Nancy Blackett has had a busy autumn cruising season so far, with more to come. While she is due to embark on her official Autumn Cruise tomorrow, the recent change in the weather serves to remind us of a much different scene only a month ago in mid-September, with mostly light winds, and some residual summer warmth and sunshine.

In the capable hands of Skipper Roger Sturge, a short cruise of a few days saw Nancy Blackett and her crew manage to visit a number of local sights, with plenty of local wildlife on the way too. Following a good sail from her home base at Woolverstone to an overnight mooring at Wrabness, she sailed gently down the Stour and around to Hamford Water before reaching Titchmarsh, where a local fisherman provided sea bream for supper.

Back at Woolverstone a seal was spotted eating fish close to Nancy. The local seals have a reputation for rounding up mullet until they jump up on the mud, ready to be eaten. Following a wet evening, the final two days of the cruise saw a short return to the Stour, accompanied by sun and light winds. The forecast has promised wind and rain that failed to materialise at the time. One month on though, it is certainly time to batten down the hatches.

For our photos of the cruise, by Roger Sturge and Tom Bell, see our Flickr photoset.