Corinthian Otters Explore Lion Creek, River Crouch
by Craig Beech 16 May 01:35 NZST
10 May 2025
Corinthian Otters Explore Lion Creek, River Crouch © Steve Hall / Steve Kimber
'Lion Creek, Lion Creek, are we going, are we?'
The excitement is instant, the novice adventurers wide-eyed to the tales from the old salts who have been before. It's a firm favourite among the young sailors and parents lucky enough the claim a crew spot on the support boats.
Sailing on a dead run with the flooding tide the combined Corinthian Otter fleets of River 2 (Tarka) and Race 1 - 15 Oppies, one Topper and a Feva - cruise the 2km upriver from the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club to seek the entrance to the fabled destination. After a few beam reach legs to gather up any stragglers the first of the brave navigators head into the creek, hoping to avoid the shallows and claim the prize of first to the old shed and furthest into the creek.
Once secured, or stuck in the mud, boats are abandoned in a rush to begin the more serious activities of creek bathing, a swim race across the creek and picking out a place to try out a new belly flop dive idea. Although it's early in May, the water is warm enough and the sunshine blazing.
Reluctantly a call to leave is made and the fleets head off for home. For some the orientation of the creek, at right angles to the main river, and the wind direction is confusing; for others the urge to raise the dagger board completely to avoid getting stuck in the shallows is impeding the ability to make headway.
Once back onto the Crouch the wind has picked up. It's a long beat back to the pontoon, short tacking along the shore until the tide turns when longer beats across the river can be made. But they are finding their way and some of the junior River 2's can sense some glory to be had by mixing it up with the more senior Race 1's and using, with enthusiasm, the newly learnt meaning of 'Starboard!'. Race 1 indulge them.
The trips to Lion Creek are always rewarding. It's learning to sail without knowing it, great fun with your mates and an excellent opportunity for coaches and parents to see the joy of sailing adventures emerge.