Smugglers at Clamp House?

[Jan Harber]

My nephew, who lives at Pin Mill, forwarded this photo taken on Saturday of a yacht on the foreshore near Clamp House. Local people seem to think there was a smuggling connection. The police attended but there seems to be no info as to whether anyone was apprehended or whether the crew did a runner. Seeing as there is a red ensign flying it would appear unlikely that the yacht had broken free from a mooring and drifted there... And why on earth would anyone attempt a smuggling venture on a river in lockdown where anything that moves is suspicious? I don't know whether the yacht arrived there overnight or in broad daylight.
I wonder if anyone recognizes the yacht?

 

[andyj301]

Still there this morning, she is the Marisa Dos. Supposedly abandoned with no anchor out, the border patrol subsequently put one out. The skipper was apparently last seen walking past the farm and told the farmer he could have the boat.

 

[Dan Tribe]

You would think that trying to do anything clandestinely with a yacht would instantly raise suspicions. I'm reminded of a big drugs bust at North Fambridge years ago. A very large yacht, much bigger than normal for there, turned up at night and tried to unload tonnes of stuff into a fleet of vehicles. It turned out that they were being tracked anyway, but even so, it would have been obvious. Much better to mingle with other traffic on a busy weekend, perhaps that's what happens?
Is it a Hilliard?

 

[DavidofMersea]

View attachment 88752

The skipper was apparently last seen walking past the farm and told the farmer he could have the boat.

Was it stolen and the "Skipper" offered it to the farmer to pass the blame. It looks a nice yacht

 

[Brooksie89]

From a quick google, it looks like it was up for sale in the not too distant past for £12.5k and was in Ipswich.

I did see a yacht on a swing mooring close to clamp house with a tender tied to the back. I wonder if it was this?

 

[dombuckley]

Hillyard 9 tonner, I believe.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Just wondered what was dangling from the bow when found. Probably nothing by the sound
of it , which makes things rather suspicious .

 

[andyj301]

From a quick google, it looks like it was up for sale in the not too distant past for £12.5k and was in Ipswich.

I did see a yacht on a swing mooring close to clamp house with a tender tied to the back. I wonder if it was this?

Found the ad for her HILLYARD HILLYARD 9 TON

She had been near the Clamp for a few days before going aground.

 

[Cantata]

How about....
owner can’t sell her
Moved her downriver to get a cheaper mooring.
brought her ashore for a scrub
Got ticked off by the authorities
Went off in a rage and told the farmer he can have the boat.

 

[WF36]

I did see a yacht on a swing mooring close to clamp house with a tender tied to the back. I wonder if it was this?

My thoughts also, seem to recall something similar when I cycled past the other week.

 

[DavidofMersea]

How about .......
Stole the yacht
Moved downstream to get away
Not a good sailor, and ran aground
Got ticked off by authorities who thought he had gone ashore for a scrub
Realized he had almost got caught, and left PDQ
Gave the yacht to the farmer in the hope he would get the blame for stealing her

 

[Old Harry]

How about .......
Stole the yacht
Moved downstream to get away
Not a good sailor, and ran aground
Got ticked off by authorities who thought he had gone ashore for a scrub
Realized he had almost got caught, and left PDQ
Gave the yacht to the farmer in the hope he would get the blame for stealing her

Spot-on

 

[Marmalade]

The website says "sold"
How about...
Bought the yacht
Wasn't able to take her out because of lockdown
Got a bill from Neptune
Decided - the hell with it - and took her out anyway
Ran aground after a nightmare trying to sail her
Stormed off in a fit of pique

 

[Aquaboy]

Turned up a about a week ago and anchored over the other side way too far inshore to stay afloat. On subsequent tides she began to drag up and down maybe quarter of a mile or so. I assumed someone (with little idea as usual) was living on board, A colleague I believe spoke to the chap but he wasn't very chatty. Someone else who had seen her aground thought there was only about 15ft of rode out, I assumed drifted over to Clamp as these East winds built. I don't think much smuggling was going on!!

 

[fredrussell]

Wreckers. You get a lot of that sort of thing round here. The Cornish nicked the idea of us.

 

[Crowblack]

Think there used to be an elderly couple who sailed her from Tollesbury late 80's - believe they loved the boat - sad if she ends up this way.

 

[DavidofMersea]

View attachment 88748


I wonder if anyone recognizes the yacht?

I am surprised nobody recognizes this yacht. Presumably it is/was kept on the East coast. Maybe the owner is far away and does no know it has "gone"

 

[Dan Tribe]

The website says "sold"
How about...
Bought the yacht
Wasn't able to take her out because of lockdown
Got a bill from Neptune
Decided - the hell with it - and took her out anyway
Ran aground after a nightmare trying to sail her
Stormed off in a fit of pique

I could understand that scenario.
There have been times when I'm doing a particularly horrible job on the boat and a passer by says "what a nice boat", and I've been tempted to say " you can have it!"

 

[andyj301]

She is now on a mooring. Looks like the owner has returned.

 

[Hydrozoan]

Think there used to be an elderly couple who sailed her from Tollesbury late 80's - believe they loved the boat - sad if she ends up this way.

I'm having vague recollections of one or two (?) small dog(s) on board with a couple, though I just briefly said hello in passing once or twice. It may well be a failure of my memory, but I do share your feeling.