Saturday 4th July, a blistering hot day on the Severn Estuary with only a breath of wind. The scene was set for a lazy sail (but sometimes a drift) ‘down channel’ to Portishead. Phil and I launched ‘Green Bean’ from Lydney Harbour, with a small fleet from Lydney Yacht Club. The fleet being made up of a beautiful sailing cruiser called ‘Avon Grace’ (which if I’m not mistaken is made from concrete), two Wayfarer dinghies, a Drascombe Lugger and of course my Selway Fisher Prospector sailing canoe. All quite different vessels, but all with same purpose in mind, a down channel cruise with a picnic and a return trip on the tide in the evening. The Wayfarers and the Drascombe were to stay the night in Oldbury Pill, the home of Thornbury Sailing Club, but we had to make it back to Lydney the same day so Phil could collect his dogs.

Here we are heading down the Severn and it’s already getting a bit too hot for comfort. It is very unusual to have such a clam sea state – a bit too calm for my liking really.

The bridges in sight

The rest of the fleet-

‘Smee Two’

‘Windlord’

‘Muckle Flugga’

And ‘Avon Grace’

The Severn can be so tranquil at times and yet it is can never be taken for granted. Some days it changes from dead calm to quite rough in a very short space of time. Today it almost felt eerie, like a Sleeping Giant that might awaken at any time.

Distant view of Windlord drifting down Slime Road

We had some great views of the Old Severn Crossing at Beachley

And also over the Wye

Captain Muggins!

As we neared the Second Severn Crossing the speed of the tide increased, along with the wind (a bit) and we were drawn towards the huge pillars and into ‘The Shoots’

Heading towards the Second Severn Crossing

Smee Two sailing past Charston Rocks

Fast water now!

The buoys marking the shipping lane are massive. The tide has so much force that the buoys lean over at an impressive angle despite their huge size and weight.

This one tells us to ‘keep South’

We eventually came to Portishead, which looked quite attractive from where we were sat. The houses reflected the light and it all looked quite serene. We were almost at our destination, the slip at Portishead Sailing Club.

Attractive houses looking out on the estuary

Our Picnic spot on the rocks at the Sailing Club

‘Green Bean’ on the slip

Denny Island in the Back ground

The return trip was so calm that we had to paddle half the way back. But the payback was some very interesting views of what is so often a grey expanse of wild water.

The wind turbines at Avonmouth

The Second Severn Crossing – Close up. “Cheers”

Once back up river of the bridges we sailed again and explored the right bank (going up) where it was much shallower and also out of the shipping lane. We hadn’t sailed this side before and it was surprisingly interesting and a lot slower than the main channel in Slime Road.

These cows seemed to be on a mission – heading up river

We soon came to Thornbury Sailing club, situated in Oldbury Pill. Another really unique place on this amazing river. We decided to pay a visit here to stretch our legs a bit and have a quick cup of tea.

Thornbury Sailing Club

Sailing into the Pill

‘Green Bean’ tied up to the Pontoon

Sailing Back out into the river we turned towards Lydney for the last stretch home. But looking back to bridges looked fantastic in the fading evening light.

The two bridges

The low sun over the water looked beautiful

As we approached the pier Lydney Harbour we watched a ship leaving Sharpness, punching the tide as it headed down channel. Funny when you think of the difference in size of our boat and the ship!

The ship in the evening sun, leaving Sharpness.

Well the Giant stayed asleep for us and Finally,40 Miles later back at Lydney, we landed on the slip at the end of what was a very memorable gentle sail on this magnificent River Severn –

All the best folks! – Steve