St Lawrence to Maldon 14th September

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip on Sunday, even though this is local home waters to me. I rarely go so far up stream. I would normally launch further east with Osea island or the stone pub being as far upstream as I would go. Everybody arrived pretty much on the dot, as said above it was local (within 25 miles) for me, it was Johns turn to do the driving all the way from bucks this time. On arrival the slipway that I had intended to use was closed off with six ft metal gates and a hefty padlock. A quick word at the adjacent sailing club enabled the access to the beach via their slip. The sailing club were in the process of setting up a power boat / water-ski race day, something that I have never come across on the Blackwater before. I wasn’t disappointed that we were going in the opposite direction. The weather was good, slightly overcast but no rain, wind was slightly stronger than expected at a force three coming from the east which later picked up to a low four. The paddle out was quite a straight forward affair, with low following waves. Being local and enclosed water, I had only planned the route in the loosest of ways, out around the top of the islands and back around the bottom. As we came around Osea island, the route around the top of Northy island is far from obvious, being hidden amongst the far shore. We needed to adjust course slightly to the north. Just as well Rog knew were he was going, I continued to circumnavigate Osea. There were several dingy races going on from Heybridge basin sailing club and we had a short game of dodgems getting across the channel and over to Northy island. As we came into the quay at Maldon the visitors pontoon was only partly occupied and a lot further out of the water than I remembered it from my last visit, about three years ago. I clambered out only to be told that there was a Thames barge arriving on the soon to be high tide. Back into the boat and around to Maldon prom which forms part of the town park. A large traditional boat followed us into the quay which I noticed not to be of a local design.







A visit to Mr Google revealed it to be a 1980 build concrete hull replica, a bit like a big Caterham seven car. It’s a 70ft gaff rigged cutter, the originals being built in the late 19th and early 20th century, being used as fast dispatch vessels for the Royal Navy. We decided to forego a lunch time drink and instead set off for the return journey slightly early a short while before the turn of tide. Just to pick things up a little as we left the protection of Northy island, wind was now against the tide for the two mile trip to Osea. At Osea we took a second short break, while, with some amusement we watched as a yacht came dangerously close to shore while seemingly struggling to tack. He was either lucky or knew his home waters very well. For the last two and a bit miles we decided to take the choppy route down the middle of the main channel where the white bits were. This led to quite a fun paddle though 3 maybe occasionally 4 ft, short and steep bouncy waves with plenty of spray and buried front ends. At the end of the trip, Sitting on the sea wall outside the Stone pub, with pint in hand. The estuary is only about a mile and a half wide at this point, most of which is fairly shallow emptying out at low tide. This leaves a maybe 2or 3 hundred metre wide channel. It was quite interesting to see a classic case of wind against tide. In the shallower and slower moving areas there were a few waves but no broken water showing. Whereas the water ebbing quite strongly against the wind in the deep water channel looked (as we well knew) to be decidedly choppy with lots of white stuff. A good enjoyable paddle, again with good company. Thanks to all who came out. On a personal note I must remember to take more photos on these outings.

Approaching Maldon quay

Written by Peter Moyse

The track.