On the river Deben, was there really nothing to see?

In the latest in his series reflecting on ideas of place and passage, Will Gore fails to find his son a dolphin in Suffolk’s waterways

We are sailing: on the river Deben at Waldringfield in Suffolk (Getty)

The day before had been a near gale – less than ideal for beginners on the river. At the second attempt, we arrived on the banks of the Deben, near Woodbridge, to find a dead calm; from one extreme to the other.

Our skipper, a family friend and member of the Waldringfield Sailing Club, looked somewhat glum at the conditions. Still, she hoped to find a wind once on the water and we clambered into the sailing dinghy feeling optimistic.

Even in mid-stream, however, there was barely a breath. On the other hand, my son barely stopped for one as he grumbled at the lack of marine life.