We're now Pagans!


Erbas has now been sold and we've moved onwards and upwards to a Westerly 33 ketch we've renamed "Pagan"

Come and visit our new blog at svpagan.blogspot.co.uk

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Early Summer Cruise Day 5

It's been a long hot day and all work and no play.

Jane set about reorganising the galley stores, cleaning all the locker spaces out and chucking out all the duplicate utensils etc

Meanwhile I turfed everything out of the cockpit lockers and had a good sort out. Most of the rope we'd acquired with the boat , of which the was quite a lot, I offloaded into the store on the grounds that I haven't used it in nearly a year so I don't need it on board

I did retain a couple of decent hanks of 12mm line (probably old halyards at a guess) for use as long mooring lines and a third 15m length I attached to the Grapnel anchor

Putting everything back in a neat and tidy more organised fashion achieved my main goal which was to get the inflatable, the liferaft and the cockpit tent into the port locker with the tent accessible without having to hoik the dinghy out

In the port locker the kedge anchor warp is now in a bucket, the bucket with a string on it is easily got at and there's space for the mooring warps. And there's now room for the whole fender collection in the cockpit bilge.

Having emptied the diesel cans into the tank, we set off for Asda to stock up the galley and drinks lockers ready for our trip to London in three weeks time (we won't want to be hanging about when we get to the boat that Friday, it's get on board and get going)

The galley stores didn't need too much adding to them but the drinks locket was definitely looking a bit lean. Happily (hic) it isn't now...



With the food and booze safely stowed away, I hauled the sails out of the locker under my berth to have a look at them. I decided to offload the No.2 jib into the store on the grounds that I really can't see us ever using it. The storm trysail nearly went the same way but as there was enough room under the forward end of the v berth for both it and the storm jib it stayed on board

That cleared a large locker space which is easily accessible into which went our boots, shoes and foulie bags. That in turn cleared the locker space under the saloon berths for the crew to stow their kit as we'll be four persons on board up to London and back

The second lot of diesel went into the tanks and I went back to Asda to refill the cans. The third lot had the tank breather burbling and the fuel gauge on full (albeit not quite against the stop). All told that's 47 litres into the tank today (it holds 68 and was by no means empty)

We should now have a good 40 hours of range on the main tank plus the refilled cans in reserve

The last job of the day was to put the cockpit tent away, tidy up and then dinner on board. After dinner we popped up to the pub for a swift one, got talking to some old friends and new and finally left when they locked the doors (with us on the outside unfortunately!)

Despite the mickey taking from some quarters ;) we were pleased with ourselves having put in a full working day in rather hot weather. Things are back where they ought to be and much better organised.

Tomorrow morning it's time to head for home as the dreaded work beckons

Monday 21 July 2014

Early Summer Cruise Day 4

I didn't have the most settled of nights. It was stifling hot even with all the hatches open plus I'm always slightly edgy when we're anchored in confined waters.

I did manage to get off on the end and a further doze on top was enough to be going on with.

It was slightly disconcerting to suddenly realise, over breakfast, that we'd moved from the west side of the creek to the east side.

We must have dragged at high water and then caught again. No harm done and probably a symptom of my uncertainty about how much chain we had out (clearly not enough!). We really need to improve the marking of the chain

Our objective today was simply to bimble back up to Fambridge so there was no rush. We sailed off the anchor at about ten in the morning although we did find it necessary to run the engine out of gear whilst using the electric windlass.

Then it was a careful exercise in short tacking betwixt doom and disaster (my names for the mud banks either side of the creek)

I was sweating a bit and slightly out of puff by the time we made it into the Roach and looking forwards to a nice reach for a bit.

No such luck, as it would continue to do all day the wind shifted and it was tack after tack after tack all the way to the Crouch then upriver through the moorings at Burnham and onwards.

Jane helped for a while with the genoa sheets to ease the workload and I finally worked out how to best use the mainsheet traveller.

Despite the last of the ebb against us we made solid progress and arrived back at Fambridge some six hours after letting go
My tentative plan to sail onto the pontoon was thwarted by a wind shift and the flood tide setting in so I abandoned the attempt and went around to make a conventional approach under power

Despite that, it was a very satisfactory sail and I felt we'd progressed another step up the ladder towards learning how to sail Erbas to her best



A tidy up on board was followed by much needed showers and the usual pontoon chat with fellow boaters. It was especially pleasant to meet with John, the owner of our sister Sabre "Pelagos“ who was moored on the other side of the pontoon

Then it was off to the pub for a meal and a beer or three with a side order of planning for the London cruise in a few weeks

Sunday 20 July 2014

Early Summer Cruise Day 3

After breakfast, paying the bill and topping up the water, we set off downriver towards the Roach

Drifting info the Brankfleet at the mouth of the Roach we encountered a magnificent Thames Sailing Barge



She was only just making way in the ghost of a breeze, we were technically drifting! In the end we had to resort to the engine and motor on up towards Paglesham.

I'd had it in mind to anchor or pick up a buoy and have a run ashore but it didn't look terribly inviting. There's no indication that visitors are welcome or even tolerated at the boatyard and in any case the weather was looking decidedly iffy

At the top end of the moorings I ducked into the entrance to the Violet (the creek up the west side of Potton Island) and deliberately ran into the mud, this being the quickest way to "park" so I could take cover



Minutes later the rain was rattling down and the thunder and lightening was right overhead. We sat there, gently bumping along the soft muddy bank on the first of the flood tide, for well over an hour until a lull in the rain.

Whilst the going was good we got going and nipped back round into the Yokesfleet on the other side of Potton Island where we could anchor for the night.

By the time we were anchored the rain had returned and I got slightly soggy but as it was warm it wasn't unpleasant.

We dozed and doodled around until it was time to put the dinner on. Home made chicken curry and rice with a decent bottle of red wine followed by chocolate gateau did a great deal for my tastebuds even if it wasn't good for my waistline!

We spent the evening playing monopoly on the laptop until the battery went flat. Jane retired to bed ages ago, I'm kind've jumpy at anchor in a shallow creek and probably won't settle that well.

Added to which it's rather hot and sticky although as I wrap this up a nice cool breeze has just wandered through the open hatches and said hello

There are worse ways to spend a Sunday evening!

Saturday 19 July 2014

Early Summer Cruise - Day 2

After the spectacular lightening during the night added several awakenings to my normal Friday night sleep difficulties, I was in no mood for an early start this morning.

Once we summoned sufficient enthusiasm for the day, I nipped ashore in the RIB and fetched the liferaft from the boot of the car. It's not gong to be much use in there unless we have a flood of biblical proportions so we needed to make space in the lockers somewhere and stow it on board

To my considerable surprise, some minor rearrangement of the port cockpit locker made enough space. The locker is pretty full and getting at stuff in there is a bit of a pain in the bum cos you have to heave out the (heavy) liferaft, the (fairly heavy) inflatable and the (not very heavy) cockpit tent before you can get at all the bits and pieces stored on the shelves behind but hey ho, if it was easy it wouldn't be fun

We used the mainsheet to host the raft from the dinghy to the deck by the way. Jane can barely pick the thing up on a straight lift from the deck and the chances of her manhandling it out of the locker and over the guardwires in an emergency, even with the help of adrenalin, are slim. We need to have a rehearsal is whether she can use the mainsheet to assist although that would only work if the rig was intact.

Our electrical situation was now becoming critical. The domestic batteries were down nearly a hundred amp/hours (getting close to 50% of their rated capacity) and the voltage was a rather low 11.6v

Although there were signs of the imminent departure of the flotilla from the pontoon, there were clear indications from the ships purser that whilst a day alongside recharging batteries suited her fine, she'd prefer the alongside to be Burnham Yacht Harbour rather than the Fambridge river pontoon

That suited me well enough so we sorted out on board, tied the RIB to the buoy and bimbled off downstream into the teeth of an easterly breeze. The racing types were tacking downriver but I frankly couldn't be bothered!

With a fair tide we swiflty covered the few miles of river. Although I warned Jane it might get choppy on the lower reaches, the wind died and it failed to materialise

On a berth in BYH we soon had the shore power connected and then we wandered round to Laurin to give Karen some tips on soldering and say "hi" to Pat and the kids.

Back aboard Erbas, a hunt for the ready use backpack was unsuccessful so we emptied some clothes out of a couple of bags and grabbed those instead (we really do need a major locker diving session). Then it was off to the co-op for supplies.

It's a pleasant enough walk and not too far but crikey was it hot! Back aboard I dozed off while Jane pottered about and then got the dinner on. The beef took longer than expected so we ate quite late of a very tasty beef stew and dumplings

Then it was off to the Swallowtail for a couple of drinks and back to the boat in the rain with a borrowed umbrella (which I must remember to return in the morning)

A decaf coffee and then bed!

Friday 18 July 2014

Early Summer Cruise - Day 1

We begin with the usual tale of a few hours sleep after work, chucking the bags in the car and driving through the Friday afternoon traffic to Fambridge

Actually, the traffic wasn't too bad and we made decent time arriving at the moorings around half past five

It was slightly inconvenient that the pontoon was chocker block with boats. Judging by the burgees and bunting some sort of club outing.

This would, in the past, have been a downright nuisance but with the new RIB and the outboard it was no real hassle to ferry our kit out to the boat on her mooring



Our arrival was well timed, we'd not been long aboard before the tide turned and with a moderately brisk easterly breeze a bit of a chop got up. Not enough to make life unpleasant though

After a quick sort out below decks we were soon back in the dinghy and heading ashore. The pub was busy for a Friday what with the visiting yacht crews (turns out they're from Woodbridge), a motorhome rally in the field next to the pub and it being a sunny summers evening

Ian of Apogee fame popped his head round the door about half an hour later and we transferred the liferaft, which you'll recall was aboard Apogee for their trip to France, from his car to ours before he joined us for a swift one. Our food arrived half way through that pint and Ian headed for home shortly thereafter.

We were tucking into a third pint for me and an ice cream for Jane when it started to get rather dark and ominous looking.

A wander outside to look south had me paying the bill and abandoning half my beer as we legged out back to the yacht station and motored swiftly back to Erbas
The sky was something to see...



and barely five minutes after we were back aboard the rain started. That was followed by some fairly spectacular lightening which rarely photographs well but using the timeslice feature on the phone I got something...



This was accompanied by some fairly windy conditions and followed by a spell of heavy rain. After the show was over I settled down and nodded off to sleep (Jane had been asleep within minutes of getting back aboard and missed the show!)

I woke again a couple of hours later feeling hot, stuffy and with a bit of a headache so I've been up a while now with a breath of fresh air, a decaf coffee and a couple of Anadin Extra. Just thinking of heading back to bed but I hear rumbles in the distance

Oh and we have a bit of an issue with the domestic battery bank. It's well down on charge and low on voltage which is ridiculous after barely a fortnight. The only thing left on was the main bilge pump and there's no water in the bilge so that can't have been running

Something is eating the voles!

We're either going to have to get on shore power by tomorrow night (Erm, tonight I mean!) or run the engine for a good while as we've got fresh food in the fridge

We also need to investigate the electrics. (I'm wondering if the battery monitor itself could be the culprit). We could really do with at least one solar panel to keep the batteries topped up too.

Monday 7 July 2014

Not So Grumpy Blokes Weekend Day 4

Actually, by today we weren't grumpy at all cos we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

We actually managed breakfast for the first time (bacon butties, of course) before packing away the cockpit tent, paying the marina bill and toddling for a play with the big white flappy things.

We had a cracking sail out of the river, bounced off a shallow patch of sand and confirmed by eye that the drying sands inshore of the buoyed route across the Raysand appears to be flat and free from obstructions

Then it was time to come about and head back upriver. Although the log had been reticent about registering earlier, we now confirmed it's accuracy at slack water so when it works it's working well

With her clean bottom Erbas was sailing well and we even overtook somebody! However, it was astonishing how many yachts had sails up but were actually motoring or motor sailing in good sailing weather

Back at Fambridge I debated sailing onto the pontoon but I decided against it and we sailed past the moorings to drop the sails and motor on.

I nipped round to the marina to pay the bill for the lift out whilst Tony tidied the boat. Then we pottered over to our mooring, put Erbas to bed and dinghied back to the pontoon

We hauled the RIB out and lashed her to the handrail where our old dinghy was. That dinghy we hauled off the pontoon and dumped on the bank by the Yacht Station office. Toby is going to see if anybody wants it, I'll take whatever I'm offered!

Then it was off home.



Our new neighbour at Fambridge, Thames Barge "Ironsides"

Sunday 6 July 2014

Grumpy Blokes Weekend Day 3

It was raining this morning and there was no enthusiasm aboard Erbas for any excitement so we decided to stay put

A bit of a tidy up was prompted by the imminent arrival of visitors from Laurin, in the process we went locker diving and extracted the cockpit tent

The Laurin's arrived and were welcomed aboard. AJ and Esme soon found the v-berth whilst the grown ups chatted

AJ and I had some fun on the guitar fire a while to. He's got a good sense of rythym and when his hands grow a bit I reckon he has the makings of a musician

We then spent a while with the kids and Co up at the Burnham lifeboat station open day which was interesting and fun.

Back aboard we had a bit of a laze brie getting dinner on. Irish Stew filled the hole nicely!

Washing up followed and then we walked down the sea wall into Burnham for a couple of pints (the Swallowtail being closed of course, as it often is when we want a pint)

Coffee back aboard will soon be followed by bed I think. Tomorrow, weather permitting, we'll go and have a bit of a sail out beyond the river mouth before heading for home later

Grumpy Blokes Weekend Day 2

I was awake at the unearthly hour of half four and lay for a while contemplating giving up and getting up

Somehow, I dozed off again and slept on while Tony awoke and lay awake in turn.

Some time later I was sort've half awake when the phone rang and got me properly alert. I was thinking why is my friend ringing this early when I realised it was gone eleven!

No matter, it had been raining on and off all morning but now it was brightening up so we sorted ourselves out and got underway on the last of the ebb tide

With just the genoa set and reefed, we blew downriver at five or six knots as easy as your like and soon enough we were alongside in Burnham Yacht Harbour.

Not long after, having knocked up and scoffed some lunch, I was scratching my head over the wiring of a bilge pump switch panel on our friends boat Laurin and finally concluding that a blocking diode was the wrong way round and wired to the wrong terminal as well.

Having sort of sorted that out, we had a quick wash and brush up before joining Karen, Patrick, A.J. and Esme aboard Laurin for dinner, beer, scotch and chat

A very enjoyable night ended with a nightcap decaf coffee back on Erbas before bed

Saturday 5 July 2014

Grumpy Blokes Weekend Day 1

This was originally supposed to be a reunion weekend for the old festival sound and light team since we quit doing the festivals last year

However, since the only two members of the team who could be bothered to turn up (:-P) were me and Tony it's now two grumpy old geezers on a boat instead

We meet up at Brampton Hut and, despite a slight diversion on my part, mostly convoyed down to Fambridge in a reasonable time

Zipping out to our mooring in the new RIB was a pleasure compared to the old rigid tender and I soon had Erbas alongside the pontoon for the night

We had a run down of the systems as Tony hasn't been aboard before and then set about bending on the genoa (removed for the lift out) which went OK despite the breezy conditions

Then it was off to the pub for beer and food and more beer. Back aboard it was coffee and rum.

Forecast is a bit breezy with rain for starters so we'll not be rushing to get under way in the morning. A toddle downriver and a bit of a sail and then into Burnham for the night looks like being the plan

Wednesday 2 July 2014

It's all go on the London front (and other plans)

Had a change of heart today

Our long week in August for our summer cruise had originally been intended to include a couple of days or three in the heart of London.

And then earlier in the year the rumour mill on the YBW forums put a massive doubt in my mind. Stories of cancelled bookings at St. Kats, no space at Limehouse and no visitor facilities at all anymore at South Dock put me off the whole idea

Given that it's eight or nine hours upriver,at least, from Queensborough to St. Katherines Dock I didn't fancy the idea of getting there to only have to turn around and go all the way back again

So I blew that plan out and decided we'd go to Ipswich instead. However ...

Today, our friends on Laurin posted that they'd booked four nights in St. Kats that very week with no problems at all so I had a rethink. Off went an email requesting Monday 11th of August to Friday 15th August and to my surprise and Jane's delight back came a response within the hour confirming the booking

Shame our friends on Ocean Lady have moved from St. Kats to Limehouse but hey ho (and Limehouse isn't quite the same as being in the heart of the city at St. Kats)

St. Katherine's Dock lock and Tower Bridge
© Copyright N Chadwick and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence
Looks like the cruise could be a bash to Chatham on the Saturday, fall in with the Laurins for a run up the Thames on the Monday and then back downriver (probably) to Queenborough on the Friday before returning to the Crouch over the weekend almost certainly via Burnham on Saturday night

And meanwhile while sorting all that out I got on the social meeja vis this coming weekend which was supposed to be a reunion of the old festival sound and light team. Well it'll be me and Tony anyway but Rik has (understandably) decided that an 8 hour round trip is a bit much for a weekend away.

Wind forecast is looking a bit brisk and breezy over the weekend so we'll probably end up staying in the river. I'm tempted to either tow the RIB round or blow up the inflatable and have a run ashore at Paglesham on Saturday. Haven't done it in four years and keep meaning to