Monday evening and I was back down on Blue Venture. Originally I planned to spend the night 'on the buoy' but the evenings are long now so I sailed down to Stangate creek and anchored there.
First thing I was up and drinking a mug of tea. The forecast was not too bad so after a fry up I was on my way to the River Crouch. Two large LNG carriers were berthed at the gas terminal, first time I had seen Two berthed at the same time. Out past Garrison point I headed to the North of the Montgomery before heading over to the Essex side of the Thames estuary and the Swin channel. This passes up beside the Maplin sands as far as the Whitaker spit where if the tide is right you can cut across the swatchway to the River Crouch.
First thing I was up and drinking a mug of tea. The forecast was not too bad so after a fry up I was on my way to the River Crouch. Two large LNG carriers were berthed at the gas terminal, first time I had seen Two berthed at the same time. Out past Garrison point I headed to the North of the Montgomery before heading over to the Essex side of the Thames estuary and the Swin channel. This passes up beside the Maplin sands as far as the Whitaker spit where if the tide is right you can cut across the swatchway to the River Crouch.
It was too late to cut across the swatchway so I had to go the extra mile and go round. The wind was picking up all the time and by the time I was heading up the Crouch there was a nasty chop on the sea as the wind and tide worked against each other. I eventually stowed the sails and motored for the last hour or so. Several times the bow of Blue Venture dug right in and shipped water, it really was quite unpleasant and did not improve until I was in the shelter of the River Roach,near Burnham on Crouch. It was a lovely anchorage well sheltered with good holding ground.
In the morning I busied myself about the boat fitting some matting on the shelves in the fo'c'sle and generally pottering about doing odd jobs.
Mid morning I was away again. The wind was much lighter than the previous afternoon and it was a pleasant sail back down the Crouch to the Whitaker spit. There was an hour and a half till low water and I decided to cut across the swatchway. But it was a very close run thing and I will not be cutting it so fine again.
The run back down the Swin channel and across to the Medway was fine and I was soon back on my buoy in Gillingham Reach.
An interesting trip, a few lessons learnt like wear a hat and don't cut it fine over the swatchway's .
Saturday and it is a the club shakedown cruise to Queenbrough.
Mid morning I was away again. The wind was much lighter than the previous afternoon and it was a pleasant sail back down the Crouch to the Whitaker spit. There was an hour and a half till low water and I decided to cut across the swatchway. But it was a very close run thing and I will not be cutting it so fine again.
The run back down the Swin channel and across to the Medway was fine and I was soon back on my buoy in Gillingham Reach.
An interesting trip, a few lessons learnt like wear a hat and don't cut it fine over the swatchway's .
Saturday and it is a the club shakedown cruise to Queenbrough.