Orwell experiences

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chinita

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I have been sailing for almost forty years. Lived aboard in the Med for eight years, army sailed in the Baltic, sailed around Britain, sailed around Ireland and singlehanded from Portugal to UK.

Surprisingly, this summer has been my first experience of river sailing.

I choose to sail my MAB gently downwind under genoa and drift my way lazily, foot on tiller and warm can of Ghost Ship at the ready. At least that is always the plan.

Within minutes of each trip I seem to be attacked by fleets of AWBs, short tacking across the river, hard on the wind, usually on starboard and determined to ruin my day.

Is this an initiation!? Is there a conspiracy!? Can I avoid it by sailing at night or in fog!?

Help!
 
Just had a very pleasant weekend on the Orwell, havn't been there for a while. Two nights in Ipswich Haven and a bonus of live blues bands playing in the Spread Eagle on Friday and Saturday nights made the weekend! Returned to the Medway Sunday bit of a bumpy crossing!
 
I'm off for a few days on Thursday on my own. Was thinking about heading up the Wallet as I haven't been up it yet this year. Shotley - Ipswich or Fambridge can't decide. Maybe Brightlingsea on Thursday evening if anyone fancies a curry at the Kovalam.

Apologies to Chinita for highjacking your thread.
 
MoodySabre said:
Come down to the Blackwater - we don't do crowds.
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We don't, you are spot-on.

Monday to Friday on the Blackwater is dreadful. Crowded with pwc, AWB, ski-boats, party boats, holiday-makers on Osea Island making a dreadful din, the Steeple Bay mafia partying intil 0500 on a bad day and all kinds of other mayhem.

Weekends are significantly worse exacerbated by the fact that Bradwell nuclear power station is being decommissioned and dismantled and this goes on every day of the week.

Best to stay away.
 
Oh, I have enjoyed four delightful years at Brightlingsea. Moved away this season after taking a bit of a bashing over the winter and planning to spend time at Pin Mill doing some work on the old girl.

Perhaps I am wrong but, in contrast to the Blackwater, where everybody seems to maintain a dignified distance, the Orwell has revealed itself to be something of a testosterone fuelled racetrack.

There are exceptions, of course, and there have been enjoyable chats with like minded dawdlers as we drifted with the tide but confess to a degree of surprise at the apparent urgency displayed by more than a few yachtsmen on that river.
 
philiphurst said:
We don't, you are spot-on.

Monday to Friday on the Blackwater is dreadful. Crowded with pwc, AWB, ski-boats, party boats, holiday-makers on Osea Island making a dreadful din, the Steeple Bay mafia partying intil 0500 on a bad day and all kinds of other mayhem.

Weekends are significantly worse exacerbated by the fact that Bradwell nuclear power station is being decommissioned and dismantled and this goes on every day of the week.

Best to stay away.
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yep - v annoying river. Give it a wide berth, I would.
 
chinita said:
I have been sailing for almost forty years. Lived aboard in the Med for eight years, army sailed in the Baltic, sailed around Britain, sailed around Ireland and singlehanded from Portugal to UK.

Surprisingly, this summer has been my first experience of river sailing.

I choose to sail my MAB gently downwind under genoa and drift my way lazily, foot on tiller and warm can of Ghost Ship at the ready. At least that is always the plan.

Within minutes of each trip I seem to be attacked by fleets of AWBs, short tacking across the river, hard on the wind, usually on starboard and determined to ruin my day.

Is this an initiation!? Is there a conspiracy!? Can I avoid it by sailing at night or in fog!?

Help!
Click to expand...

Stour is much nicer, Alde, Ore and Butley Creek even more suited to gentle sailing.
 
chinita said:
Oh, I have enjoyed four delightful years at Brightlingsea. Moved away this season after taking a bit of a bashing over the winter and planning to spend time at Pin Mill doing some work on the old girl.

Perhaps I am wrong but, in contrast to the Blackwater, where everybody seems to maintain a dignified distance, the Orwell has revealed itself to be something of a testosterone fuelled racetrack.

There are exceptions, of course, and there have been enjoyable chats with like minded dawdlers as we drifted with the tide but confess to a degree of surprise at the apparent urgency displayed by more than a few yachtsmen on that river.
Click to expand...

I expect the number of yachts per sq metre in the Orwell is many times that in the Blackwater. Have a summer holiday in the Solent and then be grateful!
 
chinita said:
Oh, I have enjoyed four delightful years at Brightlingsea. Moved away this season after taking a bit of a bashing over the winter and planning to spend time at Pin Mill doing some work on the old girl.

Perhaps I am wrong but, in contrast to the Blackwater, where everybody seems to maintain a dignified distance, the Orwell has revealed itself to be something of a testosterone fuelled racetrack.

There are exceptions, of course, and there have been enjoyable chats with like minded dawdlers as we drifted with the tide but confess to a degree of surprise at the apparent urgency displayed by more than a few yachtsmen on that river.
Click to expand...

You looked very relaxed when you passed us at Pin Mill. We got out of the river quite quickly yesterday and found plenty of space. Today the river seemed its normal self - a few boats about but it didn't seem very crowded.
 
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