2014 Spring Cruise - Day 3

With no sign of the strong breezes letting up, my decision to delay departure until tomorrow was fully vindicated.

I slept well despite the effects of the wind on the boat - even in the shelter of the marina we were rocking and rolling quite a lot - and awoke mid-morning just in time to wave Alchemist off on her return trip up the Wallet

Apparently, they had a great sail in sunshine and didn't get rained on once. I hope we're as lucky tomorrow!

Energy levels were low so I pottered around until Rik arrived early afternoon. A trip to the chandlers followed for a replacement shackle and a cleat -the former for the port side jacklines, the latter for the flag halyards where the one time cleat on the cabin side to port is missing) cost me the princely sum of just over a fiver (yep, went to the chandlery and spent less than a tenner!)

We then humped Rik's baggage from his car to the boat and organised our gear which didn't take too long.

More pottering around and relaxing ensued and then Rik set off to park his car at Fambridge and catch the train back to Burnham

With that chore done, I heated up a couple of tins of Irish Stew, buttered some bread and put the kettle on. We wolfed down the very welcome if not very posh repast and spent the rest of the evening on geekery with computers and things (of which more anon)

Rik retired a while ago and I shall follow suit when I've finished the blogging.

Tomorrow looks reasonably fair forecast wise. Westerly 5 to 7 becoming variable 3 or 4 the wou'westerly 5 or 6 for a time isn't my idea of an ideal forecast but it'll go. Looks like an unhurried mid-morning departure towards Harwich is the plan