Classic Boat — January 2018

L

et me take you back to September, when swallows

have left and the brent geese have yet to arrive.

The equinox has brought big tides and perfect

sailing conditions. Under big, mottled grey skies

over the River Blackwater in Essex, working boats and

classic yachts have gathered to race in the annual Maldon

Town Regatta. The historic town of Maldon is set at the

head of the Blackwater estuary, which the tide only

reaches near high water. So the fleet gathers the previous

evening at West Mersea, at the mouth of the Blackwater.

It’s there that the race starts, crews stirring before sunrise,

raising mainsails and readying old boats in a scene that in

so many ways is a picture of days gone by, when these

shores would have been full of smacks ready for trawling.

Boats head to the start line, the committee boat signals

the course and the race starts with a horn that sets the

smacks on their way, heading into the silky early autumn

sunrise. Behind them manoeuvre the gaff and bermudan

yachts. The event is open to all boats, but by far the

majority setting out around the race marks are of

traditional design and construction. It reflects the make-up

of the boats to be found at Maldon, where the resting mud

preserves the past. It’s a beautiful location protected from

strong southwest winds, looking east over the salt marshes

and Osea Island, where the race finishes.

I’m on my 8-ton Gauntlet Bardu, built in 1951 at Berthon

on the south coast. She is heavy and designed for offshore

Smacks heading to Maldon, from left to right Peace,
Maria, Polly, Alberta, Lizzie Annie, Martha II.
Inset: Gauntlet class Bardu