BACK INTO IPSWICH, On the 2, 3 & 4th of October
Ipswich has always been a very popular destination for W&FYC cruising traps. There is something very pleasing about entering the centre of a large city by boat. On this occasion six boats three sailing:- Moody Blue, Pam & Moreno, Reflex , Christine & Graham and Bonaire, Hilary. Three motor boats, Mariana, Marion & John, Duette, Marilyn & Bryan (AKA Sam), and a big welcome back to Donna & Peter on their new boat Parr 4.
Reflex and Moody Blue were the first to arrive having made the two day trip via Pin Mill. It was a bit early in the trip for a disaster and it would have to be us, but that is boating. Having moved well up the lock to make room for other boats, Reflex was caught in a violent washing machine action, with a big thud on the bottom of the boat. Soon, all was calm again, the lock gates opened and the lines were cast off.
The wheel appeared to be jammed in the straight ahead position. Instead of going forward, we gently rotated until the boat was at right angles to the lock. There was a gentle tail wind and with a couple of feet clearance either end and small adjustments ahead and astern, it seemed quit probable that we were going to exit the lock very slowly, sideways.
Moreno, a very astute fellow, from Moody Blue behind us on the pontoon, had ascertained that all was not well; he trotted along the pontoon and at the last possible moment was able to take a bow line. After a very short period carefully controlled panic, we were safely back, tied to the pontoon, but facing the wrong way. Quick message to cruise organiser, Sam, sideways in lock, nothing to worry about. With the lock keeper’s help, it wasn’t long before two very friendly ABP chaps arrived in a rib. They tied to the front of our boat and gently pushed us backwards all the way from the lock, to K9, our birth. The remaining boats arrived throughout the afternoon, some possibly waiting to take advantage of free flow? Later, we all got together on Mariana for a chat, with afternoon tea and cakes.
Saturday was a day for exploring, shopping and general relaxing. There was a very jolly social gathering on Par4, before going for a meal at The Last Anchor.
Earlier when we saw the nice lady in the mariner office, she had given us a 10% berthing discount as we were a group and to each of us a 10% discount meal voucher for the restaurant. That part didn’t work and you did rather need a barrister to explain the menu. It was a very noisy evening, but the food was good.
We had managed to sort the problem with the steering. Looking under the boat revealed no obstructions. When things go wrong, you do appreciate good friends. We had a whole team. The Westerly Locker is like a small London Bedsit. It was necessary to remove everything, to access the rear panel that leads to the very back of the boat to see the steering gear. After at least three visits, it was discovered that the rudder was not stuck in the straight ahead position, but jammed at right angles across the boat. It seemed that that the force of the water or a foreign object has pushed the rudder past the stop and there was no way that brute force or using a lever could get it back. In the end, we had to dismantle the steering system in order to straighten the rudder and then reassemble it.
Sunday morning. It was a very fine day with a gentle SW breeze, ideal for a peaceful trip home. Par4 was the first to tee off, followed by Reflex and Bonaire, displaying a lovely new red mainsail. The others returned throughout the day. Some may have even have waited until much later to take advantage of free flow?
