After spending 2 days draining and checking the fuel tank for water contamination ( I left the filler cap off while washing down ) I still had 5 days left until work on Tuesday. So Thursday midday I was heading out into Gillingham reach bound for the Swale.
It was a nice sail down the Medway but once I got to Garrison point and into the Thames Estuary the wind died to bugger all and I just drifted down on the tide.
Once past the Montgomery I gave up sailing and flashed up the engine. It was a hard slog coming up beside the wind farm and into the Swale, by the time I got to Faversham creek it was dark. Fortunately the moon was out and it was not too difficult to spot the mooring buoys on the south side of the channel. I managed to hook one and was happy to be safely tied up.
It was a nice sail down the Medway but once I got to Garrison point and into the Thames Estuary the wind died to bugger all and I just drifted down on the tide.
Once past the Montgomery I gave up sailing and flashed up the engine. It was a hard slog coming up beside the wind farm and into the Swale, by the time I got to Faversham creek it was dark. Fortunately the moon was out and it was not too difficult to spot the mooring buoys on the south side of the channel. I managed to hook one and was happy to be safely tied up.
After some food I made a passage plan for the River Crouch over in Essex. At breakfast I checked the weather forecast, SW 5-6. A bit too breezy for me on my own, my confidence was still dented and I was being cautious. So I spent the day pottering about on board.
The weather did not improve on Saturday so I had a good scrub down and listened to the football on the radio.
The weather did not improve on Saturday so I had a good scrub down and listened to the football on the radio.
Saturdays weather was worse than Fridays so I spent a second day on the buoys, did a bit of fishing and more pottering around. The weather for Sunday was looking much better. So I was up at 0520 to get the latest forecast and with it still holding good I was away by 05:50. I had the sails up and the engine off at the Columbine buoy and had a lovely sail up past the wind farm. It went calm and then picked up again going down to Red Sand towers but then died completely, so it was on with the engine. As I got into the Medway the wind picked up again and as I was ahead of schedule I put the sails back up and sailed all the way to Gillingham Reach; lovely.
I tied up no problem and was home by 15:30. The trip did not go as planned but I think that is the norm as soon as you step on a sail boat.
I have yet more nights to do so I have another week off in 7 days time. Maybe I will get to the River Crouch then.
I tied up no problem and was home by 15:30. The trip did not go as planned but I think that is the norm as soon as you step on a sail boat.
I have yet more nights to do so I have another week off in 7 days time. Maybe I will get to the River Crouch then.