admin Date , July 30, 2025 Sailing Previous Blog Six of Nine Comments (0)
The day didn't start well - although I suppose it did considering we were going for a picnic. There was a short sharp shower, then the wind died. We got the boats into the water. We started with the bimini down, but had to put it up to keep us a little dryer in the showers. All the boats headed up stream. The wind became a breath, so in the end we had to tow all the boats up river to the beach near the island.
The plan was simple: a peaceful afternoon sail upstream followed by a relaxed picnic on the beach near the island. But of course, nature had other ideas. The day didn’t exactly start well—although I suppose any day involving a picnic counts as a win in theory. In practice, we had a short, sharp shower just as we arrived. Spirits remained high. After all, British sailors are nothing if not waterproof. We got the boats launched and began with the bimini down, but soon had to pop it up again as the rain made a return visit. Just a little more "damp ambiance" for our river journey.
All boats headed upstream… slowly. The wind decided it had done enough for the day and faded into a mere breath. With no breeze to fill the sails, the flotilla became more of a floating queue. Eventually, the safety boat came to the rescue, towing us gently up to the picnic spot near the island.
On arrival, we tied the boats to the trees like well-behaved dinghies. Then came the entertainment: Paul heroically managed to slip, stumble up the bank, and then slide right back down it—adding a stylish layer of Thames mud to his entire outfit. Back at home, it took a pressure washer to make his clothes respectable again.
Lunch, at least, was dry and pleasant. And as if by arrangement, the wind returned just enough to allow everyone to meander back downstream under sail. It wasn’t fast, but it was peaceful—and dry—which, all things considered, made for a fitting end to a slightly soggy sailing day. Moral of the story? Never trust the forecast, always pack a waterproof, and never underestimate the mud near the island.
