Race Info
The race starts on the club line in Maylandsea Bay with the first leg down Lawling Creek passing Mundon Spit and Mayland Creek and into the wide open water to the south of Osea Island. You will see Stansgate Point with the white house to the S.E. followed by Marconi S.C. with Goldhanger green navigation mark in the centre of the river (you may note that the tide thwacks though at a goodley pace) leaving the mark to port you’ll head into Goldhanger Creek to the N.E. of Osea Island a wide flat piece of water known as The Shamble. As you reach the top of Osea Island heading to and passing North Doubles navigation mark to starboard  (which lays W.S.W. off the top of Osea) and heading N.W. to the Southey Creek leaving Northey Island to the N.E. which is again a flat calm back water surrounded by saltings there is a danger of passing too close to the black pole with a red triangle on top which de-notes the Ford that runs to the main land to the W.  the deeper water being centre to the west. Passing the N.W. point of Northey Island and entering Colliers Reach (quite a busy place with a good Pub on the right with a pontoon to tie up on and followed by the Blackwater S.C. at the N.E. end. At this point it is a turn for home leaving Mill Beach, Clarks Point and Osea Island to the E. and heading for Mundon Spit you will see a white post on the point (but be aware of the shingle bar to the S.E. of the point). Back up Lawling Creek and into Maylandsea Bay with the finish between  the Jetty mark and the club flagstaff. 
The tide on the day is 5.3m at 14.13 allows 2 hours either side of high water and the race box team may well shorten course at Goldhanger, North Doubles, or drop a buoy and we return to the club line to finish. Or plan B to drop a buoy finish the race and a tow back to the jetty. 16.00 being the dead line. I can tell you that it is 12.6 nautical miles and in 6-10 knots took 2.5 hours the last time sailed in a Merlin. It is an interesting sail passing over the oyster beds in Goldhanger Creek the fishing smacks and Thames barges in Colliers Reach, and the tide flow off Stansgate, and being a members club should be a good day out .
Posted by the Sailing Sec. On be half of the Fleet Captain Ron and his dog

are you suggesting a quick mid-race pint at colliers reach?
or maybe a 'boat race' at the bar with crew and handicaps for vintage helms!

This chart might make it simpler to understand!

hi john
dont do quick and i,m not messing with my crew in a bar
but pints at colliers reach sounds good to me
last one in buys?

For the record, how long did the course take you when exemplary Merlin navigation included a visit to a Maldon Ice Cream stall.

Thank goodness for the Map !  I don't think Jacko could have made it more complicated !   I was lost and I know the area quite well !
How we miss Jacko's words of wisdom on the "Ask the boatbuilder" forum (or whatever it was called). - sigh  -Any chance of a re-run Mags ??

Ron - See you Saturday - one one boat from TBYC I fear - unless Mr Charles gets a tow bar organised.
All the best 

Ian

It turned out that it was Addnem’s ice cream and arrived in a glass
The trip was full on and most rewarding for the new members how thought it came in a cone and was sailed on one tide as will this little trip two buoys and two islands can not be two much for a bunch of high teck Rocket men including the Wit-bubble posy all though I misted out Northy Island ones
And for IanL we know I talk more grapes than you can shack a stick at.
And Mr Charles 2 islands and 2 buoys would be too much
Yours AJ