Across the River Blackwater to Salcott Creek - and I (briefly) go aground again.

I head up Salcott Creek on the north side of the River Blackwater, going past West Mersea. And I briefly go aground again.

[@raytheron]

Ta for taking us along, as't were, Toby. I do miss small boat sailing, the lapping of the waves against the hull, the swoosh and swish of water, the thrumming of sheets and shrouds, and that particular light when the sun shines, but the breeze is chilly. I'd love to be able to sail again one day, but it seems ever more unlikely, given where I am and my age and situation in general. That's why I appreciate your videos even more.

[@tobygoessailing]

You're welcome, Ray. Very glad to hear that the videos have an appreciative audience.

[@lemongrass02057]

Excellent. Very much admire you share when things don’t perfectly work out as well as when they do. You can sometimes feel everyone else was born on the water!

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. There's a fair bit of "things not working out perfectly" in my sailing. And it makes for more interesting videos. So all good!

[@tetleyk]

Nice to see you out and about again. That was a pretty nice sail. I know exactly what you mean about going aground. All of my sailing life I have kept away from the shore as I sailed in long-keeled boats. NOw that I sail the East Coast in a shoal-draft boat I have to force myself to put Naiad on the mud deliberately. Hopefully the weather this season will be better than last year with more decent sailing winds, and by that I mean non-racing sailors.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. Yes, it was a good first trip out. And with going on the mud, I assume practice makes perfect... Have you been out yet?

[@tetleyk]

@@tobygoessailing Only a couple of sails so far this season but I try to get down to the boat at least once a month to check the mooring lines and to spend some time aboard.

[@robertmcalone5517]

Hi Toby. Looks like you could do with a tiller clutch. I have one on my Norfolk gypsy 84 greengage. Happy sailing

[@tobygoessailing]

Hi Robert. Good idea. I've been managing with a bit of bungee cord up to now, but recently been thinking I could do with something a bit more stable.

[@Morningvicar]

@@tobygoessailingI would definitely recommend the one I fitted

[@tobygoessailing]

@@MorningvicarI was thinking of that one & was going to check out your video again 👍

[@Scruffy1000]

Hello Toby, I totally agree with Ratheron’s sentiments being in a similar situation myself. And thanks for keeping filming even when you get in mess with the rigging ……and then the jib fills, and then the bank gets nearer, etc. yup , been there and definitely done that ! I have to say it was a very well produced and edited film: It told a story with a beginning, a middle and an end, and even a touch of drama thrown in! Establishing and cut-away shots, different camera angles….. excellent work my friend! Please keep ‘em coming, All the best. Richard.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks very much, Richard. Glad you enjoyed it. And yes, getting in a mess is often more interesting for people to watch!

[@fatcharlieuk]

Hi Toby, great video as usual. Have you thought about heaving-to to raise the main? I don't know how your boat sits when hove-to but worth looking into maybe?

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks FC. Interesting. For hove to, I always understood that you needed the main working against the jib. Does it work when the main isn't even up?

[@fatcharlieuk]

@@tobygoessailing it depends on the boat in my view. Some boats need the main sheeted, some with it spilling all wind. In dinghies (when I was a lot younger!) I used to heave-to with just the jib (a lot smaller I know - but you have roller reefing? Could experiment with less jib perhaps?) and set the main incrementally. At first she’d lay too broad to the wind to get the main up. But the first part hoisted would create some drive. With the tiller lashed down she’d round up a bit and allow some more main to be set. Repeat until fully hoisted. Heaving-to is a much-maligned and forgotten art. Have a go on a good day. It’ll change the way you sail. My Hunter Liberty is in Woodbridge currently, waiting for me to fully recover from an operation, but I hope to be round your way maybe July-ish.

[@tobygoessailing]

@@fatcharlieuk I'm a big fan of heaving to - do it all the time! But never tried it to hoist the main, or just with the jib. So that's given me something new to experiment with. Thanks v much. Hope you're up and about and sailing soon.

[@Morningvicar]

Nice to have you back Toby. Lovely video. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve hoisted the main, caught it on the topping lift, spun round in the channel and apologized to everyone 😂😂

[@tobygoessailing]

Thank you. And that’s music to my ears.

[@sailingseriously2035]

Really enjoy your vids Toby. Simplistic and real. Keep up the great work. Ian from Oz. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks very much Ian, glad you like them.

[@Cedric-q4o]

Thankyou, great video and realistic. It is good you don't edit out the things that go wrong. Very helpful too. Health permitting I'll be moving my small boat to a mooring in that area next year.

[@bl00zbr0]

Great day out, thanks for sharing

[@tobygoessailing]

It was! Thanks for watching.

[@ianrees3231]

about time 😄glad you are back

[@tobygoessailing]

Yeah, it's been a while. Thanks!

[@marktaskerlyngfarm7596]

Brilliant, thank you. We are so looking forward to launching Orchid, no.81. Still a little to do but were close now. This video though has just made me check how long till the tin of 033 turns up. Soon! 🌞

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. Have fun with Orchid.

[@dhouse-d5l]

We keep coming back to ur super vids Sir. Theres not enough small Gaff type creek action on YT with so much hands on detail. Cant wait to get on our little Crabber this weekend. Keep them coming.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks v much. Small gaff-type creek action is definitely up my street. Might adopt that as my slogan!

[@stuartsutherland7664]

Welcome back! What a fabulous sailing area you have. Are you able to reef the mainsail from the companionway hatch?

[@tobygoessailing]

Thank you kindly. It is a great place to sail. No, I can't reach the cleats for the reefing lines from the companionway. (If I moved the cleats further forward on the boom, I could). I have to be in the front of the cockpit. You can see me doing it in this video, from 5:00 onwards: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4CklX96bJl0bKM

[@campbellshaw8698]

Great video, good storytelling. Thanks

[@tobygoessailing]

Thank you!

[@essexrowleys]

Another nice video Toby. It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only sailor to have “moments”. One of my primary objectives is to have fewer! Hope to see you on The Blackwater one day.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks Steven. I seem to discover endless sources of moments - as soon as I think I've mastered one thing, I find something else to screw up. Hours of fun!

[@essexrowleys]

@@tobygoessailing You’re not wrong Toby! I was as Titchmarsh Marina at the weekend and had a couple of moments getting in and out of my berth. And I’ve had to move berth at Tollesbury so having to learn my home marina all over again!

[@adrianwhite3631]

Another great video Toby! We won't be sailing our Gypsy this year, so I will be watching you vids with more than a hint of jealousy this summer

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks Adrian. Sorry you won't be sailing. I'll make my videos as boring as possible so you won't have to suffer too much.

[@adrianwhite3631]

@@tobygoessailing 😂That's a kind offer, but i'm sure you won't! cheers

[@sailinginlandseas4026]

Oh that topping lift catch! I know it well. One thing I've found is to focus on the raising sail and let the boat figure herself out. For myself learning to trust she'll do just that has been the journey. Oh and a good topping lift!

[@tobygoessailing]

Interesting, thanks. Though what exactly makes a 'good' topping lift?

[@sailinginlandseas4026]

@@tobygoessailing One that doesn't fall off the mast. Don't ask me how I know. Well it's a fear of mine anyway. Catboats traditionally had two, one on each side so you could use them to support the boom on the windward side no matter the tack.

[@ninaaddison9057]

I hope to see you out on the river one day, give Wivenhoe a try or perhaps Colchester

[@tetleyk]

Colchester is always a good trip although there is a new sunken vessel in the upper reaches now that hasn't been removed and it can get a bit smelly up by the sewage farm !!

[@tobygoessailing]

I got as far as Alresford Creek a couple of years ago. But yes, would be good to try & get up the Colne a bit further.

[@SCCFORUM]

Great video Toby. I hope to get down to your sailing grounds one of these days. What a beautiful place.👍🏻⛵ All the best, Paul.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks Paul. Glad to know you're also an admirer of the flat Essex coast!

[@DaveandGinny972]

Very enjoyable film Toby. You can't beat a bit of ditch crawling on our wonderful east coast rivers. I'm afraid we all have 'moments' when things can quickly run away with themselves. It's all part of that learning curve that helps us to become better sailors.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks DaveandGinny. Yup, I'm always finding new ways of things not going entirely to plan!

[@rsb62rsb]

I enjoyed that… fascinating landscape, and red hills notwithstanding quite tricky to keep track of where you are (without practice and concentration)

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks. Yes, when you're making plans it all looks clear as daylight on the chart - and then you arrive on a boat & realise it's quite a bit different from what you imagined.

[@jANKo567]

Greetings from landlocked Slovakia 🇸🇰 Good to see you and your boat in a good shape for the season. Really looking forward to seeing your journeys and adventures. Wish you fair winds and following seas 🍀

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks very much, from a country surrounded by sea.

[@joewilliams5396]

It so relaxing watching you videos.

[@tobygoessailing]

Thanks Joe. Glad you like them. The creeks in the sunshine are very peaceful.

[@marcusscrafton535]

Loved it. Thanks

[@tobygoessailing]

Pleased to hear that. Thanks for watching.