Laying up weekend

Well, more of a laying up day really

And at that, not so much laying up as settling in for the winter as Erbas will still be used as a floating cottage

I drove down on Friday afternoon arriving just as the light was starting to go. After popping briefly round to the marina to check out where we'd be berthing for the winter, I launched the RIB and rowed out to Erbas

I didn't bother with the outboard as it was nearly high water and flat calm. It didn't take long to sort out fenders and lines, switch on the nav lights (as it was now well past sunset and very nearly dark) and start the engine

I was hailed by Chris off Tomahawk and he and Roni waited for me to motor round to the inside of the pontoon and caught my lines for me.

I hadn't planned to go to the pub but an invite to join the Tomahawks and their friends who they were meeting was too tempting to refuse

Saturday I spent at Tollesbury working on various electrical problems on a clients boat. Back at Fambridge by late afternoon, I couldn't be doing with cooking so popped up the pub for a couple of pints and a burger

The forecast gusty conditions arrived overnight and I was glad to be on the inside of the pontoon. I slept quite well and woke to a breezy but bright morning

Grabbing the outboard out of the car boot, I sorted out lines and fenders ready to come alongside either port or starboard as the fancy took me as I intended to go into a berth where either would be an option

It was no problem motoring round into the marina and I slipped into the berth I chose as easy as you like. Rigging a line from the midships cleat back to the cockpit round the spinnaker sheet winch makes the job very easy. Get that line over a cleat and from then on everything can be sorted out at my leisure

Then it was just a matter of offloading everything not needed for the winter, filling the engine heat exchanger with antifreeze, propping up the cushions and shutting everything down

Then it was time to head for home



Erbas in her winter berth

Blackwater Booze Cruise Days 8 & 9

(Friday)

Once again, apologies for the delay but as a bonus you can have two days in one go. OK, so they're not actually very exciting days but sometimes it's nice to just potter around

The first order of business today was to tackle the rampaging mould in the forward cabin. I'd noticed a spot or two yesterday and wiped them off but it had returned with a vengeance overnight covering much of the teak woodwork



There was nothing for it but to clear all my gear and the upholstery out of the cabin, taking advantage of the unseasonably nice weather to give everything a good airing, and set too with the hot water and disinfectant spray to scrub the whole compartment out

That done, and the boat put back together, we set off for Fambridge. The tide was still foul but close to neaps and with a fairly stiff Sou'westerly we had a cracking sail upriver and only had to tack a couple of times

Back alongside at Fambridge, I had a little job to do on another boat (which had prompted our slightly early departure from Burnham). With that done, we showered and then repaired to the Ferry Boat for food and beer

(Saturday)

We were very glad indeed ti be berthed on the inside of the pontoon as it was blowing a hoolie from the start today

My main order of business was to one again step the forecabin and apply a coat of teak oil to all the woodwork. Although it's all going to need a proper clean and what have you over the winter, it needed a protective coat now after yesterday's scrubbing efforts

With the cabin restored to good order I was pleased with the results...



We then set about removing our gear and offloading all the clothes that Jane and I keep aboard for the summer. The car sank lower as Erbas rose higher!

She settled a bit deeper after we refilled the water tanks though! Then we cleaned down the decks and all was ready for our departure

Picking up the mooring was a bit interesting in the strong breeze. We had a couple of goes from the cockpit but Glen simply couldn't reach the buoy (something that was easy on Brigantia).

Our third try with Glen at the shrouds went rather better. Life would be easier with the buoy tails left in situ but they get fouled with weed and dirt which is horrible to handle and takes ages to sluice off the decks

With the strops back on the buoy and the boat secured, we set about the final shut down and checks before waving to Patrick on his way back from taking somebody out to their boat for a lift ashore

And that was the end of our week. Finishing a day earlier than we could have suited us both as we've stuff to be getting on with at home

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 7

My apologies for the delay, I haven't been able to post to the blog due to a technical fault. Catching up now...

We had a less than conformable night on the pontoon at Wivenhoe. Erbas had settled into the mud with a list to port which was bad news for Glen especially as he is occupying the starboard saloon berth. He did have to transfer to the much more cramped port berth for a while

And then there was the creaky pontoons. It sounded like the full weight of the boat was hanging on the forward spring but when Glen beat me to it (by seconds) and went on deck to check it turned out to be the pontoon creaking against the joint.

Eventually everything settled down and shut up and wet got back off to sleep. Of course, then the alarm went off!

We had to be away as soon as the tide turned or we'd be stuck at Wivenhoe until mid afternoon.

Our exit was perfectly executed (smug smiley) and we motored off downriver in the early dawn light. I was glad of the chart plotter which made keeping in the channel easy, following the navigation marks without its aid would have been interesting!

As we came abeam Brightlingsea we had the breeze and the sea room so it was up with the white flappy things and off with the noisy thing.

The sail down to the Spitway was a cracker. We flew along at a cracking rate of knots and arrived at the Wallet Spitway buoy around half tide



There was, as one would expect, quite a cross set but I was able to lay a reasonable course across the swatchway.

Then it was decision time. I could start tacking down the narrower channel to the North of the Swallowtail Bank however I elected for the wider and slightly more Westerly aligned Whitaker Channel

Whether that was a good call we shall never know. I wasn't expecting miracles and I didn't get any. The wind was just about as due wrong as it could possibly be and, of course, the tide was foul.

That was expected and accepted. I was pleased to find that we were making appreciable progress though. Not quite quick, by any measure, but we were gradually clawing our way towards the river mouth

I was less pleased to deem it necessary to put a reef in as the breeze got up into the 18 to 20 knot range and stayed there only to have the breeze drop back to 12 to 14 knots as soon as we came back on the wind

With much gnashing of teeth and beating of the breast I had to accept the reef would have to be shaken out again

By the time the deed was done we were a matter of yards from where we'd hove to to reef in the first place!

Oh well, such is life.

By the time we made it as far as the Sunken Buxey (a shoal in the middle of the channel that marks the change from the Whitaker Channel to the Outer Crouch) the tide had turned

This meant, and I'd rather expected it, a wind over tide chop started to build. In a stiff Sou'westerly with the tide on the flood the Outer Crouch can get very rough indeed.

It wasn't too bad today but the chop was killing our progress and negating the gain from the fair tide.

A chap can only stand so much fun and another four or five hours slogging into the Crouch under sail was not an attractive proposition. So it was away with the genoa, centre the main and on with the engine.

Less than two hours later we were alongside in Burnham Yacht Harbour and wandering off into town. Our first port of call was Tesco Express for vital supplies (a jar of coffee!) and then it was off to the pub for a jar or three

We'd decided to have beer then eat on board and follow that with an early night. It was a good plan

We'd also decided that with the forecast for the weekend looking target too windy for comfort tomorrow would be the last day of the cruise

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 6

Apologies for the late update, two early starts (I usually write the previous days blog over morning coffee) and two consequent early nights (yawn)...

Our departure from Heybridge was dictated by the tides. That meant either leaving a good hour before dawn or in the evening with barely an hour of daylight.

Since there's really nowhere to go less than an hour away, other than to anchor for the night, it was an 05:30 locking out that was arranged with Martin, the friendly and helpful keeper at the basin

It was by no means an unpleasant morning though. The half moon have enough light to see more than just the navigation lights and it was neither cold nor damp.

We motored off down the Blackwater in a virtual calm. Dawn dawned, as it does, with clear blue sky overhead but as we slid past Bradwell a horrible clag stretched from bank to back up ahead

Perhaps we should have bailed out into Bradwell Marina but we pressed on into what turned out to be ground level cloud (aka fog)

The visibility got steadily worse as we made our way over the Bench Head - no depth concerns today at more than half tide - and by the time we were into the lower reaches of the River Colne it was down to a couple of hundred yards

I was less than impressed to encounter a wind farm support vessel outbound from Brightlingsea travelling at over 18 knots (according to his AIS transmission). At that speed I would have no hope of avoiding a collision if he failed to see us on radar.

In contrast, the fishing boat we also encountered was proceeding at a sensible speed and followed the regs to the letter

I was most relieved to sneak round into the Pyefleet and pick up one of the visitor mooring buoys for a few hours.

Glen read and snoozed in the saloon whilst I retired for a nap in my berth. I hadn't slept well overnight (probably in anticipation of the early start) and the couple of hours extra sleep was very welcome



Upon awaking I discovered that the fog had gone, the sun had come out and it was a really nice day

The primary purpose of picking up the buoy was to wait out the rest of the ebb tide and then wait a bit longer for the flood to set in to give us enough water at Wivenhoe.

The visitor berths on the pontoon can be accessed about two hours either side of high water so leaving the Pyefleet at about half tide would be right.

Accordingly, we got under way just after two and had a go at sailing off the mooring but there just wasn't enough puff in the light breeze to overcome the tide so it was on with the engine for a few minutes to motor out of the fleet into the Colne

Then it was off with the engine to ghost upriver on the tide. Very pleasant it was too and quite scenic. The Colne is still a commercial waterway though and one of Priors small coasters came up astern just as the channel was getting very narrow and twisty!

I scandalised the sails to slow down and kept over to the side of the deep water which have him ample room to go by. Didn't even get a wave from the crew though!

Soon thereafter it was down with the sails and on with the engine anfd, after sticking briefly (we were on the early side time wise) we were berthed on the upstream side of the pontoons



Swiflty sorting out and locking up, we went for a wander ending up at the Rose and Crown, a very nice traditional looking riverside pub, for a pint.

We strolled back through the lower part of the town by the church, apparently famous for its unusual beacon atop the tower, and thence back to the moorings.

With the tide at slack water I decided to move from the upstream side of the pontoon system to the downstream side. This would give us an extra hour in bed as otherwise we'd have to underway before high water to avoid the possibility of being trapped in the pontoons by the ebb tide.

(This decision would have unforseen consequences but you'll have to wait until the next post to find out what they were!)

The ship's cook decided we were eating out tonight so it was back to the Rose and Crown for a reasonable meal and a reasonable pint at reasonable prices.

I don't understand the mentality of whoever in the pub management structure deemed it necessary to put a flat screen TV playing non -stop MTV on the wall of a fine traditional English pub.



We retired for the night at a sensible hour as another early start beckoned

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 5

(Tuesday)

It had always been part of the plan for this week to spend two days, three nights, at Heybridge and this was the second of those days

Our major need today was diesel and the easiest way of getting some was by dinghy up to the Tesco Extra store in Heybridge

So after a leisurely breakfast of superbly cooked bacon butties (it's not hard) we set about blowing up the dinghy. Well I say we but if course I really mean I set about blowing up the dinghy

Having knackered myself blowing it up (what price an electric inflator?) I dropped the outboard onto the transom and, after Glen added some two stroke oil to the can, topped up the outboard tank with fresh petroil

To my considerable relief the beasty fired up without further ado and ran happily. Chucking the diesel cans and the spare petrol aboard, we set out up the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal.

The weather was just about holding off as we motored along with just the occasional interruption to our progress to clear weeds off the outboard leg

We duly arrived at the landing stage provided by Tesco and leaving Glen to mind the dinghy I soon procured two cans of diesel from the petrol station.

Back we motored to the basin to pour the cans intro the tank which took the fuel gauge to the halfway mark.d

Reckoning we now had enough for about twenty hours motoring, and with the weather looking reasonable, we decided to make a second run and put the issue of diesel beyond doubt for the rest of the week



I refilled the cans whilst Glen grabbed sine essential supplies from the store and then off we went again

We ran out of petrol half way back to the basin but this wasn't a problem. I'd anticipated that we would and had the fuel and the funnel to refill the outboard on board. I now know that we can go about four miles on a tank of fuel at full chat

Full chat, by the way, gave us 4.3kts over the ground with two fat buggers on board. Knocking the throttle back to two thirds gave 3.4kts and probably better economy but we haven't tested that



Arriving back at the basin, we clambered back aboard Erbas and chucked the larger can into the tank which brought the gauge up to the three quarters mark. The 5l can went in the locker full as a reserve.

I also chucked 50ml of diesel treatment in the tank to protect against diesel bug. We need to top off the tank before the winter to minimise condensation in the tank but sufficient to the day thereof

I gave the rather grubby dinghy a scrub and then tidied up on deck whilst Glen had did a spot of housekeeping in the cabin

Martin, the lockkeeper, rang me to confirm our departure in the morning and we arranged that I'd pop to the office about 5-ish to settle up

That done, I had a wash and brush up on board whilst Glen rustled up a very tasty ham paella sort of thing. Whatever it was, it was very tasty and didn't stay on the plate very long!

Washing up done it was off to the pub for some more excellent Broadside and inconsequential natter

Having made up my mind that we're heading back to the Crouch tomorrow, I've now had second thoughts. Maybe we'll go to Wivenhoe instead!

I'll make up my mind when the sun comes up which is a good hour and a half after we lock out of the basin in the morning

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 4

I awoke briefly around 6-ish, heard the rain hammering down on the cabin and decided to roll over and have a lie in

Much to my considerable surprise it was nigh on midday when I next awoke. Even more astonishing was the lack of a headache which usually results from excessive sleeping

Glen had already breakfasted and I wasn't too bothered so a biscuit washed down with copious coffee was the next order of business

The rain had abated so we decided to take a chance on the weather and go for a walk into Maldon

It's a very pleasant stroll along the well maintained towpath of the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal. Glen has been actively involved in the work since the Inland Waterways Association took over the management of the navigation

I must admit that had I still been a trustee of the IWA at that time I would have been opposed to the decision. In hindsight, I'd have been wrong and I'm happy to admit it!

It's a shame that the canal operation is denied the use of the assets of the old Company of Proprietors which were sold off by the receivers. Much could have been done, I'm sure, with the buildings adjacent to the basin, for example.

Progressing into Heybridge the scenery takes a bit of a downturn. There are few sights of historic or architectural interest these days, Heybridge seems to be mostly an industrial suburb orf Maldon



The church of St. Andrew is where a number of our maternal ancestors were baptised, married and buried. It would be nice to go in but sadly in this day and age churches are no longer left open to the casual visitor.

The small graveyard looks to have been largely cleared of headstones and our lot were probably too poor to erect them anyway so we passed on by without going in

Crossing the bridge over the River Chelmer, we followed the footpath around the back of the various little boatyards and modern residential developments catching occasional glimpses of the old wharves and docks on the far side of the river by the flour mill.

That brought us out onto Hythe Quay and from there we set off up the hill past St. Mary's Church and thence to the bottom end of Maldon High Street.

High Street is where our family lived for a generation between Heybridge and ending up in Sunderland. Exactly where, however, is hard to pin down but I think it would have been nearer the top of the hill than the bottom (as several baptisms and marriages took place at All Saints, at the top end of High Street, rather than St. Mary's off the bottom end)



Many of the buildings are clearly Victorian, Edwardian or modern but a few glimpses of how the High Street might have looked in the mid-1800s can still be found

We lunched in the cafe that now occupies the former bar of the Kings Head, a building our ancestors would certainly have been familiar with but most probably not from the inside as they were Wesleyan Methodists. Very pleasant it was too if a little pricey

We picked up a couple of essentials (bread and coffee) from the Morrisons Local shop and then it was back down the hill to the river before retracing our steps along the towpath to the basin.

All in all, a very pleasant walk despite the rather dull conditions. The threatening rain never arrived, other than a few spots and it wasn't at all chilly

After a brief sojourn on board, we took ourselves off to the Jolly Sailor for a very decent steak pie and several pints of Adnams Broadside. Both pie and pint were top notch

Having started out with so little promise, it had turned out to be a good day in port

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 3

We spent a very peaceful night at anchor in the Pyefleet and I awoke not long before the alarm I'd set would have gone off anyway. Glen had been awake a while apparently.

Whilst Glen got the breakfast on the go, sausage butties this morning, I rang the lockkeeper at Heybridge Basin to arrange a berth.

With the weather due to take a turn for the worse by this evening we really wanted to be holed up somewhere sheltered for a couple of days and Heybridge, which we'd originally planned to visit towards the end of the week, would suit perfectly

The only snag being that the evening high water on Tuesday would put us out on the river with barely an hour of daylight, Wednesday evening it would be dark and Wednesday morning high water, also in the dark, it's several hours earlier than the published 08:00 earliest locking time

However, a brief chat with Martin the lockkeeper resolved that problem as he's perfectly happy to be up and about and lock us out on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Martin asked us to try and be off the approach to the lock at 14:45 as he'd then be able to run a single locking for the boats booked to enter and exit and get the tidal flood gates closed well before high water

It's about 17 miles from the Pyefleet to Heybridge and we'd got ample time so in due course we fired up the engine and weighed the very muddy anchor.

Of wind there was not a lot so we motored out into the Colne past the moored smacks and barges with Glen on the helm whilst I sluiced copious buckets of water down the decks to wash off all the mud

Leaving the Colne to head up the Blackwater at a good time to catch the flood upriver comes with a downside. It's a long haul out into the deep water channel down the edge of the extended spit of shoal ground called Bench Head

There's this tempting expanse of seemingly open water to starboard and yet you must hold a course that is 90 degrees away from where you want to go until you reach the green conical Bench Head buoy that marks the end of the spit

Then you can turn upriver at last!

A just about workable breeze had filled in now so we hoisted the sails and stopped the engine. The breeze promptly vanished and left us drifting on the tide with the sails hanging limp and nary a ripple to disturb the unusually placid waters off Start Point

Patience has never been one of my virtues so it wasn't long before I gave the command to furl away the genoa and start the engine. I had to do it myself of course but at least I obey my orders!

We pootled along at half throttle but even so we were now going too fast! With a fair tide and our speed through the water added together we were making getting on for 6 knots over the ground and we only needed to make around 4. Still, better early than late

With the still air and the sun shining it got quite hot and for a while it was t-shirt weather! It didn't last as the forecast cloud started to move in but it remained pleasant all day

Just upstream of Bradwell we encountered the moored Ross Revenge, the last of the three Radio Caroline ships



I then recalled that I'd omitted to check the diesel tank gauge before setting out and asked Glen, who'd gone below to make some lunch, to bend an eye to it.

Well down the red came back the report which was a worry - I knew we were low on fuel but that was lower than expected.

With time in hand I decided to anchor of Osea Island and top up the fuel from the reserve cans. Running out on the approach to the lock, potentially with a cross tide running and moored craft all about, was not to be contemplated.

The engine had other ideas though and coughed to a stop a mile short of the anchorage. Well at least we now know how low we can go!

There was just enough breeze from astern to give us steerage way so Glen dived back on deck while I dug the fuel and funnel out of the locker.

It was just a few minutes work to dump 15 litres of diesel into the tank which makes it all the more annoying that I hadn't done it before setting out

I like to think I wouldn't have been so cavalier in more challenging circumstances but it has to be said that I've put up a black mark several times this year.

It took some faffing about and a tickle of the fuel lift pump to get the engine running sweetly again by which time we didn't really need it for a while! So we turned it off again and ghosted upriver

Passing by Heybridge about an hour too early to lock in, we ghosted on up round the bends of the rapidly narrowing river until the Hythe at Maldon came into view



Having seen it, it was on with the engine, swing around and potter back downriver whilst putting away sails, putting out fenders and lines and avoiding other craft...



A Thames Barge under full sail, albeit with a scandalised mainsail, is a magnificent sight. Revolution is unusual in having a white hull too which makes her stand out.

Our timing was virtually perfect as, dodging the dinghies, trip boats and other river traffic we headed into the lock approach just as the single outbound boat left the lock and the green light went on

We locked up with a mirror dinghy and a motor boat and were directed to moor outside the first yacht past the barge on the left. With a lot of boats having already come into the basin for the winter there was no hope of an alongside mooring

That we did, grateful that the owner of Cadenza came on deck as we weren't sure where best to tie to them. In theory we should take lines ashore but it's not practical as we're much shorter and lower



A tidy up and then it was off to the pub for a pint or two. Glen, who knows Heybridge well as he's a regular on the canal working parties, reckons the Jolly Sailor is much the better of the two pubs so we went to the Old Ship!

My logic was that we'd go to the other pub later. Several pints of excellent Adnams Broadside went down nicely and then we repaired back on board for a read and a doze. It was getting decidedly chilly so the heater went on for a while

The rain had arrived by the time it was time to eat however the Catering Manager declared that he couldn't be bothered to cook so we donned raincoats and tried our luck at the Jolly Sailor.

A decent pint of Adnams Southwold was not unwelcome, the news that they don't do food on a Sunday evening was. We downed the pint and glanced through the door of the Old Ship but that didn't look encouraging either

So it was back on board and stick a couple of tins of beans and bits in the pan. With a slice or two of bread and Glen's home made cakes for pudding we were replete

More reading and dozing ensued until we hit the sack shortly after nine.

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 2

There was nothing to be gained from an early start today so we didn't start early!

A bit of sorting out and bacon butties fur breakfast was all the preparation we needed and we got under way at the very civilised hour of twenty past ten

With a foul tide and precious little in the way of a breeze, and such as it was it was from the East anyway, it was a case of slogging it downriver under motor

The advantage of flogging the foul tide would come later but it was rather tedious going. Matters eventually improved downstream of Burnham with a bit more breeze and enough angle on the wind to make setting sail worthwhile

That gave us an extra knot or so of progress but it wasn't enough to make sailing alone viable so we motor sailed down to Holliwell Point

The catering department served up rather good ham salad sarnies which fortified us for the wild North Sea that awaited us beyond the river mouth...

Now it was time to reap the benefits of flogging the foul tide as we cut across the Ray Sand close inshore and laid a course direct for the River Colne confident of still having plenty of water over Bachelor Spit

That saved us a good few miles which given that the breeze was now fairly Southerly and barely flapping a flag was all to the good.

The mainsail was still doing some good, even if it was just steadying the ship in the slightly awkward cross swell, but the genoa was just flapping around so that was rolled away

Up until now we'd enjoyed a rather nice sunny, if slightly chilly, day. However, looking to the West one could see a band of rain coming our way so it was on with the foulies for the skipper whilst the crew retired below

In the end we watched the worst of it pass us by to the North and we were just lightly showered upon. The front didn't bring much in the way of extra breeze either, which I'd have happily endured some rain to get.

There must have been some wind around somewhere because the outer Blackwater was being it's usual beastly self. Actually, I've seen it a lot worse but never the less the usual random chop doesn't make life easy on board

We'd enjoyed the benefits of a fair tide up the Rays'n but now it was back to punching the ebb as we motored into the Colne. We encountered quite a bit of traffic, having seen hardly anybody all day.

There was the big Thames Sailing Barge "Thistle", one of Priors small coasters, various motorboats and yachts and a couple of jetskis all milling about

To add to the fun, the Southerly breeze, such as it was, over the ebbing tide was kicking up quite a chop of Brightlingsea.

As we passed Mersea Stone, the point at the Eastern end of Mersea Island, the chop vanished and the calm waters of the Pyefleet opened up before us

Motoring past the permanent moorings, I dropped and loose stowed the mainsail and then we anchored just upstream of the moorings

Bang on six and a half hours and a perfectly executed passage plan. Shame we had to motor the whole way but some days that's the way it goes



We settled down in glorious sunshine with just the gentlest of swells rocking the boat.

Glen cooked up a delicious meal of fried potato, onion and fillet steak which was followed by a major raid on the No1 Beer Hold. We resurrected the family version of Rummy with the cards Jane and I bought at Walton earlier this summer and I proceeded to prove that you can be lucky at both love and cards

Coffee and rum finished off the evening and, after setting the anchor watch alarm app on my phone, we retired for the night

Blackwater Booze Cruise Day 1

We had a decent non stop run down for a Friday, just about bang on two and a half hours. Could have been worse.

We were both gaping for a pint and clemmed with hunger so no time was wasted getting the RIB in the water. Then, of course, the normally reliable outboard refused point blank to start.

No amount of having on the cord, cursing and swearing would extract more than a reluctant hint of activity. Eventually I have up and deployed the alternative means of propulsion, the oars

That was no great hardship given the short distance and with not to much tide running. On board Erbas I quickly sorted mooring lines and fenders, opened the sea cocks and fired up the engine.

It's a faff to do but I decided to remove the buoy tails. They get horribly weedy and dirty if left trailing in the water for a week and make a right old mess of the foredeck when mooring back up

That done, it took no time at all to spin around and come alongside the pontoon. With space tight on the inside and little in the way of breeze, either actual or forecast, I decided to plonk her on the outside.

Secured alongside, I quickly plugged in the shore power then we loaded the gear on board that Glen had barrowed down from the car while I was sorting the boat out.

Then it was a quick row back along the pontoon to the dinghy dock, the outboard still refusing to come out and play, before dragging the dinghy out and putting it away

Then, at last, it was beer-o-clock!

Pub grub tonight too, it's allowed on the first night. Early in, early out, back aboard by half ten we had a final coffee before hitting the berths

Just another weekend in paradise

Well, perhaps not actually paradise but it beats working for a living

We had a good run down on Friday morning. Heaving the RIB down the pontoon was an effort but soon enough we were aboard and tucked up in the v-berth

I slept quite well and the afternoon was half gone when I surfaced. Toby and Paul were just starting to clear some space on the pontoon ready for the weekend so I swiftly got myself and Erbas into gear and shifted off our buoy onto the inside of the pontoon

Shortly thereafter I spotted that people were starting to put dinghys onto the new tender dock so Jane and I got in sharpish and bagged a handy spot quick!



It was rather a pleasant evening as we walked up to the pub for food and beer. People wax lyrical about the light in Cornwall and the scenery in Scotland and so on but Essex is forever condemned to be associated with TOWIE and Bluewater.

For me Essex is about skies like that!

Fed and watered, we retired reasonably early.

Arising quite late, we breakfasted and then set about some chores. Jane tackled the below decks housework whilst I dig out the sailmaking kit to mend a tear in the UV strip on the genoa



I'm not sure how it happened, and given the amount of wear I'm not sure when either, but a stitch in time would save an expensive bill from the sailmaker!

Using a patch of self adhesive sail repair tape, lace stitched around the edges, will keep it going for the remainder of the season.



Although the UV strip is recent, I think we'll have it redone over the winter. It doesn't match the sprayhood and mainsail cover, which are a darker blue, and that I find unaccountably irritating!

It's also showing clear signs of chafing on the vicinity of the tear so I think I'll ask whoever I get to service the sail to add some reinforcement in that spot

With that done we made ready to receive guests. Michael had contacted me some weeks ago via the YBW forums to pick my brains (good luck with that one!) about Sabre 27s and making the switch from dinghy sailing to coastal cruising.

Upshot of that conversation had been my inviting Michael and his wife Jill out for a genteel run down to Burnham as a taster of what life aboard a small cruising yacht might be like

They arrived about an hour before high water and over a cup of tea we showed then over the boat and her systems. This included the safety equipment, of course, which led to further conversation about the risks, both real and perceived.

The tide turned, as the tide does, and we got underway tacking downriver in a gentle easterly breeze. We had a decent sail although in truth the tide was doing a lot of the work!

As we came abeam the yacht harbour I suggested switching to motor for a quick run down to the Branklet Buoy to get a look at the lower river whilst still making it on time for dinner

That we did and then we motored back on the North side of the river to give our guests a closer look at Burnham from the river.

I'd already arranged a berth in the Yacht Harbour by phone earlier in the day so we were straight in and without further ado we quickly made ready for a run ashore

We were only a little late for the table Michael and Jill had booked at the White Hart. As we've previously noted, the food was excellent if a little pricey and the atmosphere most pleasant

Our guests had to walk back up to the car park on the outskirts of town due to it being the annual Burnham Carnival. I think they'd had a worthwhile afternoon and hopefully we've helped them on the first steps to taking up cruising under sail
We walked back to the marina through the crowds and the overspill from the fairground on the park. Spotting lights on aboard Laurin we quietly called "hello" and immediately proceeded to finish off the last of the red wine and Jura whisky!

Our voices were, however, disturbing the sleeping little ones (and one big one, it was way past Patrick's bedtime!) so Karen popped aboard Erbas for a final dash of rum.

Next morning we awoke a little late and the boat jumble was already underway. The were a couple of temptations to be resisted and one that I couldn't resist...



I've long wanted to have a crack at astro nav and with an Ebbco plastic sextant for £20 now I can. The Bosun will also enjoy playing with it I'm sure.

After a quick wash and brush up we headed up to the Swallowtail with the Laurins and their friends James and Henry for an excellent Sunday roast

We had to get our skates on afterwards though as the tide would turn in a couple of hours and thrashing back upriver against a big spring ebb tide, whilst doable, isn't an attractive proposition

We had a very nice sail as it happened. The easterly breeze was light but steady enabling me to keep the sails drawing even when goosewinged and the day was warm and even sunny at times

Arriving back at Fambridge we dosed and idled away the rest of the afternoon before heading for the pub for several drinks.

The breeze had died as night descended and we had a quiet night in calm conditions. It rained as I was contemplating getting up but it held off while we offloaded the few odds and ends that needed to go home despite the delays caused by my tendency to stop and chat instead of getting on with it!

I'd already retrieved the tender from the new tender dock and we neatly picked up our mooring, closed valves and 1switches and shut up, shut down etc as appropriate before running back ashore

Landing on the new dock proved as convenient as the launch although I have suggested the addition of a cleat or two at the bottom of the ramp to make fast to

And that was that. Just a fortnight now before Glen and I have a whole week aboard.

Autumn Cruise 2014 Summary

One of our key objectives for this week on board was to spend rather less time in marinas and rather less money in pubs and bars!

That's not to say that we have an issue with marinas and bars, just that our future plans don't envisage being able to afford the indulgence more than once or twice a week

The first night doesn't, we decided, count so we ate out at the Ferry Boat. When all's said and done, we had been working until six that morning, then we'd driven down to Essex and we'd only had a few hours sleep.

We got into our stride on Thursday though with a night at anchor in the Yokesfleet. We had planned to get out of the Crouch on the first day but another aspect of our developing cruising philosophy is to stop when you've had enough and I'd had enough!

We could have taken an uncomfortable outside berth on Halfpenny Pier where we'd hoped to get on the inside. However, for the sake of seven quid we enjoyed the conforts of a sheltered berth in Shotley with the added benefit of shore power to replenish the rather depleted batteries.

That was a lesson learnt. Yes, the laptop can be recharged and / or run on our small 150w inverter but it doesn't half clobber the batteries. I should have charged the laptop up while the engine was running rather than overnight.

We did eat on board before indulging ourselves with a couple of drinks in the Shipwreck.

It was an almost identical scenario the following day. We could, as originally planned, have picked up a buoy in the vicinity of Pin Mill. We could even have anchored clear of the moorings. In either case we would have been a fair distance from the hard.

Having only the petrol in the outboard tank, and with a degree of reluctance being expressed with regard to a long haul ashore in the dinghy, we decided to permit ourselves the indulgence of a night in Wolverstone Marina

The walk through the woods to Pin Mill is extremely pleasant. The drag up the hill into Cholmondiston for essential supplies was rather less so. On the way back we ate out in the Butt and Oyster

The foggy start to the following day and the passage of a couple of coasters, foghorns blaring, upriver made me quite glad to be tucked up in the marina.

We made our way slowly downriver and across the bay into the Walton Backwaters to anchor, for the first time this trip, where we had set out to be!

The anchorage at Stone Point looked pretty busy as we sailed past however I'd intended all along to anchor in the Hamford Water. This anchorage has only one drawback - it's very exposed to the East Nor'East.

We anchored in a near flat calm with an overnight forecast of F2/3 from the North or North West. Of course, it goes without saying that the breeze got up to F4 plus from, you guessed it, the East Nor'East!

This was a bit of a test of our resolve and we resolved to sit it out unless conditions became untenable in which case we'd bolt for Shotley. It being almost dark already there was no way I'd attempt to shoot the narrows at Stone Point in the dark.

As it turned out, it never got that bad and by morning a flat calm and a sunny day made us think of possibly leaving Erbas at anchor and exploring the Backwaters by dinghy. The lack of petrol put the mockers on that idea

In hindsight I'm rather glad of that because the plan B turned out so well. Not many people pluck up the courage to make their way up the drying Foundry Reach into the pond at Walton. I'm very glad we did because our day at Walton on the Naze was probably the highlight of the trip

We lunched ashore, ate on board and went out for drinks. It's a hard life!

The downside of the visit to Walton wad that we'd have to fight a foul tide virtually all the way back into the Crouch the following day. Although we had the option of splitting the trip by overnighting in the Blackwater we preferred to get back to our home river that day if possible

I was pinning my hopes on the spinnaker. The portents were lining up to suggest we'd be running before a moderate breeze down the Wallet where we'd also encounter the worst of the foul tide

The kite did indeed do the business for us. In fact, once we'd got the damn thing up (an exercise that took far too long but that will get better with practice) we sailed from somewhere off Frinton all the way to the Inner Crouch buoy with the spinnaker set and drawing.

We even pulled off a sort of extended ferry glide across the Spitway keeping the kite aloft the whole way. It was a little annoying to find that a mistake with handling the sheets had led to a bent mast eye and slightly damaged pole end but it's easily put right and I'll know better next time

It was a very tired but well satisfied crew who dropped the hook in the Brankfleet that night. Our final day saw us back to Fambridge where we indulged ourselves with a pub lunch and had our second fresh (add opposed to tinned) meal aboard followed once more by drinks in the pub

It was without doubt a great week. Possibly even the best week Jane and I have had aboard to date.

Discounting the first and last night's, we anchored out three nights and went into marinas twice plus the night in Walton Yacht Basin (which is sort of marina like but much nicer!)

We ate out just the once and had lunch ashore once although we went ashore for drinks on two further occasions.

We could, if we'd needed to, have avoided marinas altogether and indeed we needn't have gone out for drinks as often

Above all, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves

Autumn Cruise 2014 - Last Day

It was the usual scenario. Get up, get off the pontoon and onto our mooring, go home.

We didn't even bother bother with the outboard on the tender today, rowing did the trick as it was slack water even though it was an hour before the tide was due to turn

The long period of slack water might have had something to do with the very high spring tides. That did pose us a small problem to wit a lack of water in the vicinity of where we stow our tender

Carrying the RIB is a bit much so we managed to drag it onto a marina trolley



That did the trick. We are picking up some scratches and gouges on the bottom though which will bear watching. Might need to add some keel band to protect the vulnerable spots

The journey home was uneventful and now it's back to the daily grind - but not, perhaps, for too much longer. Watch this space!

Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 8

Today the tide would be very much in our favour until early afternoon so there was no pressing urgency to get under way.

After a late breakfast we sailed off the anchor just before eleven although we had to have the engine running to power the anchor capstan

Even so, we still had voltage drop issues and it is nuisance (and potentially damaging to other systems). The capstan really needs a dedicated battery as close to the chain locker as possible. It's on the list!

We were close hauled out of the Roach and in quite a brisk breeze too. With big spring tides I ventured to suggest a fast run upriver might be in the offing.

Of course., the wind dropped and shifted to make the trip up to Fambridge a genteel run with the sails goosewinged much of the way.

Very pleasant it was too and we very nearly sailed onto the pontoon but I misjudged the moment to luff up and had to hit the engine starter and motor the last few yards.

Almost exactly two hours after weighing anchor we were alongside. A pub lunch beckoned after which we spent the afternoon tidying the boat, putting our kit on the car and swabbing the decks.

After eating on board we repaired to the pub once more for a drink or two before retiring for the night

Big tides at Fambridge and a rare breed of wader!

Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 7

(Tuesday)

Tides would play a big part in our plans today. The gate at the entrance to the yacht basin at Walton is only open for an hour to an hour and a half either side of high water, the rest of the time it is closed to keep the water in the basin and the boats moored therein afloat!

So that meant a predicted start time of 11:30am BST. Happily, however, the gate was open by 11:00 and as soon as the initial rush of water through the narrow entrance subsided we lit up the engine and motored out of the basin at ten past the hour


It was already a glorious day with a moderate breeze from the East Nor'East, a clear blue sky and sunshine. It was on with the Factor 30 from the off - sunburn can spoil the day and we're very careful out on the water because the reflected UV can significantly increase the chances of burning

Motoring out of the backwaters with the wind virtually dead ahead we shot the narrows at Stone Point having to throttle back to idle speed for a few minutes to let two inbound yachts clear the channel first.

It's not difficult to do safely provided you "join the dots" of the buoys and stay firmly in the channel! You can see how the current eddies around although I had no problems maintaining our course. I would think twice about trying it at night or in rough weather though!

As soon as my nerves would stand it, and after hoisting the main whilst the wind still headed us, we made our turn to starboard to cross Pennyhole Bay towards the Naze. It was off with the engine now and sailing nicely on a beam reach



Clearing the Naze, we turned further to starbord onto a broad reach towards the end of Walton Pier. Once clear of the pier it was up with the spinnaker. Actually, in truth it took the best part of 40 minutes of faffing about to get the damn thing aloft and set. If it could go wrong, it did. In our defence, it's only the second time we've flown the kite on Erbas and sometimes things just don't quite go right! We did get it all sorted without any massive drama ...

And by 'eck once it was up and drawing did it ever make a difference! Our speed through the water went up from 3 to 4 knots to between 5 and 6 knots!

With up to two and a half knots of foul tide that was pretty critical to making the passage in good time. We even managed to (just) hold onto the kite through the Spitway where I perpretated a cunning ferry glide using the tide to keep the winf angle just wide enough to stop the spinnaker from collapsing.

That was much to be desired because once acoss the spitway we were back on a very broad reach to a run down the North side of the Swallowtail bank and into the river.

By the time the river banks closed in on either side of us, the sun had set, the wind was dropping (as it so often seems to do when the sun goes down) and night was rapidly overtaking us.

We snuffed and stowed the kite in the last light of dusk (discovering that we appear to have bent the spinnaker pole mast eye and jammed the pole end release - not sure how that has happened but I'll attent to it tomorrow)

Then it was on with the engine and a quick thrash round into the Brankfleet to drop anchor on the Eastern side of the channel. We normally anchor in the slight bay on the other side of the river but with an Easterly breeze we'd get a little more shelter on the Foulness side.

Dinner of All Day Breakfast with Beans was quickly warmed up on the stove and gobbled down just as rapidly! We settled down for the night after I'd run out plenty of chain and set an anchor drag alarm - big tides tonight.

We covered just under 32 miles in about 9 hours and 20 minutes. Realistically, we couldn't have sailed the first leg out of the backwaters, it would have been utter madness as there's simply no room to tack in the narrow channel and for most of the reach it's also full of moored craft.

The final stretch into the anchorage could have been sailed I suppose, if we'd been willing to spend another couple of hours faffing around in the dark! I think knot.

So all in all, apart from the difficulties with the spinnaker, which once up was worth all the bother, it was a most excellent sail. It was very satisfying to make the passage as planned.

Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 6

We slept, in the end, very well and by the morning we were greeted with a fine start to the day and just a gentle ripple through the anchorage.

Conditions were, in fact, so pleasant that had we been able to obtain a replacement petrol can and fuel for the outboard I'd have been seriously tempted to leave Erbas at anchor and dinghy the four miles or so to Walton on the Naze

Perhaps it was just as well that it wasn't an option. It was gone nine in the morning so I tried phoning Bedwells, who manage the yacht basin at the head of the creek into Walton, but all I got were answerphones

Never the less, we determined to visit the town whilst we were here so we upped anchor and motored through the narrows at Stone Point and on through the moorings.

Our plan was to pick up a mooring as close to the town as possible and then we'd have perhaps two or three hours ashore. Time enough, at least, for a bit of shopping.

We did indeed pick up a mooring in an ideal spot but I thought it worth another try at the basin and happily this time the phone was answered and the news was good.

It's an interesting trip up the drying Foundry Reach with the echo sounder alarm going off almost constantly! We made it without touching and moored up where we liked as we'd been directed to do!

I located a very nice chap in the yard and paid him some money whilst Jane washed the decks down to sluice away the mud brought up by the anchor chain earlier



With the boat all tidy we set off into town and down to the beach. It's a bit of a walk up into the Naze proper but we made it, via a coffee stop at a beach kiosk, and paid our tuppence ha'penny each (I wish, £2.50 more like) to go to the tower

Built in the 1700s by Trinity House as a navigation mark, the Naze Tower has been variously used as a lighthouse, lookout, signaling position and radar tower over the years.

Restored to its former glory some years ago, it now serves as a tea room and art gallery. It was the view from the top that interested is though...



Looking out over the Walton Backwaters, Arthur Ransoms "Secret Water"

Staggering back down the tower and returning along the beach via another beach kiosk for a mediocre bacon butty and not very good coffee, we popped in to the RNLI shop. I wanted, and obtained, a new RNLI burgee to replace or existing one which was on the verge of disintegrating.

Jane picked up a keyring for her boat keys and a new mug to replace the one broken when we nearly needed the help of the lifeboat a week or three ago!

Then we walked out along the pier to look at the lifeboat moored in her permanent berth at the end



Jane wanted to know if we could see the inside to which I replied “ only if it all goes horribly wrong "!

Back into the shopping area we picked up a new watch and a nice retro looking boxed games compendium, which is something I've been after for a while. The it was Tesco Express for essentials and the makings of dinner before heading back to the boat

With the tide out, I took a walk to look at the creek and the basin entrance...





Jane cooked us a delicious meal of loin pork braised in a cider and apple sauce with steamed veg and mash. Yum!

It was washed down with a beer for me and cider for Jane and then we walked down to the Walton and Frinton Yacht Club for another drink or two. Very nice it is to, as is everything about Walton

And then to bed. Tomorrow could be a challenging day when we pay the price for the pleasures of today

Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 5

The day dawned, well they always do this far in my experience. This was a fine start with clear skies and bright sun.

However, it was not to last and within the hour foghorns were booming on the river as a couple of freighters made their way slowly up to Ipswich docks.

We had neither the need nor the inclination to go and play dodgems and delayed our departure from Woolverstone until things had cleared somewhat

We left at twenty past eleven and optimistically made sail and stopped the engine as soon as we'd cleared the marina and tidied away lines and fenders.
For the best part of a couple of hours we had a not unpleasant drift down river on the ebbing tide. Despite the almost total lack of breeze we were able to mantain steerage way at least and even gave the log some work to do on occasions

I was very happy that we ghosted past a Moody 29 and kept station with a similar size boat to ourselves. It's always satisfying to know that you're ding at least as well as the other boats out there.

There were a couple on interesting interpretations of colregs which passed without incident and I did have to briefly start the engine and use a burst of throttle to avoid being carried into a line of moorings but the drama was all happening to other people today

Mo 

A large and very smart looking yacht had gone aground at Collimer Point and despite the best efforts of the crew, a workboat and two RIBs it wasn't coming off again

On we drifted until at last my patience was exhausted (my excuse being that drifting around in the middle of the biggest container port in the UK was silly) and it was on with the engine anfd away we went out past Harwich breakwater

Just over an hour and a half later, about three-o-clock, we felt our way carefully down Hamford Water passing another yacht aground in the entrance. This time the efforts of the wardens launch soared to be successful at getting them off. We avoided any similar calamities to and picked a spot to drop the hook.



Those of you familiar with the writings of Arthur Ransom will have no trouble recognising Secret Water. The flag marks the popular anchorage at Stone Point however the entrance is a little tricky and not for the faint hearted on a falling tide so we opted for the easier option of anchoring in Hamford Water

Although the sun steadfastly refused to come out to play, barring the odd spot or two of light rain earlier it was a pleasant enough day.

After a cuppa and a spot of rest and relaxation after our strenuous exertions (!) we set about cleaning the ship. I did my best with the windows (need some Windolene or similar) whilst Jane dealt with an accumulation of dust on the book case.

I then decided to get the tools out and screw the toilet and kitchen roll holders up after first giving them a good dose of teak oil

There was no debate about the location for the kitchen roll holder...



but the loo roll holder was the subject of some discussion and trial and error brute we settled on a position high up above the towel rail.

By now, with the tide well in and the wind well round into the East and gusting up to 14 or 15 knots it was getting a bit bouncy in the anchorage. We'd acquired neighbours ahead and astern of us too.

I broke out the snubber (a length of nylon rope with a chain hook on one end and an eye splice to go over a cleat on the other) and ran out another ten metres of chain before hooking the snubber on and easing out the chain into a loop below it.

The snubber then takes the strain of the bows bouncing up and down rather than stressing the mechanics and mountings of the anchor windlass. Being nylon it also acts as a shock absorber although ours doesn't have a lot of givde left in it. I'm making a new one but it's a work in (slow) progress because I keep scrapping my attempts at splicing the line to the chain shackle



As the sun set, the wind stubbornly remained in the East rather than the North or North West where it was supposed to be. Happily, however, the F5 (17 to 21 knot) breeze predicted in some forecasts didn't materialise and it was far from being unbearable on board.

We had dinner and a tot and then to my delight I discovered a lone survivor of the Burnham Beer Locker Massacre...



It didn't survive for long!

Jane retired to bed and I dozed until my alarm foretold of The Turning off the Tide (there's a song in that.. oh, hang on, some Thompson bloke has already done it). We gently swung at the behest of the note ebbing waters and satisfied that all was well I settled down to sleep too

.Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 4

(Saturday)

As far as the boating goes today was never going to be wildly exciting. All we planned to do was a quick five mile hop upriver and see if we could pick up a mooring at Pin Mill

With little or no breeze to speak of, we just motored the whole way. There were plenty of boats on the move, most of them motoring and one or two out for a drift



However, of anything even vaguely resembling a visitor mooring there was no sign.

According to the mooring operators Web site we were looking for a yellow pick up buoy with "V" for visitor on it and a notice giving instructions

The beast didn't exist as far as we could see and Jane declared a friends mooring which I knew would be vacant "too far"

So into Woolverstone Marina we went. This cunning plan of weaning ourselves off marina berths isn't going so well!

Never mind. After checking in and sorting out, we set off along the footpath to Pin Mill. It's as atmospheric and historic as you could wish for



After a look around, we headed up the hill to Cholmondiston for essential supplies. Coffee and sugar procured, we deemed it silly to walk past the pub a second time and didn't.



Beer and food with a view ensued and then it was back along the footpath through the woods to the boat. It isn't that far and it's a very pleasant walk

I think it's shaping up to be an early night though. Tomorrow we think we'll go and find an anchorage. Hamford Water is a possibility

Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 3

(Friday)

It was a murky start to the day and it didn't really improve much. Still, on the "bright" side, as it were, it wasn't raining and there was a half decent breeze albeit with only just enough North in it to make a trip up the Wallet a half way attractive proposition

We had fairly hammered the domestic batteries last night and with overnight device charging plus the anchor light by this morning they were making like a pancake. Flatter than a very flat thing they were!

So given that I'd have to beat up the Yokesfleet and the Brankfleet against the last of the flood tide, I decided to motor as far as the Inner Crouch buoy at least to give the batteries some much needed amps.

I got under way just before eight leaving Jane asleep as is often our way. An hour or so later just shy of the Inner Crouch buoy I hoisted the main and then set the genoa. However, the wind angle was not giving me a lot of help and I decided to keep the engine running albeit throttled down from 2100 revs to 1800 revs. This would give me more boat speed, an attractive proposition on a day like today, and keep pumping the amps into the battery.

Visibility wasn't great either, barely a mile a times, and there wasn't a lot to be seen out there. One of the Wallasea Island ships passed me by heading into the Crouch and a fishing boat went past some way off heading out to sea and that was the lot.

The Coastguard MSI (Maritime Safety Information) broadcast contained mention of two large unlit metal canisters moored off Clacton. I wasn't quick enough to copy down the position so I called them up and asked for a repeat. Plotting the position confirmed my suspicion that they were bang on my track!

Believe it or not, they are in the photo above marked by two red and yellow buoys. They are only a couple of cables (0.2 miles) away and barely visible and they are slap bang in the middle of the Wallet. I have no idea what their purpose is but they present a hazard to navigation, especially at night, even worse than the usual menance of badly marked pot buoys.

However, before getting that far, I'd crossed the Spitway and killed the engine. I couldn't quite lay the course I wanted towards the Medusa buoy but it wasn't too far off and we were making over 4 knots through the water with a fair tide helping us nicely along too.

Jane had briefly emerged, take one look at the day and rather wisely (having supplied me with a coffee) disappeared back into her berth for the duration.

 

 Not far beyond the buoys mentioned above was the unusual sight of a ship at anchor in the Wallet. Even more odd that it's cargo hatches are open.

Over by the Clacton shore a large barge of some description was at work on improving the sea defences and I wonder if the ship and containers are all connected with that ongoing project.

 As if that wasn't enough excitement for one day, a fishing boat was coming down the Wallet towards me on a steady bearing (which means if neither of us did anything we'd collide). I couldn't see any day marks to indicate he was fishing (one cone inverted above another hoisted aloft) which is frankly unusual because most fishing boats leave the signal up permanently.

Never the less, his slow speed and apparent determination to maintain his course was suggestive of trawling so I altered to starboard to clear his track and sure enough he was indeed fishing. I got a wave anyway!

I was bang on track to run us up onto the Cork Sand which runs North to South off Harwich. Two choices, tack inshore or go round the outside. As the tide was now on the turn, I reckoned the outside route would suffer from a stronger foul tide so tacked across towards The Naze before tacking back towards the Harwich channel

By now we were surrounded by yachts of all shapes and sizes going in, it seemed, every conceivable direction. As I was hoping to pick up a berth at Halfpenny Pier in Harwich and therefore wanted to beat the rush it was back on with the engine and full speed ahead.

The tactic sort of worked as there was indeed a free space which the yacht behind us occupied after we'd declined it because it was on the outside. We decided a more comfortable night was to be had across the river in Shotley Marina and to hell with the extra expense!

Once in, we tidied up and put a harbour stow on the sails before heading to the showers. Having eaten on board it was off to the pub for a couple of beers. There was a classic car meet at the Shipwreck which made I chuckle as most of the "classic" cars in question were being thrashed and trashed by me and my mates back in the early 80s!


I was also struck, not for the first time, by the spectacle that is Felixstowe Docks at night. The photo doesn't do it justice including, as it does, perhaps a third of the entire scene.

All those containers travelling around the world full of stuff. I can't complain 'cos I'm a sucker for buying stuff!

I remembered to fire up the tracking bug today too so we've got a track. 36.8 miles in 8:15 at an average speed of 4.45 knots. OK, so slightly over half of the time was motoring or motor sailing but hey ho. Not a bad day. Not a brilliant day but not bad!

Tomorrow we're thinking of a short hop upriver to pick up a mooring at Pin Mill. Failing that we'll probably dive into Wolverstone Marina and walk back down the river bank

Autumn Cruise 2014 Day 2

(Thursday)

With the tide on the turn shortly after eight, there was no particular need for an early start so we didn't make one!

In fact, Jane didn't start at all (she would finally emerge form the forecabin just as I was shaping up to anchor!

With the wind firmly in the East and gusting up to F5, I put the first reef in the main before slipping. Although there would be times when I was tempted to shake it out, it does take the sting out of the gusts and makes life easier



It was a beautiful morning as I motored downriver with George II at the helm. He's working but I need to calibrate and set him up properly. Once I'd tidied away the lines and fenders I looked aloft and reckoned it worth a go at sailing.

Up with the main, out with the genoa and away we went. Apart from Cliff Reach, which I could fetch the length of, it was short tacking all the way. In the moorings at Burnham it was several very short tacks indeed.

Although it had clouded over, it was a pleasant day and I was enjoying myself. However, it was going to be a long slog down the Whitaker to the Spitway and I binned my original plan to head for West Mersea and headed into the Roach instead

With the ebb tide now against me and the wind astern, we never the less made steady progress upriver. The entrance to our favourite anchorage isn't wide and I rolled away the genoa and ghosted in under main alone.



Picking a suitable spot on the Eastern side, I scandalised the main and, with the engine running to boost the batteries, dropped anchor in 3m putting out about 12m of chain.

Jane cooked up a full English brunch after which we idled around and snoozed for an hour or two.

With the tide now on the flood, I ran out the rest of the anchor chain. With my best guess of 5m of rise (which would prove to be a slight overestimate) that would give us about a 5:1 scope. Less would likely do but more doesn't hurt and with an electric windlass it's no great effort

Then it was time for chores. Jane tidied and cleaned in the cabin whilst I sluiced the mud that had come up out of the chain locker off the decks and gave them a good scrub

Both burners on the cooker needing filling and we've got two bottles of ethanol left now so we've used 8 litres so far this season.

Then we had a play with the MOB gear. It takes longer than you might expect even just to heave the horseshoe buoy and Dan Buoy off the stern rail. And my best effort with the heaving line barely cleared thirty feet!

We followed that with a rehearsal of making a DSC Mayday call. That went OK too but fingers crossed none of it will ever be necessary! Much the better idea is not to fall off the boat in the first place.

Whilst we were at it, I fetched the PLB out of the grab bag and ran a battery and gps test on it. Been meaning to do it, now it's done! This also gave Jane a chance to run through the procedure for using it again.

Tinned stew and potatoes for dinner was followed by rice pudding and then we watched a programme on i-player before retiring for the night

All in all a very pleasant and relaxing day. I could get used to this!