| 75th. Match Part 2 -
Rounding the Outer Mark
by Mike Wignall - Webmaster [thamesmatch "at" yahoo.co.uk]
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| With very little wind and what
there was in the Yantlet Channel being intermittent, of little strength
and unpredictable - gaining an indication of what was available and
exploiting it promptly became a priority as Lady Daphne made a
controlled drift towards the Outer Mark. Wind had to be found that
would allow her to make progress across the last of the ebbing tide towards Southend
and make good a north westerly track. This was if the Outer Mark was to be
actually sailed around rather than drifted past, at the mercy of the
final part of the ebb.
At deck level there was little or no discernable wind - however higher up could be another matter. The problem was that the bob had fouled the headstick during the outward leg and was useless as a wind indicator. Therefore the intrepid Mate had to undertake another high altitude experience. This time he didn't climb the standing rigging but was hoisted up in a bosun's chair, the motive power coming from three of the four crew at the main mast base. |
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Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: A. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: A. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
| Michael Mainelli leading the team heaving in on the topmast halliard being used to raise the bosun's chair | The Mate is in the chair and is being hoisted up past the doubling. | Even higher - approaching the level of the topmast halliard blocks | The chair is as high as it will go and the Mate is higher still - sorting out the problem |
Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: A. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: A. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: A. Wignall 2005 |
| Crew member Peter admires the Mate's head for heights - as Wyvenhoe tacks across the bows | Back in the chair, for the return journey - half way down the topmast using the standing backstays as a guide | Past the doubling and negotiating the port crosstree | The blocks of the port main mast runner are approaching - only a few metres more to the deck |
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Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
About to pass the Outer Mark. It was nominally the North Oaze buoy but due to the lack of wind and the need to get the barges back to Gravesend at a reasonable time in the evening for the prize giving the course was shortened. After the Bridge Committee consulted PLA Port Control regarding expected shipping movements Sea Reach No. 4 buoy was chosen as the revised Outer Mark. It is on the centreline of the Yantlet Channel, between Southend and Shoebury Ness, to the south-south-east of Southend Pier. Lady Daphne was the first to reach this conspicuous yellow buoy, courtesy of the ebb tide - as she was in irons for a good part of the time. |
| A potential competitor for sea room - given that the modern Rule of the Road gives powered vessels precedence over vessels under sail? The Lady Daphne's tortuous attempts to round the mark, leaving it to port, appeared to put her on the intended track of a Ro-Ro vessel, belonging to SCA Transforest. However, after a VHF call to its master the Lady Daphne was left to continue her slow motion progress, uninterrupted. In reality, given the speed differential it was a no contest but the rules were observed. |
Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
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Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
The Fleet approaching the Outer Mark, Sea Reach No. 4, from right to left. The yellow buoy can be seen in the centre of the picture. This panorama has been taken from the vicinity of the eastern end of the Leigh Channel, where Lady Daphne has progressed to in her attempt at finding some wind and a weaker ebb. This is so that the rate at which she is being taken down river past the buoy [rather than around it] can be reduced and ideally allow her to make up lost ground up river before either Ardwina or Gladys achieve their own rounding, under more favourable wind conditions.
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Kim Ridge [guest crew] is checking out the competition. The lead barge in the Fleet is about to round the Outer Mark. The buoy from this perspective is at the extreme left of the line of barges which are moving from right to left. |
Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
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Photo: J. Hargreaves 2005 |
A rather different perspective of the Outer Mark - this time from on board the MV Touchstone. Capt. James Lawrence of the Bridge Committee, taking notes on the performance of each of the barges that have so far rounded the buoy. He will eventually use them to judge which barges' Master deserves the award of the specific prize for exhibiting the best seamanship for the evolution. This is the famous "1894 Majestic Rosebowl" donated to the Match Committee by Paul Goldsmith & Jilly Hemmings.
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The Fleet is beginning to round the Outer Mark. The yellow buoy - Sea Reach No. 4 which is moored on the centreline of the Yantlet Channel, is clearly visible. The Barges from left to right] are: Edme, Reminder, Ardwina, Marjorie, Decima, Greta and May. This view is from Repertor who is herself in the process of doing so. The time is approx 1325 and although Low Water at Southend was just 30 minutes earlier the attitude of the buoy indicates there is still a discernable ebb at this location in the dredged channel, which has a charted depth of 13 metres. The conditions are Sea State 1 indicating a wind of no more than 3 kt. - if a useful pocket can be found! |
Photo: B. Lawrance 2005
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Photo: M. Wignall 2005
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The Fleet is well into rounding the Outer Mark. One barge [centre] heading left to right has achieved this, and four others astern of it [to its left] are about to do so [the four left most barges heading from left to right]. The remainder of the Fleet [three in this view] are still making their approach [from right to left].
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A close up view of the situation - as seen by spectators on board the excursion vessel MV Princess Pocahontas, which was following the Match. From left to right: Sea Reach No. 4 buoy, May, Xylonite, Edme and Reminder. |
Photo: H. Rooke 2005
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The inconsistency of the wind in the area between the Sea Reach No. 4 and the Essex shore during the time that Lady Daphne was there meant repeated tacking to exploit what was on offer in order to negate her unwanted drift down river. The following sequence shows the barge changing tack from starboard to port. |
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Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: M. Wignall 2005 |
Photo: M. Wignall 2005
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Photo: A. Wignall 2005 |
| Ready to go about - from starboard to port tack. Judy [volunteer crew] about to let go the foresail sheet | Having gone about - and now on a port tack, Peter [volunteer crew] securing the foresail sheet | Michael Mainelli raising the port leeboard - requiring 50 turns on the windlass handle of the port crab winch. Meanwhile the starboard leeboard is being lowered using the rope brake on its own crab winch | Michael Mainelli [background] resets the traveller block on the main horse, Kim Ridge [mid ground] on the crab winch windlass handle to tension the staysail sheet halliard, Mike Wignall [guest & photographer- 2005 Match Patron] tails the halliard on the warping drum |
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