Eventful night in West Mersea Sunday

Laurin

Laurin

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We had fun (not!) in Vreny Sunday night at West Mersea. Woke up at 3am (Tide change meant the tender needed throwing off the other side to stop it banging) to find the fishing boat on the next mooring had got its nets tangled with the yacht next to it. Meant it wasn't swinging with the tide change and looked like we could swing into it. Yelled at the other boat and they got up and untangled themselves. Woke 5:30 am to find the fishing boat even closer (maybe we dragged the mooring) and lots of wind. Just got foulies on in time to fend Vreny off the fishing boat. Then realised the nets which were tangled overnight were now streaming behind it working as a sea anchor and we were almost sat on top of them. Much fending off, and then trying to grab the fishing boat so we could walk ourselves forward to get the net out from underneath us, and a strategic starting of the engine during a brief lull when the nets were about 2 yards behind us, and we escaped. Picked up another mooring for a breather only to realise it would dry out in the next hour so moved again. Was seriously considering leaving Vreny at Bradwell so had breakfast, a short kip then decided to give Burnham a go after seeing the sun for about 5 minutes and a couple of boats heading out. Guess it was a 5 or 6 with wind against tide so quite lumpy. First time we have had 2 reefs in Vreny and she sailed quite well. Took the long route round despite being a little late for the tide as I was unsure about ray sands with lumpy sea. Arrived Burnham just after 6pm. Lots of lessons learned for us this weekend, not least that we definitley don't want to be out in Vreny in much more wind than that.... anybody know how much wind there actually was as we don't have wind instruments? Speaking to the harbourmaster seems they had fun and games in the marina at Burnham Sunday morning too, with one poor guy dropping all his anchor chain, and not noticing it until it pulled tight when he was half way out the maria and it went tight, you can guess the rest.... he ploughed into another boat and the chain went tight under all the boats on his side of the pontoon. Also apparenly another boat wrote off one of the finger pontoons!
 
Kas,
pleased to see that you and Pat got to Mersea, and J & L in the RIB! It was a bit lumpy Monday morning, not to mention the rain. I recorded 31 knots wind overnight in Paglesham Reach, got a bit bumpy and shallow too as we swung at low tide. During the morning we worked our way back to Burnham, and recorded 28 knots max with average of 20-22 knots coming back down the Crouch to our mooring.
I took the trouble to spot check the Ray on Sunday coming back from Bradwell and found the chart datums to be broadly correct at 1018Mb. Also note that the Yellow buoy is still 350-400m seaward of its charted location, but on the bank. There is a little spit right opposite Buxey which shows the entrance nicely.
 
I'm not surprised after seeing how close they pack the moorings in. Just shows how careful you need to be with different types of boats in close proximity. Well done for avoiding damage! At least you can keep sailing.

Yoda
 
Yes, will definitely be more careful in future. We were VERY lucky. West Mersea has just become a fair weather destination only, in fact we'll think carefully about going back for more than a quick lunchtime stop. Looking around Monday morning there were boats all over the place and lots so close they could be touching! Lots of lessons learned!
 
Yes, smart move to go home! Though we did have a fantastic seafood platter on Sunday, and in a way I was really glad to be out in a blow with Vreny to see how she handles it!
 
Out of Pyefleet Creek on Monday morning, the wind was 20-25 kts, occasionally reaching 30kts. It got a bit better after the sun came out, but perhaps that was psychological. Was he sail-training vessel (which I'll not name!) still aground near the Colne bar when you passed? There were two lifeboats, a helicopter buzzing around and a lot of VHF discussion when we were there.
 
Only saw a helicopter later in the day... about 1ish I think, certainly no lifeboats. We left Mersea at about 11am. Couldn't tell you about radio discussion as our radio chose this weekend to pack up!

Go on... tell us who it was!
 
Now I've found it on the web, I don't feel too bad about sparing them their shame.
BBC Essex

The Walton lifeboat passed us later on as we were heading towards the Crouch. There seemed to be a motor cruiser in trouble near Sunken Buxey as well.
 
Eventful weekend for many.

Saturday had good sail from Tollesbury to Shotley until the wind died on us off the Naze...... motored rest of the way to make Shotley before low water.

Sunday very pleasant light airs sail in the sunshine into the Walton Backwaters up to Titchmarsh Marina with a meal booked for 28 club members at the Walton and Frinton YC. Approx. half of club members chose to return to Brightlingsea instead of going to Titchmarsh due to adverse forecast (correct decision). The other half (eternal optimists) chose to honour our booking with the unfailing optimism that the front would pass through earlier than forecast (wrong decision).

As a result my boat is still in Titchmarsh racking up marina fees but I'm still smiling. Reason is I had my no.2 son sailing with me for the first time and there was no way I was taking him down the Wallet with wind against tide in a force 6. He says he had a brilliant weekend and has volunteered to return this weekend to crew back to Tollesbury.

Other reason for smiling was the look on the few faces who took on the Wallet on Monday to return to Tollesbury to find we had already had lunch in the club /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Top marks has to go to one club member who returned singlehanded and sailed all the way, where others motorsailed. Took approx. 6 hours tacking every inch of the way......... just hope his adult-sized pampers took the strain /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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