| Last Updated 23/01/2005 |
| Contact Peter Lyons at : gaffer.lyons@btinternet.com |
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Gaffers Gaffer Page A Rally for One... Graham & Anne Mason report on the Medway & North Kent OGA Summer Rally 2004 at Limehouse Basin with Getting up the London River on a single tide is not easy for an old gaffer with quite a lot of top hamper and relatively little power. The wind is nearly always against you and the spring ebb runs at two and a half knots in places. Any unscheduled delay makes the last bit a real struggle. So we skived off work early on Friday afternoon in order to do the job in two bites. The forecast earlier in the day had been for SW 5 to 6, possibly 7 so we were in two minds about braving Sea Reach until the last minute. By 15.45 the wind seemed to be easing and we got under way from Queenborough, sailing out past Garrison Point between dark clouds to the right of us & dark clouds to the left. After putting in a few tacks up Sea Reach, the wind dropped away even more and we sailed into a glorious sunset over the power station chimneys, motoring the second half in order to reach Gravesend by dark. In the event all was quiet and we took one of the Gravesend Sailing Club`s visitors moorings off the Esplanade. However, this stretch of water never sleeps. The wakes from tugs, work boats and passing freighters are practically endless. We cast off again at 6a.m.under power, and had a quiet trip past derelict quays, under the QE 2 Bridge, through the Thames Barrier, round the Dome & Canary Wharf up to Greenwich. Here things got a bit livelier as the high speed water buses and “monkey boats” are no respecters of mere sailing craft. Their wake is considerable & reflects back off the banks & walls to produce a considerable chop. We were kept busy steering some sort of a straight course & gazing fascinated at the great variety of riverside properties, both new & converted from the original commercial buildings. Only when Tower Bridge appeared round the next bend did we realise that we’d missed the entrance to Limehouse Basin altogether. A lucky mistake as it is a sight not to be missed and you do feel you have truly arrived in London. Having taken the obligatory photographs we retraced our steps & called the Basin, somewhat apprehensive as to how we were going to get from the maelstrom of the river through the seemingly small entrance. For those who don’t know it there is nowhere obvious to wait & the lock itself is preceded by a swing bridge. Luck was on our side, both swing bridge & lock were open and we entered with no problems into the peace of the basin. After doing a stately, if somewhat slow pirouette in the middle of the Basin we were soon safely moored alongside the pontoon. Everyone was rather disappointed that we were the only OGA boat to arrive but did understand that the inclemency of the weather was probably to blame. They were however pleased we had made it. White Moth was much admired and they made us very welcome. The evening was not conducive to a BBQ so we repaired to the Cruising Association building for a meal and a chat. On Sunday morning we took a bus to the Petticoat Lane & Spitalfield Markets, purchasing kippers for lunch, and a bundle of nice old bronze piston-hanks for a small fraction of the price in the Davey catalogue. In the afternoon, mindful of the programme, we had our “Afternoon fun in tenders”. This involved rowing up the Limehouse Cut, the link to the Lee navigation. After about half a mile, our way was blocked by a steel lighter full of rubbish, which had come adrift (probably with the help of he local kids) and was lodged diagonally across the waterway. Assisted by of a group of scouts, who arrived shortly afterwards aboard a narrow boat, we did our good deed for the day, moving the 25 ton obstruction and re- mooring it out of harms way. By this time the wind was getting up and grey clouds were rolling in again. Hiding under bridges to avoid the showers while rowing back to the basin, we began to wonder if other members knew something we didn’t. However an excellent meal (at Yuppyland Prices!) in the local “La Figa” restaurant, and a peaceful night allayed our worst fears. By 1p.m. Monday we were ready, in the company of 2 motorboats from the Medway, to brave whatever weather & tide had to offer. The wind was certainly fresh and gusty, but mostly from a favourable quarter, so once through the barrier we hoisted the mizzen & head sails. With some additional assistance from the engine, we were doing over 8 knots under the QE2 bridge, and there seemed to be every prospect making it home in time for tea. Almost immediately the engine temperature warning started screaming at us, indicating that a bit of the endless Thames garbage had found its way into our water intake. This presented no immediate problem apart from dodging the ships and moorings through Gravesend under sail while simultaneously decanting buckets of sea water into the strainer and poking about over the side with a broom to try and clear the blockage. Fortunately, the wind stayed fair and we finally cleared the Lower Hope point under sail back into Sea Reach and relative calm. Here we managed to get the engine running again and happily spitting cooling water out of its exhaust pipe. Motor sailing in a failing breeze, we continued past Holehaven to the Nore Swatchway as darkness fell in company with several other incoming craft who overhauled us & disappeared into the darkness. We finally made it, unaccountably slowly to Garrison point where all sail was lowered only to find that the boat stopped altogether, and was in some danger of being swept onto the docks by the current. It soon became clear that all the messing about with the engine had left the drive disengaged – it was making the right noise but not actually doing anything so we had actually sailed all the way from Dartford. The last couple of miles were uneventful, once we had located the Queenborough Spit Buoy, which is not so easy to spot against the shore lights. Finally, the full moon rose & we found our buoys with no difficulty at about 2200 hrs. ------------------------------------------------------ Lena Reekie reports: STANDARD QUAY The fight against the owner who wants to 'develop' the site continues. Of course it should be kept as a traditional boat quay -not only for the sake of the people working there but also for the many visitors and passer-by that enjoy watching the activities on barges and in workshops. Tim Soldsack (barge DECIMA) with John (Scottish MFV MAPLELEAF)' and 'Frog’ (barge ORINOCO) now work several days every week in Heybridge Basin where Tim is in charge of rebuilding the sailing barge DAWN. After the Swale Match the little barge CYGNET spend a few weeks in the dry dock. Skipper/caretaker Des Kaliszewski tended to the hull while owner Mica Brown overhauled the engine. Richard East's gaff ketch WILLOW (ex Danish MFV) is now on her own mooring opposite Standard Quay. Richard has bought the end of the new houses there and has managed to dig out the berth for the large, deep draft vessel. Alongside little open gaffer DAWN. The KSA trip on GRETA in August was again a great success. The weather was kinder this year and not so many youngsters disappeared below. A few budding barge skippers took turns at the helm and all were given lessons in gear handling and a bit of chart work by Steve, lan, Chris and Rod. If would be nice - and in keeping with the Articles of the KSA 'to teach young people traditional boat handling' Steve Hall, the sail maker from North Sea Sail in Tollesbury (ex Gayle Herd) ventured 'abroad' to Kent to discuss and measure up sails for several owners in Faversham, including ELENOR, BIRD of DAWNING, LADY of the LEA, NOKOMIS and DEBORAH. CHAMBERS WHARF Alan Staley(now the chairman of 'Wooden Boat Builders Trade Association) is finishing a new mast for Michael Terry's 16ft Oysterman. I was surprised at the length: 26ft! However, Alan explained that it is mounted on the keel and therefore loses 4-5ft air draft. The old mast broke off at deck level during strong winds in the summer. WHITEMOTH' and LAPWING are back for the winter as is the Dallimore ANDANTE. The Dauntless 22 CHRISTABEL is in the shed. She has now a new cabin front and foredeck and 6 new planks. Jim Green's SIOBHAN is also being looked after over the winter by Alan and the boys. IRON WHARF 'MIROSA' is back for the winter and almost invisible under her custom made green shed. John Bantont's gaff rigged Tamarisk 24 TABNAB did not quite make the Swale Match this year but was launched soon after, looking very smart and proved to sail very well indeed. I think John is well and truly converted to gaff rig! The colourful ZEN (also with affection called PILE of WOOD) was based at Harty and Queenboro’ this summer. She is a big schooner built by her owner John Hillier on Iron Wharf some years ago from whatever material John could get hold of. She is due for a face lift this winter. Mike Turner's WILD LIFE is having a rest from taking people out to Margate Sand seal watching and is de-rigged and prepared for her annual maintenance. ZOMERDROOM is also back, this time for shot blasting etc. and a major overhaul and refit. We also saw the departure of SEPTEMBER, the big gaff ketch that was sold in August and sailed to her new base in Cornwall. Eric Govan sold SEA EAGLE; She has now left the yard for the Blackwater. I missed WHITSTABLE OYSTER DREDGING MATCH in late August but was told 6 Smacks took part. PRIMROSE won the day with the biggest catch of oysters - how many (or few) I was not told. Thanks to Bill Coleman of GAMECOCK for organizing the event. MEDWAY A NORTH KENT O.G.A. Autumn Rally & 'Social' at Harty. Oct 2/3 After (for this season) a rare couple of days of calm weather a strong SW set in again. I had motored back from the Blackwater 10 days after the O&A anniversary Race Maldon Regatta in flat calm, but on the Saturday Simon Harding and I enjoyed a super sail through the Swale from Queenboro'. With all three reefs in the main LINN/EA touched 8kn! It was blowing too hard to anchor or pickup a buoy at Harty for the O&A dinner in the Ferry Inn and get Matie (my scruffy little canine mate) ashore. So I continued home to Iron Wharf and joined the party by road. Two boats 'made it: John Cann's 24ft Gravesend bawley VIVID and TabNab - but many more met up for dinner. MEDEMBLIK Traditional Boat Show The new cheap EUJet service from Manston to many destinations in Europe opens many possibilities to visit friends, shows and go sailing. I flew to Amsterdam on the Thursday to come back on Monday - for £49!! I had time to spend one day in Medemblik. The show has been growing and improving steadily since it started four years ago and is now a 'must' for people interested in traditional boats. The Dutch section of O&A started last year - run by Joachim van Houweninge and Molly Vingerhoets - had a nice stand with a video and many photographs and created much interest. More than 15 new members joined so the area is very buoyant indeed. After a day cycling around Amsterdam with Molly, I took the train to Gouda where I crewed in small Gaffers Race on Reeuwijke Plassen, several beautiful lakes outside the town. Lena -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |