E C Y D Autumn Rally 2004-10-23
     I was lucky enough to sail with Tom Karney (skipper) Jackie Dyett (mate) Derek Dyett (crew) John Leijes (crew) and myself John Donoghue (crew). We arrived at Shotley Marina on Thursday 8th. and boarded (Phase IV). We familiarised ourselves with the boat and discussed our race tactics for the next day. Skipper talked about starting at 4am. He could see the shock on our faces and smiled and said that we will leave at 9am. I for one was pleased at this. That evening Tom had arranged to meet another skipper Tom Tooley and crew for a meal at The Bristol Arms. We all had a great time, nice meal, plenty of drink and some good laughs, we all parted looking forward to the start of our race the next day.

Friday
We left Shotley Marina at about 10am. And decided to practice tacking ect. So we could become one for the start of our race to Bradwell through the Wallet. We started our race in a good wind force 5 to 6 with the tide with us we made good time. Then as so often in sailing the wind fell away, but despite this we finished 2nd. It was getting dark as we past the finishing line we still had a fair way to go to our mooring. Jackie went below and put a lasagne she had made in the oven so it would be hot when we moored in Bradwell Marina. Can you imagine? We where all hungry, the smell of the food cooking was almost more than a starving crew could take. I have never seen a boat moored up so quickly. Jackie can make me a lasagne any time, it was delicious. We all slept well that night and were looking forward to the race up the River Colne where skipper said we were to spot as many birds as we could. I was disappointed when I was told it was the feathered variety.

Saturday.
We started our race in about force 4 with some gusts. All was going well with us tacking across the river with the whole crew working well. We put in a tack and ran in to a sand bar and were forced to use our engine to free her, but of course you have to pay a price we dropped to the back of the fleet. After sailing round Colne 28 buoy we had to sail back, no faster than 2 knots (not easy) we also had to look for as many birds as we could. Birds like Avocet, Egrets, Goosander, Curlew, and Great Black Headed Gull were seen with some strange ones like (Eddy the Eagle?) Matilda the Mattress Kite? That evening we all went to the Rally dinner at Bradwell Quay Yacht Club. There was lots of banter like we saw Phase IV planting rice in the farrows they left in the mud. A good time was had all round. There was a sad note to the evening, as it was the last Rally for Pegasus of Orwell. She is being replaced with a new yacht. I have done most of my sailing and training in her which I thoroughly enjoyed. I am sorry to see her go; I know I am not on my own there. Mind you, she had a good send off. We were all invited back to Pegasus for a farewell drink; it was standing room only but very enjoyable.

Sunday.
I woke to hear the wind screaming in the rigging and we were still in Bradwell Marina. As you know we had to return Phase IV to Shotley Marina that evening. We decided as the wind was a force 6 to 7 and increasing with the tide against us we could not sail her so we were forced to motor her all the way unless there was a change in the weather. As we cleared the Marina and headed to the Wallet the wind was still increasing the waves getting bigger the boat would ride up one wave and then crash down the next wave hit us with lots of spray, (it was like being on a roller coaster) .
The wind was now force 7 to 8 with big gusts. I swear someone was throwing buckets of water at me each minute.
As I took over the helm the wind was now more on our starboard bow. That person with the bucket could now hit me full in the face, the salt water was stinging my eyes, the compass was dancing, my glasses made it almost impossible to see what I was doing and the gusts were knocking us 30^o off course. Then you had to fight with the tiller to bring her back on course. That is the strongest wind I have ever sailed a yacht in. The one thing that came through was how well all the crew worked together; no one complained and just got on with the job in hand. Mind you, I would sack that person who throws those buckets of water at us.
Just off Clacton I spotted some thing white moving towards us from the main land, in no time it was on us and turned out to be a wind surfer who went across our bow, jibed, and came back across our stern, very close, as he did he gave us a smile and a wave in no time you could only see the spray as he headed to shore. You have to admire his confidence to go out to sea in such conditions.

As we docked in Shotley Marina we had an hour to spare. It had taken 6 hours beating against a force 8 winds and tide. It was a hard sail but it has not turned me off sailing. When I am on my Solo at F.G.S.C. and someone says the wind is strong, are you still going out! I will smile and think of this Rally.

Once again, Thanks Tom, Jackie, Derek and John for helping to make it into a great Rally.
Keep sailing.
John Donoghue.