( Overview
/ TwoBullocks on a Boat Go Local
Magnox designed nuclear power station at Bradwell is located on the Dengie Peninsula. In 2019 it was the first nuclear power station to be placed into long-term decommissioned management.
Entering the River Blackwater.
Leaving Maldon with guests, Thames sailing barge Pudge. Used by the London and Rochester Trading Co to carry various cargoes, her last cargo in 1968 was pineapple juice. Built in 1922, she is one of four Dunkirk Spritsail Barges to survive, and is therefore entitled to fly the flag of St George.
Having motored more than planned, an unscheduled stop for fuel at Bradwell Marina was needed. Hoping to tie up at the fuel pontoon, on entering the narrow entrance to the marina we realised getting down to, and then away from the short pontoon would be tricky, especially in the high winds.
After some tricky manoeuvring, reversing and turning Avalon in a confined space and mooring against an outside pontoon, the alternative was filling fuel cans and pouring by hand….
…not easy on a rocky pontoon and in high winds!
The fuel pontoon is ideal for the Police rib - can’t believe the Harbour Master thought we’d fit!
End of shift refuelling and cleaning.
The Police Rib had passed us at speed coming out of the Crouch, so too quick for a photograph; not so now as they returned to their berth.
MV Ross Revenge, the home of Radio Caroline, served as an Icelandic commercial trawler until 1963, and took part in the Cod Wars of the 1970s. Pirate broadcasts from her took place from 1983 until she ran aground on the Goodwin Sands in 1991, ending the era of offshore pirate radio in Europe.
Now maintained by the Caroline Support Group, occasionally broadcasting on AM band 648kHz, Radio Caroline mainly uses the internet to play 1960s to contemporary music.
St Lawrence Bay on the Dengie Hundred.
The Marconi Sailing Club was established in 1952 as the sailing section of the Marconi Athletic and Social Club. In 2003 the club was bought by its members and is independent, welcoming everyone, with or without a Marconi connection.
Owned by Nigel Frieda,a music producer, and used as a private retreat for musicians to record, Osea Island is 1.5km square and connected to the north bank of the Blackwater by a causeway which is covered at high tide.
It has had many owners and uses, but more recently the Charrington brewing family through their charity, Charis, established a retreat for wealthy alcoholics. From 2005 to 2010 it became the Causeway Retreat, managed by Brendan Quinn who treated people with addiction and mental health problems.
The Causeway Retreat was closed, and Brendan Quinn suspended as a nurse, when he pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed hospital; the judge described the firm’s standards as shaming a third world country. Amy Winehouse stayed here in 2008.
Our destination for the night was Mundon Stone Point in Lawling Creek, Maylandsea where we had the company of Harbour and Grey seals.
Whoops, we’ve gone aground! The channel is so narrow, and depths so varied, it was difficult to find a spot to anchor where Avalon wouldn’t swing into shallower water. Never mind, we have a lifting keel!
Kevin was keen to take photos whilst we were dried out, but realising it might be easy to jump off Avalon, it would be a lot more hassle to reboard (refer to the film ‘Open Water’), he decided against it.
Another calm evening with beautiful skies - hopefully foretelling a lovely day tomorrow.
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