First Trip.

Opsguy1979

Opsguy1979

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Apr 2006
Messages
144
Location
Hertfordshire
Visit site
Hi all,

Well I am pleased to say all has finally gone though following the survey and I am now the proud owner of a Jaguar 27. I have decided to keep her at Tollesbury and she will be launched tomorrow. I am intending to take her out the weekend of Aug 11 for the Sat/Sun either over night or just a day trip so can anyone recommend where to go for either my first day trip or over nighter. The big things I am looking for are something simple that will gently ease the wife into things and secondly wont scare the hell out of myself.

I am lucky enough to have a weeks sailing planned next week from Portsmouth to the channel islands as crew so intend to be asking a lot of questions.

Cheers Karl
 
It depends if you have the twin or fin keel Jag.
If the former, you have a lot more time and choice and can obviously take the ground if you want/need to.
When we got our first yacht, we stuck to short trips out and back from our base and then slightly longer ones we knew we could get to easily - all tiny steps.
The main thing we found was the sailing ability of our first yacht was pretty poor so we didn't get anywhere at any speed at all and soon worked out that the tides could hurt us a bit if we got them wrong (ie speed over ground 0kts!).
You have plenty of places within a few hours of where you are based with good shore facilities nearby - Mersea, Brightlingsea, Bradwell, Walton Backwaters/Titchmarsh, The Crouch/Roach etc. The main issue you will have is making sure your tidal access is OK having left your berth with enough water to get out.....
Sounds like a great new adventure, enjoy it. :D
 
From Tollesbury, the shortest trip is probably Bradwell marina. The Green Man does excellent food.

Brightlingsea is 8.6 NM and can be done in about 2 hours (ish).

Both are easy to get into and the harbour guys at Brightlingsea are really helpful.

Regards
Ian & Jo
 
I think I would agree with Ian. Come out of the Leavings and have a play in the River to get to know your new boat and overnight in Bradwell. There's a couple of chartlets on the downloads page of my website of the Leavings and North and South Channels if you are unfamiliar with the area - mind you leaving at the top of the tide it's a breeze.
 
Well done Karl. (to the others: Karl Opsguy has sailed with me a couple of times so he knows Bradwell a bit).

Just get out there and do what feels right in view of wind, waves and wife. Don't scare yourself and be particularly careful not to scare Mrs Ops. The sole purpose of the first few trips are to build confidence. In and out of your berth, sails up and down, engine working well etc. As it's an early morning and evening tide you can duck back to Tollesbury in the evening if that is what feels sensible.

Remember - we do this for fun.:)
 
Out on the ride, sail around a bit, go to Bradwell for lunch at the Green Man and back to Tollesbury for the evening tide. Or a magical night on a Leavings buoy. We had a berth at Tollesbury for a couple of years and sometimes would do just that.
 
Another vote for an overnight at Bradwell. Get out into the Blackwater, maybe anchor for a lunch at Osea (chance to try the onboard facilities for eating and cooking etc as well as first use of the ground tackle) then late afternoon arrive at Bradwell and have dinner at the Green Man. I think it's a neap tide that weekend so as long as you can get in and out of Tollesbury, the tide won't really hinder you if you want to go against it.

Sleeping aboard is much nicer than scrambling back to get off and go home!
 
Thanks all,

Think I might have a look at Bradwell. Seems to make sense plus the added help as Rodger mentioned I've been there before. Spent all day on her today cleaning out etc and all went well until I started the engine withough the fuel tap on!!!!!!! So now have a trip down tomorrow night to try and clear the air lock.

Hi Rodger she's called Flighty. Do you know the name?

Cheers Karl
 
Hi all,

Finally managed to get a free weekend and the boat is good to go so heading out for our first trip. Cant believe it's taken this long. Think I have made the decision on Brightlingsea which looks reasonable for a first trip. So if you see us (boat name is Flighty or probably more obvious will be a white faced skipper with that look of desperate concentration on his face) then give us a wave.

See you out there Karl
 
Well done and welcome to Tollesbury! Which berth are you on?

A hop over to Bradwell is good as the others have suggested, there's also West Mersea of course or lunch at anchor off Osea Island. Would also second the idea of hanging off one of the waiting bouys at the entrance to Woodrolfe Creek, it's a beautiful spot for an evening drink & eats in the cockpit.

Cheers

Neil
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top