mersea - round the island
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Category: General
Forum Name: Banter
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URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8056
Printed Date: 29 Jun 25 at 4:23am
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Topic: mersea - round the island
Posted By: bert
Subject: mersea - round the island
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 9:17am
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I was looking at the website for the mersea week for the RTI race & came across this "Competitors must make their own arrangements for crossing the Strood."
I thought ( wrongly it seems ) that the sea cadets or an other group of helpers were available to help completer’s get their boats across the strood.How big is the strood anyway? What do you need to do this? So the question is what’s the normal procedure of doing this?
Doe`s anybody know / done this before?
------------- Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586 |
Replies:
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 9:36am
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I thin normally that there are lost of people on the strood who generally help - I think the organisers are just covering themselves in case its lashing down and the strood is deserted. Never heard of anyone being stuck on one side or the other. Good fun event though ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: asterix
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 10:18am
| sorry for my ignorance, but what is a strood? |
Posted By: s.a.l.t.y
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 10:55am
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it is a permanent road to the island but it floods at high tide. ive never done the RTI but i can imagine that sailing up to the strood would be a challenge, as the amount of silt build up around there is massive and getting there without putting your daggerboard through the boat would be difficult even at high tide. ------------- |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 1:44pm
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I did Pyefleet week last year and saw the boats come round the island (Mersea Island) unfortunately some didn't make it to the strood before the tide turned and had to sail back the other direction. Depending on the boat, I believe some people take their trailers to the strood before setting sail around the island. ------------- |
Posted By: Oli
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 2:47pm
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you can do it in a squib if you have the colchester garrison down to help you lift it over! ------------- https://skiff-media.teemill.com/" rel="nofollow - T-SHIRTS https://www.photo4me.com/profile/23908/" rel="nofollow - PRINTS |
Posted By: Mister Nick
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 9:55pm
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I have done RTI for the past 3 years in various different boats. The normal procedure nowadays is to carry your boat over yourself (Just grab it under the gunwale and lift). It isn't too difficult, you have to carry it for about 30m (Although if you hit the Strood right at high tide it will more or less float over itself) but that has never been a problem for me when I've done it. A couple of nice people from Dabchicks or the Yacht Club normally hang around on the Strood too and give you a helping hand if you need it. I wouldn't advise bringing your trolley to get the boat across because the amount of people who stand around watching, the amount of other trailers and the very limited amount of space makes it very difficult to access and use it. Be extremely careful on the side of the Strood closest to Brightlingsea - tack sooner than you think you need to, be ready to yank the daggerboard up and be very, very careful not to capsize. On the side of the Strood closest to the Hammerhead the water is very shallow next to the mainland, even at high tide. Stay pretty close to the island. (There will probably be a RIB moored in this spot to let you know too) As I've said, I've done the race a a few times so if you would like any other tips or have any other questions then ask away. What boat are you intending to do it in by the way? I'll be doing it in my RS 500 so I guess I'll see you there. :)
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Posted By: bert
Date Posted: 21 Jul 11 at 10:39pm
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I intend to do it in my blaze 586 so say please hello,Can`t promise that I will get there but with the nice socialable start time of early afternoon I will certainly try & the likihood is good plus it is not that far away - a couple of hours maybe if that so it should all come together.
Thanks for the advice .
The main thing is to have a good laugh while enjoying yourself. ------------- Phantom 1181 AC-227 IC 304 blaze / halo 586 |
Posted By: rogue
Date Posted: 22 Jul 11 at 10:11am
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Yep done it several times. Back in the day when Neptune and I were mere pups (before he grew up and I got his Saturday job in the chandlery) we used to have the Army come up to help out lug boats across- if you were really lucky and female (or had one crewing for you) they'd lift you out and carry you across whilst you were still in the boat. There were buckets to chuck a quid or so in for whatever charity they were raising cash for that day. AFAIK the garrison don't support it any more which is a shame.
If you're in a heavyish boat it might be worth getting the trolley dollies to drive your trolley up there, if it's light then pick it up and waddle across. It's a good laugh I've done it in a Mirror, Laser and 420; going anti-clockwise is a complete lottery, you'll either do very well, or not make it round. Most people go clockwise and hit the strood at high tide to take the ebb around the back of the island. The only thing this can do is through-up some interesting chop across the mud banks around the eastern point as this is (usually) wind over tide. It's worth checking the forecast before driving. The event has been canned due to heavy winds recently and given the nature of the separation across the fleet, whilst there's rescue cover, it's not 'regatta typical', so it's a test of seamanship and boat preparation as much as the tactical stuff too. Don't let that put you off though- it's a good spirited event and the competitors genuinely look out for each other as you go round. The Strood- it f**ked up my Megane. 
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