Blackwater visit July 2025

All rigged and ready to go

Richard writes:

On the 21st May 10 Seavets returned to the Stone SC for our annual trip to the Blackwater, those attending were John, Simon, Martin, James, Joe, Barbara & Maurice, Steve, Dave G, and myself.

After setting up camp in the club’s grass car park Tuesday was spent free sailing in the morning, followed after lunch by a scenic 16 mile bike ride led by Dave.

On our return we were visited by the club commodore, who invited us to join a few of the members for a meal prepared in the clubhouse, we were lucky as it was an impromptu arrangement for the ladies soccer semi final, there was a great choice of food on the menu which was of restaurant standard, England won in extra time as well!

Wednesday was cruise day and we were joined by day sailor Dave R, the forecast was for 8/9 mph NW wind gusting 14 and 22c with the chance of the odd shower, this proved pretty accurate apart from the lack of a shower. Mindful of the mud threat at Maylandsea 10 of us set sail 15 mins early at 9.45, and had a steady beat north of Osea island to the Mill beach cafe, arriving there at 10.45.

After a pleasant coffee stop at this beachside cafe we set sail again at 11.30, to round Northey in an anti-clockwise direction. Just as we launched there was a nice gust and some of us did a close fly by with a gin palace crossing our path, James got very close and caught some air time on its wake, those on board seemed to enjoy the moment as much as James!

After this we crossed the Northey causeway with the depth marker showing 1.5m at half an hour before HT, we then tuned SE for a run down Southern creek to Mundon Stone Point, here we headed South along Lawling creek to our lunch stop at Maylandsea, landing an hour ahead of schedule at 12.30. We were met here by our shore support crew Barbara, who had cycled there on her E-bike and rode up to the Chipp-Inn to speed up our lunch order, here Izzy did a great job serving up 10 portions of very nice fish and chips at the amazingly low price of £7 a head, I think its an OAP offer!

All the careful clock watching paid off as there was no mud in sight as we launched again at 1.15, all who visited last year were keen to avoid another mud bath, we then made our way back up the creek passing a harem of 6 Seals on the way. We stopped briefly to regroup at Mundon Stone and spotted a lot more Seals in the water, it was then a reach turning into a broad reach back to base, landing at 2.15. Everyone including those who hadn't sailed much of late seemed to enjoy the experience, and the planning and past knowledge worked a treat. According to Steve’s Strava track we had covered 16 miles in about 3hours sailing time, coincidently exactly the same distance covered on the previous days bike ride.

In the evening we all visited the very good Indian restaurant, whose high standards are maintained year after year, afterwards we sat under Dave's awning for a debrief of the days events, and to decide what a group of Seals is called.

Thursday dawned bright and breezy and with rain forecast at midday some of us decided on an early sail, while others packed up in the dry to return home. Martin and Simon were last seen setting into driving rain to round Radio Caroline but made it safely back.

We enjoyed a great 3 days of activities and good company in this lovely location, the wonderful facilities and hospitality of the Stone SC were as good as ever, and we look forward to returning again next year.

Thanks to Richard for organising and Barbara for photos and support at Maylandsea, and also the very hospitable people at Stone Sailing Club.