Richard Smith's Log of a sail around the Great Ouse and Tributaries in July 1976

Monday 12th July 1976. Trailed to Ely
	1.00       Motored South from Ely to Newmarket Railway Bridge. Then made sail and beat to Popes Corner. 2.30       Popes Corner and first bridge on the Old West. Wind abeam on most reaches, though fluky in trees and high banks. 3.00       Stretham Engine 4.00       Stretham Oak (New bridge building) 4.30       Twenty Pence Bridge 7.00       Moored within mile of Earith Fine & Hot. Wind 4 S.E.

Tuesday 13th July 1976 8.45       Sailed from mooring to Earith Lock. 9.15-9.30 Locking through and under bridge 9.30       Set sail for a run to Denver, just over 20 miles distant (New Bedford) . Flood tide strong through Mepal Bridge 12.45       Rail Bridge

1.45       Welney Suspension Bridge 2.10       New bridge to Wildfowl Trust. Sailed under jib to near Denver whilst enjoying sandwiches and tea. Tide ebbing strongly so set main (reefed) and rounded clear of shoal below Denver Sluice and beat into landing stage to lower gear. 2.30-3.30 Locking through and mooring by sluice 3.30       Beat up river to entrance of R. Wissey and ran up under jib, resetting main after railway bridge and ran up to mooring within sight of Hilgay (4.30) Cloudy Wind S.W 4+

Wednesday 14th July 1976 8.30 Left overnight mooring under sail up R. Wissey 9.00 -9.45 Moored at Hilgay for stores. Sailed on up to Wissington. Started engine and lowered mast past Wissington Factory. Raising mast again had a clear run to Cut Off Syphons near Stoke Ferry. Weed very thick near siphons. Forced through under jib and oars. 1.00       Passed Stoke Ferry. Lowered main and ran on up river under jib to beyond Oxborough Ferry, before running out of water. Mr Wilson of Ferry Farm greeted us before we made our return. (1.45-2.30). Bowhauled and oars to Stoke Ferry siphons (4.30), then with mast lowered used engine back through Hilgay (6.00) to mooring (6.30). Wind moderate S.W. Sunny periods, warm

Thursday 15th July 1976 9.15       Motored from mooring out into Gt Ouse and under Ouse Bridge to Ten Mile Bank 9.45-10.45 Moored at Ten Mile Bank for stores 10.45       Sailed up river. Wind freshening. Turning due S.W. at Southery unable to make progress with wind gusting severely and gear slamming 12.30       Stowed sails and motored past Brandon Creek 'til engine ran out of fuel. 1.15-2.00 Dinner and refuel. Lowered mast. 2.45       Under power at Littleport, moored above Sandhill Bridge and went into town. 4.00-4.03 Motored to G.O.R.A. moorings near entrance to River Lark. Wind fresh. S.W. Bright dry.

Friday 16th July 1976 10.15-11.15 Motored to Ely and moored at Banhams for weekend.

Monday 19th July 1976 10.45       Motored down river from Ely. Raised mast and set jib below Adelaide Bridge. 11.30       Entrance to River Lark. Shot bridge at entrance and sailed up to Prickwillow Rly Bridge. 12.15       Lowered mast and motored to Isleham Lock 1.30-3.45 Moored below Isleham Lock 3.45       Sailed with assistance from engine on bends. Winds heading and gusting. Then sailed with jib and later main, back to Prickwillow. Lowered gear 5.15 5.30-6.10 Moored at Prickwillow 6.30       Moored 1 mile from entrance to river. Cloudy, mild, dry. Wind S.W. strong.

Voyage Summary Total 131 miles, 75 miles sail, 56 miles power etc. 70 bridges and obstructions, 21 bridges shot under sail. 2 locks. 4 gallons fuel. Richard W. Smith 19/9/08