Snowgoose-1
Well-Known Member
Are we not all racing though even if we're not in the fleet. 
Maximum draft, best location for stress-free East coast sailing?
- Thread starter apguy
- Start date
Sailing steve
Well-Known Member
Are we not all racing though even if we're not in the fleet.
Oooo no,no,no. Never. Absolutely not.
Wouldn't even think about it in fact - especially when the situation occurs a similar boat to mine is on the same course as me but is being sailed better and going faster than I am.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
The Orwell is tack heaven for those who enjoy that sort of thing. I sometimes needed to beat out against the flood when returning to Titchmarsh from Levington or Pin Mill. I think I counted seventeen tacks on my plotter on one trip a year or two ago, though I have no record of how many motor boats were queuing up behind me to get past. My record for this was up in Meadow Dyke on the way to Horsey Mere. I was tacking out engineless 4-berth boat with the assistance of a quant pole and ship's mop and I was enjoying it greatly for a good while. In the end there was an impressive line of motor boats astern, so I nudged our bow into the reeds on the weather bank and waved them through. I think it was about the third boat that passed that made the comment to my wife "What a pity, and we thought you were doing so well".
shanemax
N/A
All these boats waiting to get past you or trying not to have a collision with you and they were all watching your sailing skills thinking you were a Super Hero. What a wonderful day you must have had.
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Your life must be full of cynicism. We were perfectly entitled to navigate as we did, and the Broads are not the place for anyone who imagines themselves to be in a hurry. A moment’s thought would have told you that it would have been impractical for us to stop for every boat astern. As it happens the motor boats had clearly accepted their obligation to me, and in the event it was sorted out amicably, probably because in those days people behaved in a civilised manner, and in any case motor craft were limited to 4 mph, however horrifying this may appear to you.
shanemax
N/A
The Orwell is stuffed with moorings. A lot of damage is done to boats accidently by prats not paying attention or boats tacking between moored vessels . There is also commercial traffic. The Orwell is not ideal for people with inflated egos who are sure they are impressing everyone, when in reality they are annoying people and are a hazard to navigation. Try the Stour which is perfect for the first 3 miles with no moorings or marinas. I am afraid there are few boats to show off to, a bad place for the sake of your delicate ego. I love your comment "their obligation to me" what a narcissist.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
Egret
Well-Known Member
Looking for update from Apguy on how he is getting on.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
I once called someone on here a "bell end" and got banned for a short time, so i won't do it again.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
You mean that you dropped a clangerI once called someone on here a "bell end" and got banned for a short time, so i won't do it again.
xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
We always short tack up the Orwell, right up to Fox’s if we can, fingers crossed we’ve upset our boy more than once.
Sailing steve
Well-Known Member
I have a heavy bilge keeler that's somewhat under canvassed so naturally doesn't go to windward particularly well.
I'm sure I can make a significant contribution to our friends angst too...
Chiara’s slave
Well-Known Member
We must pay the locality a courtesy visit. Zipping throygh the moorings at 8-9kn in that lovely flat water, all 25ft beam of us, that should let him rest easy.
Puffin10032
Well-Known Member
Having sailed my dinghy on the Orwell I would describe it as short tacking. it's wider than a lot of puddles I've raced on. If you want proper short tacking try sailing out from Morston Quay or Blakeney into Blakeney Harbour
johnalison
Well-Known Member
Bizarrer and bizarrer. So all skippers of stand-on vessels are narcissists?
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
Are we supposed to sail on the left hand side of the road or is it still port to port?
johnalison
Well-Known Member
It depends who you ask. This is the result of personal experience in the Walton Channel.
poultey
Member
Based in Tollesbury for 10 years from 2012 with a 21' bilge keel drawing just under a meter to now having a 31 Moody fin drawing 1.5 metres in Bradwell I pondered the same considerations you're now addressing.
While the following all have a lot going for them I'd rule out Brightlingsea for depth, W Mersea since you want 'walk-on' access, Tollesbury for limited high-tide only access. Bradwell is probably too far a journey for you but offers good access and depth. If budget allows then Levington would afford unlimited access and great facilities - the best marina in the area in my opinion. Shotley is another tranquil gem.
I understand it's your first large fin keel boat and on that basis I'd steer clear of Walton backwaters - a visit at low tide revealing the topology of the ground will likely convince you. Titchmarsh I've only visited once but touched the bottom on a relatively high tide - maybe says more about my boat-handling as others are complementary of the place.
Maldon and Heybridge I've not visited by boat but both have great history and character.
For the modest gain in performance/cabin space you'd get from going to 1.8 meters I would suggest it's not worth putting a further 300mm underneath you in a cruising area where depth is already an ever-present consideration - even Levington's entrance can get sketchy on a low spring tide.
With all that said, as far as pointing is concerned, many accomplished sailors maintain that a bilge keel is a match for a fin keel in the right hands but I share your view and encourage you in opting for a fin keel as it would be nice at least once in your life to point as high as everyone else. Best of luck with whatever choice you make.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
The grockles wading along the road yesterday were a little confused by the sailing punt. Great fun.
