The forecast was for some nice weather, so a trip out into the Thames Estuary was called for. I decided to head for the Roach as this had proved a safe anchorage before.
First thing I did was scrape off the carpet of seaweed that was covering my hull below the waterline. I managed to get the worst off before the scraper disintegrated.
I headed down to Stangate creek and anchored up. I looked at the tides and weather and decided an early start... and by early I mean 1 am. By quarter past 1 I had the anchor on the deck and I was on my way down to Garrison point and the Thames estuary. It was flat calm with a bright full moon sinking down towards Sheerness as I headed across the shipping lanes towards the Essex side of the river.
With the tide ebbing fast I was keen to get to the Whitaker spit by low water. I had to go the long way round as there was not enough water to cut across the swatchway. Once round the corner and heading up towards the River Crouch I put up the sails and caught the wind that had sprung up during the morning.
By 09:30 I was anchored safely in the entrance to the R. Roach. I managed a few hours sleep and then was up pottering around the boat until beerO'clock ( about 18:30 )
All the next day was hot and breezy, sticking your head out the hatch was like putting your face in front of a hair drier. Looking at the forecast I decided to set off at dawn the following morning. It was calm when I picked up the anchor and headed off out of the Roach into the Crouch . I had just got past the Buxey no.2 buoy when a water alarm went off on the engine. I put up the sails and turned off the motor. There was just enough wind to remain in control. Once the engine had cooled down I checked the freshwater side of the cooling system and it seemed fine. I restarted the engine and carried on with reduced revs. It ran fine to the Whitaker spit and then I had the tide with me so it was off with the engine and onward under sail only. I was close hauled all the way down past Maplin sands as far as Blacktail spit a run of about 9 miles then the wind died. At this point a couple of Porpoise came past, I even managed to capture them on video.
After that it was back on with the engine and a motor sail all the way back to Gillingham Reach.
An enjoyable trip and a good practice run for the SEGSAS East coast cruise next week.
First thing I did was scrape off the carpet of seaweed that was covering my hull below the waterline. I managed to get the worst off before the scraper disintegrated.
I headed down to Stangate creek and anchored up. I looked at the tides and weather and decided an early start... and by early I mean 1 am. By quarter past 1 I had the anchor on the deck and I was on my way down to Garrison point and the Thames estuary. It was flat calm with a bright full moon sinking down towards Sheerness as I headed across the shipping lanes towards the Essex side of the river.
With the tide ebbing fast I was keen to get to the Whitaker spit by low water. I had to go the long way round as there was not enough water to cut across the swatchway. Once round the corner and heading up towards the River Crouch I put up the sails and caught the wind that had sprung up during the morning.
By 09:30 I was anchored safely in the entrance to the R. Roach. I managed a few hours sleep and then was up pottering around the boat until beerO'clock ( about 18:30 )
All the next day was hot and breezy, sticking your head out the hatch was like putting your face in front of a hair drier. Looking at the forecast I decided to set off at dawn the following morning. It was calm when I picked up the anchor and headed off out of the Roach into the Crouch . I had just got past the Buxey no.2 buoy when a water alarm went off on the engine. I put up the sails and turned off the motor. There was just enough wind to remain in control. Once the engine had cooled down I checked the freshwater side of the cooling system and it seemed fine. I restarted the engine and carried on with reduced revs. It ran fine to the Whitaker spit and then I had the tide with me so it was off with the engine and onward under sail only. I was close hauled all the way down past Maplin sands as far as Blacktail spit a run of about 9 miles then the wind died. At this point a couple of Porpoise came past, I even managed to capture them on video.
After that it was back on with the engine and a motor sail all the way back to Gillingham Reach.
An enjoyable trip and a good practice run for the SEGSAS East coast cruise next week.