CLIVE MARSH discovered small boats whilst working for Canadian Pacific Steamships and is a past Commodore of the Merchant Navy Association Boat Club. In this series he shares tales from his 50 years of boat ownership.

Most sailboats that moor at Rye have a fairly narrow tidal window. By the time they can get off the mud and push against the flood tide to get out to sea, it’s time to come back again unless they want to stay out at sea.

If you want a reasonable length of time out at sea and return to get under the bridges all the way to Bodiam Castle, near Robertsbridge, you really need a shallow and low air draught motor boat. Then, with a little planning you can spend a few hours at sea, fishing or messing