Onboard Voyages VOYAGES . SEAMANSHIP . EQUIPMENT SMALL BOAT CRUISING Rother without bother


Clive Marsh finds his Drascombe Dabber ideal for exploring the environs of Rye Harbour and taking the river up to Bodiam


I 64


launch my Drascombe Dabber from the slipway next to Rye’s RNLI station and sailing club. This unique working port offers small-boat owners many opportunities for exploring Rye bay and the River Rother. After the strong tidal flood has subsided I generally proceed down river and out into the bay. The harbour office provides details of shipping movements and pilotage while the Harbour of Rye Guide and Tide Tables gives useful local information to supplement the chart. The water in the bay changes colour depending conditions. It can be clear, silted or sometimes even a deep turquoise/green. It is an excellent fishing ground that supports a strong local fishing industry – although, surprisingly, most of the fish are eaten in France! For a large part of the year it is easy to catch the delicious mackerel – if one needs a purpose to boating in addition to simply having fun.


Once out in the bay I keep well offshore of the beautiful cliffs and countryside of Fairlight. It is as well to keep a fair way off since there are many underwater obstructions closer in. The next and nearest harbour is Eastbourne, 21 miles away. Boulogne is 32 miles. I usually sail around the bay for a few hours and then return before the full ebb tide. Being a small-boat skipper I watch the conditions more carefully than some but my big advantage is that, when all else fails, my Dabber rows well. Under most conditions I will sail


CLASSIC BOAT MARCH 2012


back into the narrow river entrance with the motor running in case I lose wind by the wall and single bank. Rye bar has a reputation and one should keep alert and take measures to avoid broaching. Inside the piers the channel becomes quite narrow.


You will pass a small red-roofed shed on your port side. At this point, wind and traffic permitting, I will turn my motor off and sail up river. Rye is a most beautiful and interesting town with excellent restaurants and inns and well worth a visit. There are moorings in the centre or you can pull your boat out at Rye Harbour. It is also possible to go through the lock (or launch from the slipway the other side of the lock) and proceed up river for four or more hours to Newenden or even to Bodiam if you have a shallow-draught boat like the Dabber.


SHALLOW-DRAUGHT


“There seem to be more traditional boats now using Rye”


Shallow-draught boats do enable greater exploration up river and easier beaching. I have owned deep- or fin- keeled boats but they can’t be beached. This to me is a bit like having an aircraft without landing gear/wheels. The traditional boats in this part of the world include the beamy Sussex beach punts, superb sea boats with lute sterns that can easily be beached. Some people are now converting these boats back to sail and I have one such conversion in progress myself. There seem to be more traditional small boats now using Rye Harbour and recent sightings have included Drascombe Dabbers and Luggers, a Falmouth Beach Boat, several


Above: The author’s Drascombe Dabber, seen from Swampscott Above left: Bodiam Castle


Opposite top: The red-roofed shed Below: Approaching Bodiam


River Rother


Bodiam Castle


Rye S U S S E X Hastings


E N G L I S H C H A N N E L


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100