Nancy Blackett’s final cruise of the season was also the first for newly-promoted Skipper for Roger Sturge, the Nancy Blackett Trust’s Secretary. Here is his account…

On Monday morning, in bright sunshine, we motored down the River Orwell and raised sail at Levington. The crew, Roger, Sue Heron and Ray Nash (the Trust’s treasurer) had gathered, sorted out cars, and welcomed some young visitors aboard over the weekend (above right). The aim, ultimately, was to deliver Nancy Blackett to Woodbridge for her end-of-season lift-out, but first we had five days of cruising ahead of us. Now, in the light north-easterly wind, we sailed on down to Harwich and up the River Stour, but did not make our target of Wrabness. We returned in failing light to Shotley Marina and an excellent vegetarian pasta aboard.

Tuesday's destination was Secret Water. It was a first for Sue and Ray and they loved the atmosphere of the muddy shores, saltings and birds. For Ray, as an inexperienced sailor (“I’m better on accounts!”), it was fascinating to see a large expanse of water that looked quite deep everywhere. But these Walton Backwaters are mostly shallow, and the only way to sail safely is to find the deep channels, picking up the buoys – with many different colours, numbers and names – following buoy after buoy, passing one and looking for the next, checking the details on the chart. 

Anchoring for lunch in sunshine off Mastodon Island was evocative of splatchers and eels. Threading our way in through the winding narrow entrance to Amazon Creek showed off the mate’s skills to good effect. For the two who had not visited these waters before it was a surprise to find many yachts moored along the creek, so narrow on the chart, and then to find a marina at the end. The skipper remembered off-camera crewing when Paul Heiney came aboard to sail with Bill Wallace-King for an Anglia TV programme many years ago.

At Titchmarsh Marina, in a light wind from the north, it was surprising how much windage Nancy Blackett can demonstrate when seeking to berth on a windward pontoon. At our second attempt the Dock Master took pity on us and waved from his office to take the leeward of the two fingers available and we chose the line of least resistance.

After a good meal ashore we put our minds to planning the final two days. A trip to Orford on Wednesday beckoned, but the forecast for Thursday suggested strong south-easterly winds, not conducive to a safe passage over the River Ore bar. Getting stuck in the Ore when we needed to be going up the River Deben in time for Saturday’s lift out party was not to be chanced, so we headed back up the Orwell instead. We did not make it to Ipswich as planned, but we did go into Fox’s for some shopping before returning to Nancy’s berth at Woolverstone for the last time this season. We celebrated appropriately with a good meal at the Butt & Oyster (above right).

So to Thursday, the day we had to get into the Deben. The tide favoured an entry after 17h00, and that would leave time to get to a mooring at Ramsholt before dark. While we were getting ready to leave a great fleet of Dutch tall ships proceeded majestically up the Orwell (left). We heard them being docked on the port radio – one of them had an air draft of 33 metres. Many were smaller than that, square riggers, gaffers and bermudans, but they were still coming up river before a strengthening easterly wind when we reached Levington on our way down to Harwich. There must have been more than 20 of them. Quite a sight!  

Halfpenny Quay was well sheltered but there was no room, so we picked up a buoy in Bathside Bay to eat lunch and wait for the critical time to leave for the Deben. The weather had been closing in, and emerging from the cabin after lunch, horror of horrors – FOG! At least it did not thicken up and with visibility at least one mile the skipper judged it safe to go out into the North Sea, even if everyone else was coming in and making for a safe port.

Crossing the deep channel we were glad to pass behind a large container vessel which had loomed up out of the murk to pick up her tugs off Landguard point. A timely reminder of why yachtsmen are advised to follow the small ships route to avoid this congested corner.

The sea was choppy out on the Rolling Ground – almost as bad (or was it worse?) than the same trip in 2011, but putting up the mainsail (with two reefs) and the staysail steadied the ship in the beam seas and we motor–sailed to the Woodbridge Haven buoy. The only other vessels out there were two cargo ships in the far distance. So we were all alone! Were there people on shore asking themselves "What is that boat doing out there in this weather?"

It was rough enough over the Deben bar to give us a close encounter with the Mid Knoll buoy. No damage but slightly embarrassing! Once over the bar it was calmer and we enjoyed the dark brooding skies over Felixstowe Ferry with the fast-flowing tide and rising wind. Putting the sails up at Rolling Ground had cost us some time so we picked up a buoy in the Felixstowe Ferry moorings as the light faded. A monster meal of omelette and vegetables crowned a tiring but successful day.

The wind went round to the west and strengthened during the night so thoughts of sailing up the Deben were put aside. After an early breakfast – bacon butties for the two meat eaters and vegetarian sausages for Sue – we had an enjoyable but uneventful motor up to beautiful Woodbridge for a safe mooring in the Tidemill (right) at high tide just after 10 am.

Roger, who, as well as being the Trust’s Company Secretary, is an active sailor, and a long-term Nancy Blackett mate. He underwent the appraisal procedure to be appointed a Nancy Blackett Skipper at the end of the 2011 season, and has assisted with movements of Nancy during this season. This was his first full cruise as Skipper.

If you would like to become a Nancy Blackett Mate or Skipper find out more details here.