Wild Ride across The Thames Estuary solo on my Contessa 26. 45 miles Felixstowe to Ramsgate

I’m saling my little Contessa 26 solo around Britain as part of my project to photograph all 31 of the Sea Areas as heard in The Shipping Forecast. The photos can be seen on my website www.neilwilliams.co.uk

[@brianholloway447]

I love a Contessa 26. Beautiful boat, beautiful place. Well done.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Cheers Brian. Loved it. Neil :-)

[@stanoivan5494]

Exciting voyage, the brave sailor 🐬

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thank you for watching. The only brave bit is casting off in the morning...after that it's all pretty easy. :-)

[@nicklemon786]

Really enjoyed watching this. Did almost identical 25 years ago and like you tying up in Ramsgate felt good ! Thanks for filming your adventure.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thank you Nick :-)

[@Alexander-ez8bf]

This is exactly what I want to do when I retire in four years, although watching this makes me think I should get a move on and try next summer. Thanks for sharing your journey!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

My pleasure Alexander. I loved it. Life is short.... do it.. once you start looking at boats on Apolloduck you will be hooked...

[@redshifttrucking4537]

Great video, real sailing on an iconic boat... Thanks

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you :-)

[@masterblaster2626]

Hey Neil, great video ... enjoyed it! Look forward to watching the next 2 videos where you get back home.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thank you MasterBlaster. Nice to know a few people are watching!

[@andysutils]

Glad i found this. I got a ranger 265 about 3 years ago now. Pottering about on a lake but have done the Clyde on a 46ft baveria. You really can write a book when you own a boat

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thank you Andy. :-)

[@thehoughtonshow6405]

Really enjoying your videos thank you

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thanks for watching!

[@chrisward7085]

Great series of videos! Sailed the estuary and East Coast a lot.....and I know what a rough place the estuary can be, especially when you are in a chop or drifting through the North Kent windfarm in a calm. Impressed with how dry the Contessa 26 was in those conditions.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

The East coast seemed much tougher than the west to me.. Wind farms and traffic.. and generally only able to access safe harbours at high tide... Still fun though.

[@joegain6241]

So glad I found these videos. You are a LEGEND, Neil! What a great trip!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thank you Joe. Love to be called a legend, though I'm really anything but .... appreciate you watching

[@aeh1709]

great video. thank you for sharing. brings back memories from sailing the channel. not missing it though 😂

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thanks. Defo more pleasant places to sail........ Thanks for watching. x

[@GilbertRose-u1u]

How great! I’d love to visit there in my Valiant 42 some day!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Do it. Especially loved the North West of Scotland though....Did'nt make a film of that as I had my young daughter with me and wanted to concentrate on her..but maybe I'll put something together sometime.. a sort of Hebrides highlights reel...

[@peterwright790]

Nice to watch in bed at 0530. Based on the Orwell I’ve done many similar trips over thirty years. Sold my Maxi95 last year. I’ve just had enough! Well done so late in the season. Take care in the Channel.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thanks for watching Peter. :-)

[@sailingwithharmony5272]

Great job Sailor!!! ⛵️

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thank you. :-)

[@oldshipmatesadventures]

Hey Neil, very nice trip, congrats. I also sail a 26 foot boat, a dutch built Compromis 777. I sail her in Portugal on the Atlantic, gets bumpy here at times too. :-) Just subscribed to your channel, and am happy to say, I am your 1000th subscriber. :-) Greetings from Lisbon, Frank

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Yay! Thank you Frank. Appreciate it.

[@turbinia]

I know you said you didn't plan for the tides, but it's well worth doing for any trip in or around the estuary. The tides can be very fast, especially on springs, and if you get them against you it can easily add a several hours to your trip. It's more significant around North Foreland down to Ramsgate where you can get up 3 knots against you which makes it slow going and if the wind is against you progress might be impossible without motoring.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

True... but if you are sailing day after day and arriving late at night.. and you know you want to make the most of the daylight the next day and it will be at least a 12 hour sail you can be pretty confident you will be leaving at first light no matter what the tides.. and figuring it out from there.. which is what I did.. and happened to get lucky. Also.. a lot of the East coast harbours you have no choice bit to leave around high tide...Thanks for watching. :-)

[@robertjones3568]

Passage times from Shotley to Ramsgate vary little with departure time. Just choose where /when one encounteres a foul tide. I choose to avoid the ebb around N. Foreland & arrive Ramsgate at slack water.

[@peterbrook3010]

I did the trip Ipswich to Dover single handed end of March this year with Cornish Crabber 30 Pilot Cutter. Similar experience, but with ice forming on the deck! Well done!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Ouch. Yeah - good thing about autumn is the water is often warmer than the air and helps keep the cabin cosy...Thanks for watching

[@TheSailingBrothers]

Thanks for the video, enjoyable

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Pleasure x

[@rayhsetwo8594]

I assume you are using Navionics? It would be worth adding a screen shot of your intended route and your actual track to your videos, it would interesting to see what route you took. I went across the thames estuary around two weeks ago too.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Hi Ray. Yes I use navionics. I'm sure that would improve the videos though honestly I don't want to spend too long on them... just a bit of fun for me to learn how to film and make basic videos... Thanks for watching.

[@brianseage5452]

Great video. Tide is ALWAYS important. But why does he always look so worried. He has the best seakeeping vessel ever built. Mine was a joy to sail and I always regret selling Red Admiral!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thanks just my face! Ha. I think I mostly I recorded when I was tired.. and talking in front of the camera is all new to me and felt a little strange. Anyway... thanks for watching.

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

I did this passage in reverse in early October. Mine was in a First 285, not as good a sea keeper as the Contessa but I had better weather. No auto pilot either (or chart plotter). At least Ramsgate has a sail loft for the batton.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

It does - an easy replacement for ab £20... Thanks for watching.

[@bernadettec6386]

Anyone got any Kwells? Thank you for a very interesting trip. Edited to say, nice mooring in Ramsgate and well done for find it. I am sure I would still be looking. All a bit confusing.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Ha! Yes - finding the parking spot is often the tricky park of the journey. Thanks for watching. x

[@damianhind7330]

You've got to love a good breezy beat.

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

The best sailing... sort off...Thanks Damian.

[@pauladams8475]

Looks like Shotley marina.

[@Seafariireland]

Made it seem easy!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

It kind of is. Just point the boat in the right direction and hang on. The hardest is part is just the leaving....

[@simonhjc]

Nice

[@alricmarchand2877]

I really enjoy your videos, thank you for making them and good luck! (the foot of your genoa seems to be flapping a bit, maybe your car could be more aft?)

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Yes. I've Experimented a little with that. And it helps to a point. But I think you are right - I think maybe I'd set it for a reef in the head sail and not noticed in all the noise to change it back. Still a lot to learn... thanks for the tip and for watching.

[@alricmarchand2877]

And so have I! Congratulations on your recent navigation and thanks again for sharing it. I have an IF boat and dream about maybe one day sailing her to the UK. You are very inspiring. @@NeilWilliamsGallery

[@RoryL83]

3:27 I believe that is a sister ship to yours. Both 26 footers designed by Mike Sadler. Am I right?

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Not sure what the other is.. from memory it's too much freeboard for a Sadler (could be wrong) and defo not a Contessa. My understanding is that Jeremy Rogers designed the Contessa 26 in the late 19060 s ( mine is 1969) and that the Sadlers came later and where heavily influenced by The Contessa and also the nordic folk boats that inspired Rogers... but again others will know more.. Thanks for watching

[@RoryL83]

@NeilWilliamsGallery Love love love your videos Neil. I think it's a Sadler 26, but I'm an American so my knowledge of British sailboats isn't exceptional. I own a 1978 Canadian Contessa 26. Great little boats!

[@peterreeve8663]

Definitely a Sadler.

[@simonblackwell4273]

the wallet? oh no!

[@steveparkes1]

You deserve a rest Neil!

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Thanks Steve. I was running on adrenaline and loving it… mostly..

[@garyhenshaw9482]

Thames estuary ffs more like the Atlantic Ocean . Noooooo thank you 🙈

[@NeilWilliamsGallery]

Ha! I probably made it look harder than it really is Gary. :-)

[@janefletcher5571]

You ain't seen nothing yet❤

[@janefletcher5571]

Check the oil they cook your chips in we don't want you poisoned ❤

[@peterbates4696]

lol…. Stick to your reservoir sailing then….