the fleet over the cill into the marina.
Quick clear up and got the sails off for winter, but not before I managed to lose the end of the halyard. Andy went up the mast on his steps, thus upsetting Jo a bit, but it was OK eventually. A quick inspection of the Life Insurance revealed that it would have been suicide, so they wouldn't have paid out.
Then up the Club for a glass of mulled wine before heading home.
Lovely weekend, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to Andy & Jo for their hospitality.
See, you don't have to go far to get a fantastic amount out of a weekend.
As discussed elsewhere, the weather looked iffy, but managed to clear for the dash across the river, so all well and good.
We arrived and about 20 odd boats were being very industrious, and managed to dim all the lights in Tillingham after they had erected vast quantities of Xmas lights all over the boats. There was even an illuminated inflated reindeer. very classy.
So, the plot was to meet by the biggest boat, and there was a fabulous array of seafood, and hot mulled wine, not to mention mince pies, sausage rolls and other tasty stuff. The estimate was about 67 attending, and I can attest to the fact that the pontoon was very close to submerging. It was certainly bowed.
What a welcoming crowd, and a very enjoyable couple of hours until the rain and the dark naturally dispersed us back to the boat.
We had a little pre dinner drink, and then, bouyed by the glow of the mulled wine, we strode boldly for the Green Man.
Usual Green Man epithets apply. Fabulous/tasty/great beer/reasonable prices/super service.
So we had a good night and weaved our way back to Dualin for a couple of snifters before despatching ourselves off to bed.
Only woke up at 6am by the front and rear storm warning devices. The forestay awakens the forecabin crew by strumming and humming, and the Rutland genny had a low and rising howl like a banshee before the pole conducted the resonance into the hull. The rain was just the background percussion on the hatchway boards.
Up for a leisurely breakfast, and quite simply the best bacon I have had in years. This was from the Tollesbury butchers, and was thick cut, beautifully moist, and no sodding water running out of it as you cook it. Yum, very yum.
We were to have a 'race', but most skippers prudently agreed that it wasn't perhaps the most seamanlike idea, as the wind was still 30+ knots at 1100.
We saw the blue sky break at about 1145, and we headed out of Bradwell, and let out a scrap of genny to take us down to the Nass in a following sea, which not surprisingly didn't take long.
We decided that beating back into Tollesbury was a non starter, so rolled away and motored back into the channel, and led the fleet over the cill into the marina.
Quick clear up and got the sails off for winter, but not before I managed to lose the end of the halyard. Andy went up the mast on his steps, thus upsetting Jo a bit, but it was OK eventually. A quick inspection of the Life Insurance revealed that it would have been suicide, so they wouldn't have paid out.
Then up the Club for a glass of mulled wine before heading home.
Lovely weekend, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks to Andy & Jo for their hospitality.
See, you don't have to go far to get a fantastic amount out of a weekend.
Last edited:
Might stay overnight even 
