breezy

Saturday, as planned, was a fix and fettle day....Initial task was to mount the liferaft.... We decided in the end to put it on the pushpit rail.... I had to move the outboard bracker first.... one bolt over the side, so a typical tally for me.... easily replaced though... and the cradle fitted perfectly.... still allows the lockers to open on the sugar scoop, and clear of the cockpit drains.... but crucially, easy to launch for SWMBO and the kids.... it was entertaining to watch me balance onto the sugar scoop, wobbling my way into place with a 38Kg liferaft.. praying that I didn't drop it!Second job was to mount the 4 fire extinguishers.... painful drilling holes in the beautifully varnished woodwork.... but no mistakes, and suitable secure.... one by the galley, one in the forward cabin, and one in each of the aft cabins (as they are alongside the engine)Third task was to service the seawater pump in the galley.... it didn't work... the foot operated pump could be depressed, but then took several minutes to rise back to the upper position, and no water from the tap....After depositing a decent amount of seawater in the bilges (how much water can one pump body and 1.5m of pipe hold?!?) and then cursing for 3/4 hour as I reassembled the pump with a set of new diaphragms, I was disgusted to see that firstly, I hadn't seated one of the seals properly so it was leaking, and furthermore, so sign of any water....another 45 mins and the pump was back together and not leaking.... I removed the pipe from the pump that leads to the tap, and was treated to a face full of salt water upon pressing the pedal.... ah... a blockage in the either the pipe of tap.... I removed the pipe from the underside of the tap.... another press... more water in the bilges...So, the tap is blocked..... another session of rearranging my body into shapes that it isn't meant to adopt, and the tap is removed.... dissassembled, and several large pieces of crustacean are removed.... reassembled, et voila.... a functional sea water pump....During the afternoon, we had seen a boat tied up on the fuel pontoon.... a friend from Neptune.... we didn't know they were coming to Shotley, and they didn't know we were coming either... so a shouted conversation across the aisle, and a plan was formed for them to come over later..... we also met up with the captain and crew of Stargazer, who also accepted our invitation to come over....by 20h00, we had a cockpit full.... i'd rigged the cockpit tent... so it remained warm enough to stay up on deck... we drank a decent qauntity of wine, consumed an acceptable quantity of nibbles and dips, and had a jolly good evening....Sunday saw us looking nervously at the weather forecast.... our plan as readers of this blog will know, was to head up to the Deben for a BBQ and rendevous.... the forecast talked of 21mph and rain... not ideal for either a BBQ or a Deben bar crossing..... Stargazer bailed out due to ongoing engine troubles, and Emjaytoo took the sensible option of spending time in the safer confines of the Orwell what with a new unfamiliar boat and a good wind forecast......So a plan was formed to head on out.... and if it wasn't too bad, to head towards Hamford water where an escape to avoid rain could be effected at pretty much any time... we locked out, and decided to head up the Orwell for a bit of a shakedown... bearing in mind that the most wind we have experienced in her yet is about 10kts..... so headed off round Fagbury point past the container docks, and into the Orwell proper, on a tight reach, heading towards a beat on some legs... and the wind was reaching 23kts apparent (around 17kts true).... Morgana behaved impeccably.... no signs of rounding up... sailed beautifully.... but it was cold!..... we ended up in oilies.... not really ideal... so we abandoned both plans.. for the Deben and Hamford water, and after seeing Emjaytoo out by Pin Mill turned round and headed back down river sailing with them for a few minutes,..... CliveG called, out for a day sail, and we shot out to Landguard, and then turned back towards Shotley.... we locked through after just 3 or so hours out, and 13nm logged, and returned to our berth.....A quiet night... with the cockpit tent back up, played games with the kids in the cockpit, enjoyed a pleasant meal (how great is it to have a saloon table that is useable!!!!!), and then retired to bed, quite tired by 22h00....Monday saw us arising sensibly late to be greeted by heavy rain.... ehat else to do, but to have a huge fried breakfast.... we tidied up, packed away, spent an hour rearranging stowage to great effect and then left for home at 11h30.....Not a fabulous sailing weekend, and oh so typical British bank holiday weekend weather... but a joy to have a boat where a bit of rain doesn't completely ruin things and there is still space to stretch out, eat and not get on top of one another.....

Miles logged 13nm
Miles this season 283nm
Miles since this blog started 2,077nm