On Friday, 4 August, 2023 careful preparations were coming to fruition as almost 100 traditional and working boats gathered on the River Orwell for the OGA60 Jubilee Parade of Sail. The larger boats locked out of Ipswich Beacon Marina forming several ‘squadrons’, identified by long coloured streamers, setting their sails under the Orwell Bridge. Meanwhile, the open boats were preparing to sail upriver from Suffolk Yacht Harbour, Levington to join them. The day dawned bright and sunny with just the right wind for a sail downriver but as the spectacle began to unfold the light changed, the thunder rumbled as lightning struck and there was a rainstorm described by many sailors as ‘biblical’ and such they had never experienced before.
Read our report from Solent Gaffer, Ben Collins.
Our photographer, Sandy Miller, continued regardless, browse his wonderful gallery of images here.
Contact the Eastcoaster Editor with your own story and photos from the Parade of Sail to share online!