East Coast News
Autumn 2022
Welcome to our autumn newsletter. It is with many thanks to John Garside who has come out of retirement to produce this one last newsletter advising members about the AGM and our plans for next year.
So, included are details of importance to the club’s future, our Long Trip sailing programme for 2023 and our AGM on Saturday 19 November.
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But first, a quick recap on our programme last summer.
In truth it was a mixed one. We were not able to take Freyja out of UK waters because of issues with Freyja’s VAT status now that the UK is not in the EU. It’s a complicated story but as you will learn at the AGM progress has been made and we are definitely going abroad next year.
At the beginning of the season after Freyja went back into the water, we saw a number of opportunities for members to join short courses, to gain boat handling experience or skippers able to charter Freyja and sail in local waters.
Outward bound
The long trip started well with a crew led by Richard Maxwell taking Freyja up the east coast all the way to Inverness. Good sailing and an opportunity to explore some of the attractive towns along the coast. Once at Inverness they locked in to the Caledonian Canal which leads all the way through the Great Glen towards Corpach and Loch Linnie, gateway to the Western Isles.
Just one hitch. The canal was closed
The planned work to replace the lock gates at Cullochy had hit snags and were not due to be completed before Thursday 19 May, and perhaps even later. Richard and his crew were able to delay their departure from Ipswich and it was agreed with the follow-on crew to make their best way along the canal and meet up where they could.
Through Loch Ness to Fort Augustus and they were then able to slip through the lock as part of the ‘trials’.
On now as far as possible. To Corpach, overlooked by Ben Nevis at the end of the canal. The next crew will have to take Freyja on to Oban where she was based for the summer.
While all the charter slots were not taken up, those that did, reported excellent sailing conditions and in addition to some welcoming, though small marinas, anchorages were to be found aplenty. Sheltered and snug and well documented in the Clyde Sailing Club’s Pilot of the area.
And not a midge in sight. Unlike last time we sailed in Scotland.
Homeward bound
Fair sailing is what we all promise ourselves and those whom we know.
This was not to be for John Miller and his crew. The plan was to spend two weeks sailing from Inverness down to Ipswich and visiting places they had not been to before. The storm winds blew and blew; and sensibly, since all of us are there to enjoy our sailing, they sat. First at the Seaport marina at the top of the Caledonian Canal, then moving round to the Inverness marina, ready to put to sea once the weather abated. Along the coast they skipped south, but running out of time they were forced to leave Freyja at Sunderland, just south of Newcastle on the River Tyne.
So, what was dubbed a ‘rescue mission’, Richard Maxwell put together a crew to bring Freyja home to Ipswich. Did I say ‘rescue mission’? Turned out to be that and more.
South of Flamborough Head and off Aldbrough on the Yorkshire coast Freyja is well and truly snagged. At 2.30am. Twenty miles offshore in over 40 metres. Engine is running but Freyja is going nowhere.
It becomes obvious that the crew are going to need assistance.
Takes a while to gain the attention of the Coast Guard who escalate the issue from a Pan-Pan to Mayday, perhaps because of the gas platforms the crew can see in the distance.
There is a Coast Guard helicopter on the way and the Humber RNLI lifeboat at Spurn Head is being launched.
It all ends well; with the full story to come in the New Year’s edition of our newsletter.
Pan-pan
The international standard signal for an urgent situation, but which, for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger.
I hate to break it to you but as things stand that is where the club stands.
We have a yacht that has been consistently recognised as a wonderfully capable offshore cruiser whose reliability is beyond doubt and whose layout and high-quality finish out-performs any comparable yacht at a similar or better price. No wonder Yachting Monthly in their review ‘Yachts of the Century’ rated the Najad 380 in second place, giving the first place only to the famous Endeavour.
But our yacht is only half the story.
The success and future of the club depends not only in attracting and retaining members but also in the commitment of all members to supporting the management and the running of the club.
In a nutshell, the existing committee need you. They are not getting any younger and need to pass the baton on to those who will be there after they stand down. As they inevitably will have to.
As Club Captain I am too old now I think and because of the Constitution ineligible to stand again and some of the executive committee will also stand down after many years or service. However, others will remain and even those who are standing down will be there to train and give guidance.
Truth is that unless we can re-build our management team and active supporters the long-term future of the club will, at the very least, remain in doubt.
But it’s not just the executive that needs fresh blood, but perhaps even more importantly support for those who look after and maintain Freyja. Over the years the club has been inordinately fortunate in our Yacht Husbands. It is due to them that Freyja remains a seaworthy, beautiful yacht that is a pleasure to sail. A small group of members, a very small group, have done sterling work in supporting our Yacht Husbands. But our Yacht Husband and the few who support him need help.
Almost everyone can do something to help. Our members are likely to have skills in abundance. Some know electrics, others engines. Some are happy to clean and polish.
We are also looking for support for the webmaster to develop the website.
Please let me know at brianbarnes346@gmail.com how you might be able to help.
We really, really need you. Every one of you.
Our AGM
The Place: Littleton Sailing Club, Littleton Lane, Shepperton, Surrey TW17 0NF
easily accessible from the M25, M3 and M4.
The date: Saturday 19 November 2022
The time: from 10.00am with coffee for start at 10.30am
Plans are being made for those who cannot travel to join the meeting on Zoom.
See the club website nearer the date for details and links.
The meeting will start with a short review of last year’s programme and our current plans for the start of next year: training opportunities and private charters.
Then, before our formal AGM, an overview of our long trip for 2023.
Happily, we have a skipper who has already offered to start Freyja off to the continent and another to bring her back to Ipswich. The outward trip is likely to go across the North Sea and around the top of Holland and through the Kiel Canal to possibly Rensburg, whilst the return trip in September will start in Rensburg and more than likely travel through Holland and out to the North Sea through Amsterdam or travel south on the canals through Vlissigen.
Then an AGM, including reports from the Club Treasurer and our Yacht Husband.
Importantly we need to formally elect club officers, in particular: Club Captain, Yacht Husband, Yacht Secretary, Crewing Secretary, Membership Secretary and Treasurer. We also need someone to take over editing the ECYD magazine.
Nominations and any motions you might like to submit should be with our Club Secretary by Friday 21 October 2022: Chris Robbins, 29 Grangewood, Little Heath, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 1SJ or chrisrobbi@gmail.com
I can do no more than stress the need for your help, even just as an ordinary member of the committee. Please think about it.
Immediately after the AGM there will be an informal meeting of those skippers and members interested in our long trip and an opportunity to explore placing an option on a potential slot for next year. It’s also the ideal networking opportunity for members looking for a berth to meet and get to know skippers, or of course Skippers looking for crew.
Refreshments and even a light lunch will be available from the excellent café at Littleton.
The Baltic 2023
So, looking towards next year, the ECYD Committee have decided that the summer cruise for 2023 will definitely be to the Baltic (visiting hopefully Denmark, Sweden and Germany, with Holland and Belgium on the way). For those of you who have not sailed in this area, it provides excellent sailing and scenery with Fjords if you are sailing around Frederica or a visit to the islands of Bornholm and Christianso if sailing out of Ystad and a trip to the North Baltic if sailing from Malmo or visiting fishing ports and scenic harbours from Travemunde and Warnemunde and the island of Rugen.
The initial charters from Ipswich through Holland, Germany and the Kiel Canal are agreed as has the return from Rendsburg in September. The two skippers who have agreed to undertake these two charters will be pleased to have members join them as crew. The Crewing Bureau will be placing details on our website. These particular passages are an ideal opportunity to expand their experience on longer passages, night sailing and watches.
What is sailing like in the Baltic?
In a word, or two: usually fantastic. It’s no surprise that there as so many sailing clubs in the Baltic. The sailing season is typically from May/June through to September with July and August being the warmest, typically 24°C with weather similar to that of East Anglia with moderate winds and minimal rain.
Getting to Freyja, and back home again by public transport.
The club boats have visited the Baltic many times over the years and experience in the past has shown us some ideal places as handover ports. Regular flights, with local train and bus connections will make getting to and from Frejya relatively easy.
The Proposal.
Detailed below I have shown possible handover ports with a number of days for the charter shown, but these can be amended to meet individual requirements providing that either side of the charter can be agreed.
I have also shown rail links to the handover ports to make it easier for planning.
It would be useful if we could have some thoughts about where you would want to go and when, although it may well be that we will have to juggle some of the plan to make it fit and be workable.
I welcome some thoughts and any provisional interest, and I would try to honour any bid but confirmation of the charter can really only be made on payment of a deposit taken after the AGM.
Proposed dates for the summer cruise with possible handover ports.
| Start Date | Finish Date | Departing port | Handover port | No. days |
| Monday 1st May 2023 | Thursday 11th May | Delivery from Ipswich | Rendsburg | 10 |
| Thurs 11th May 2023 | Saturday 20th May | Rendsburg | Travemunde | 9 |
| Saturday 20th May 2023 | Monday 29th May | Travemunde | Travemunde | 9 |
| Monday 29th May 2023 | Wednesday 7th June | Travemunde | Warnemunde | 9 |
| Wed 7th June 2023 | Friday 16th June | Warnemunde | Stralsund | 9 |
| Friday 16th June 2023 | Sunday 25th June | Stralsund | Ystad | 9 |
| Sunday 25th June 2023 | Tuesday 4th July | Ystad | Ystad | 9 |
| Tuesday 4th July 2023 | Thursday 13th July | Ystad | Malmo | 9 |
| Thursday 13th July 2023 | Saturday 22nd July | Malmo | Korsor | 9 |
| Saturday 22nd July 2023 | Monday 31st July | Korsor | Frederica | 9 |
| Monday 31st July 2023 | Wed 9th August | Frederica | Frederica | 9 |
| Wed. 9th August 2023 | Friday 18th August | Frederica | Sonderburg | 9 |
| Fri 18th August 2023 | Sunday 27th August | Sonderburg | Sonderburg | 9 |
| Sun 27th August 2023 | Tuesday 5th Sept | Sonderburg | Rendsburg | 9 |
| Tuesday 5th Sept 2023 | Friday 15th Sept | Rendsburg | Ipswich | 10 |
Note: Kiel Week is from 17th to 25th June 2023 and either side can be a very busy period.
Change overs will be at midday unless previously agreed with the outgoing or incoming skipper. This will help for victualling etc.
Rail Links to Handover Ports
| Destination | Train Station | Departing Station | Approximate travel time | Airport |
| Enkhuizen | Enkhuizen | Amsterdam | 1 hr | Amsterdam |
| Delfzijl | Delfzijl | Groningen | 37 mins | Groningen |
| Delfzijl | Delfzijl | Amsterdam | 3hr | Amsterdam |
| Rendsburg | Rendsburg | Hamburg | 1hr 15mins | Hamburg |
| Frederica | Frederica | Copenhagen | 1 hr 46 mins | Copenhagen |
| Malmo | Malmo | Copenhagen | 1 hr | Copenhagen |
| Ystad | Ystad | Copenhagen | 1hr 29 mins | Copenhagen |
| Travemunde | Travemunde | Hamburg | 1hr 20min | Hamburg |
Below is a selection of local harbours that are worth a visit – but there are many more.
| Handover Ports | Adjacent Ports |
| Federicia | Middlefart |
| Haderslev | |
| Assens | |
| Kolding Fjord | |
| Bogense | |
| Vejle | |
| Juelsminde | |
| Malmo | Brondby |
| Dragden | |
| Kastrup | |
| Flakforten | |
| Stubbekobing | |
| Copenhagen | |
| Helsingborg | |
| Helsingor | |
| Ystad | Bornholm and Christianso Islands |
| Bodden and Grabow lakes | |
| Stralsund | |
| Travemunde | Wismar |
| Lubeck | |
| Warnemunde | |
There are plenty of alternatives possible, I have shown a feasible trip starting in the south of the Baltic across the German coastline and then travelling North to cover Sweden and Denmark and then back to Rendsburg for the homeward trip. However, I am sure that at the skipper’s meeting after the AGM there will be as many suggestions for alternatives as there are Skippers!
Brian Barnes
Captain ECYD
Click on the link below to open the Autumn 2022 Edition of East Coast News to see the East Coast News with attached Baltic Photographs.