Denebola
Denebola Cruising 2001

Jamie Cameron has cruised far and wide with "Denebola" in recent years. Apart from surprise visits to Stella events along the east coast and a cruise up to Snape on the Alde, he has made single handed trips to Belgium and Holland in 2001.

The Following pictures and notes from Jamie tell you something of these trips.

Approaching Nieuport

Pontoon berth, Veerese Meer

On my way back I met Mick Willetts and the Polaris crew in Ramsgate. A week or two later I put in my 'traditional' guest appearance at Burnham Week, arriving on the wettest day of the year! The standard of hospitality was, as usual, overwhelming.

The Stella day out to Pagglesham was very enjoyable. By the Thursday I was ready for a little peace and quiet and drifted down the Crouch with no particular destination in mind. The south-westerly breeze was exactly right for my sort of sailing and I arrived with the flow at Woodbridge just before midnight

"I retired from teaching in July 2001 and in celebration went (single-handed) to Holland...Our club have been going on an annual holiday for many years and it was really just a matter of listening to the excellent advice of the more experienced skippers.


The trip was a real pleasure and I learned a great deal in the process. The standard of sailing in Dutch waters is very high.as is the quality of the marinas".

Zierksee

I had long fancied trying to reach Snape and a couple of days later I found myself trying to sort out withies 'with' and withies 'without'!


Even though I had the latest 'chartlet' I touched the bottom on more than one occasion. The 'Maltings' were a total surprise, lots of 'retail opportunities' but unfortunately no concerts.


Every visitor to the site came and looked down into the boat so it wasn't very private! So I left in company with the local boatman who had watched my struggles of the previous day. He expertly guided me down to the deeper water and waved goodbye! So I've done Snape and have the T-shirt to prove it!

Alongside quay at Snape Maltings
A force 8 was forecast for Thames on the following day so I waited behind the shingle bank at Aldeburgh. The weather was so bad that it pushed the tide much higher up the river than prediction. The scariest part of the whole trip was coming down the Ore on a dropping tide by moonlight. The standing waves at the entrance were few but pretty high, once through it was high speed for Brightlingsea then home to the Medwayy
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