BAWDSEY SAILING CAMP-2007
FRIDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
After a busy summer holiday season the 3rd Sudbury Sea Scouts held their last sailing camp for 2007.
For the past three years now, we have run the camp from the grounds of Bawdsey Manor. A fantastic back drop for any camp, and with 35 people coming on camp the largest this year.
We all met at the Headquarters as we do for most camps, loading up kit into my works van provide by Leavenheath Joinery. We arrived at Bawdsey Quay just after dusk, by the time all our tents were pitched it was dark and time to turn in for the night.
SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER
I woke up just before 04.00hrs on the Saturday morning, and was the first up! I got the kettle on for hot drinks as most leaders work better after a cup of Tea!
By 05.00hrs all leaders were up and keen to get going as our first job of the day would be to collect four of our boats that had been stored at Felixstowe Ferry. To do this meant launching our Safety Boat Johnny Rescue and sending a team over to collect and then tow them back to Bawdsey Quay. We had Breakfast and at 06.00 hrs Johnny Rescue was launched. Mean while back on the Camp site the Sea Scouts were just waking up and after having time to wake up and cook breakfast they then started making the packed lunches for the days sailing.
We launched two other Safety Boats for the weekend Jeff & Tracy’s boat Rib TC and a safety boat from Bawdsey Quay Water Sports Centre called Radar driven by staff member Jeff Gillins and a supporter of Sea Scouts.
Once all the sailing dinghies were in place on the beach at Bawdsey, the Sea Scouts were briefed on the days sailing programme and were told which boats they would be in. Before we launched I called the Coastguard letting them know that we would be out at Sea for the day and the numbers in our group. For the first time we would be launching six large Sailing dinghies and at 09.30 we launched the first, by 09.50 the last boat left the beach, and as one group we set sail on the top of the tide. We crossed the notorious shingle Bar at the entrance of the River Deben, turning left and heading towards Shingle Street where we planned to anchor for lunch.
We made good time and stopped for lunch around 12.30, during the morning session we ran through some set pieces practising for the sailing assessments planned for Sunday.
After lunch we decided to sail into the River Ore this proved to be very lively with lots of strong moving tides running out. It was great fun and another first to the sea scouts. But time was getting on and we still had to get back to the Deben! But not before the lead sailing dinghies spotted a seal on the shingle bar and as we turned around to head home it waved good bye to the safety boat. The wind dropped off towards the end of the day and the safety boats were called to help with towing boats back to the Deben Entrance.
Once all the sailing dinghies were safely back to Bawdsey they were recovered by the BQWS dumper truck that had launched the boats earlier in the day.
SATURDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER (EVENING)
Later that evening the Sea Scouts played volley ball on the beach wile the Explorer Scouts and Leaders helped with the BBQ also on part of the beach owed by the Manor, now use as a international langue school. The scouts also collected fire wood for the camp fire later that night.
Some of the service crew also had the chance to go on a night navigation trip run by a RAF Powerboat Instructor. They were only gone for a couple of hours and returned safe and some what excited!
We all turned in after a great day both on and off the water.
SUNDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER
Our plan for today was to head back out to sea, and after breakfast we started getting the boats ready. Safety boats being launched first again.
We also rigged some toppers and left them on the beach ready for the sailing assessments. We launched all six dinghies and I picked up Alan Rutterford, our senior sailing instructor and Scouting Colleague.
During the sailing assessments we had ten sailing dinghies on the water this had just beaten the new record set the day before. Alan assessed for youth sailing stage 1&2 and National level two dinghy sailing. I would like to say well done to them all and thank you to Nick Powell for all his time given up to train the sea scouts.
We were now running late but I would like to think it was worth it in the end! We put the boats back at Felixstowe Ferry and recovered the safety boats at Bawdsey. We packed up the camp in good time and headed back to Sudbury.
I would like to thank everyone who helped with this camp. With a special thanks to Leavenheath Joinery and to Alexanders International School Bawdsey
THANK YOU
Rob Palmer-Sea Scouts Leader
Saturday
Sunday
Please use the links below to download everything you should need for this camp which in previous years has proved to be an exciting 2 days of sailing on the River Deben near Felixstowe.
Camp Info-Final Version-Posted up Friday 7/9/07 *New* (word format only)
Camp Info-(Word Format)-posted up 4/9/07
Camp Info-(Works Format)-posted up 4/9/07
Letter to Parents (including consent)-NEW (Word Format)
Letter to Parents (including consent)-NEW (Works Format)
Home Contact Details are
HOME CONTACT- BEAVER LEADER 3RD SUDBURY
MARGARET HOTCHKISS, 35 MALDON COURT, GT CORNARD.
07947 150707-Mobile. 01787 378383-Home
Please use these to contact the camp leaders, they will know all the contact details for leaders and helpers on site and arrange for them to contact you.