It wasn't one of those weekends that has the red tops screaming "phew what a scorcher..", but it was a whole load better than we've experienced recently....Things got off to a good start when we were able to get away unexpectedly early, arriving down at Morgana at 20h00, and settled in quickly.For what seems the first time in weeks we were able to go to bed with the hatches open to avoid the dreaded condensation, and slept a full and sound nights sleep. Our plan to head for the Backwaters meant looking for an entry at any time except +/-1H of LW, and with LW at 11h00, and an hours run to the entrance, we decided to wait until after, rather than before.... so a very leisurely start.... by 10h00, we had finished the normal routine, and were kicking our heels... the lock was busy with a steady procession of boats, so we set off out..Fabulous weather.... warm... sunny.... and about 13kts.... the course towards the entrance to the Backwaters, via the Pye end buoy was a beam reach, so with full sails set, we had a brilliant sail in that direction.... it was so nice, and we were so early for the tide, that we carried straight on, all the way out to Medusa buoy..... suntan cream... where is it?... not needed it for months!!!!Sadly, by 11h30. we turned around, and headed back towards Pye end.... another beam reach as we re-traced our course.... and we soon came upon it, and tunred into the backwaters.... we were able to sail half way up the channel, but then it was a bit on the nose. so rather than short tack in what is quite a narrow channel in places, and without a decent rise of tide, we motored the rest of the way...Plenty of space upon arrival, which surprised us, as it is a popular anchorage, and by 13h30 we were hook down, and relaxing again.... it was positively hot!... After a slow lunch, and a glass or two of wine, we were hailed.... it was Bernie.... she anchored just behind us... but was for some reason very concerned about the lack of water.... we should have paid more attention...Eventually, the kids exerted enough pressure, and we took them ashore, loaded with the full complement required for a picnic.... a good while on the beach, and then as we prepared to BBQ, the heavens opened.. so we made a mad dash back to the boat... or rather we tried.... half way back, the outboard concked out.... so I ended up rowing.... not the fastest of transport modes in an inflatable with 4 people on board, against the tide... and we ate on the boat....When we reached the boat, Bernie was also struggling to get her outboard running, and after we had dried out, de-sanded the kids etc and then eaten, I went over to see if I could help.... I couldn't.But as I rowed back, Morgana seemed to have an inch or so more boot topping showing than I am used to seeing..... my blood ran cold.... 2 hours to LW, and we were on the bottom..... it was then that I remembered the offset I had removed some weeks ago..... argh....So, I scrambled aboard, hit the windlass, and literally dragged her off the mud.... fortunately, she had only just touched down, but with such soft mud, and with no swell at all, no one had felt it.... she came off relatively easily, and we anchored again 30' further out.... enough to add 4m extra depth under the keel..... I then put the offest back kind of speedily! I think that she'd have sat quite well in the mud, as it is so soft, but with probably a further 1m to fall, it wouldn't have been fun....The anchor again set beautifully first time.... I am very impressed with the Delta... it seems to bite and hold really well... and because of this, I sleep well on Morgana at anchor... I am much less nervous than I was in Magna Carter with her CQR.... maybe irrational, but thats the way it is.We went ashore again later, after the skies had cleared, and had a lovely walk on the beach.... the sunset, as is often the case here, was truly stunning, with a georgeous red glow lighting up the water....The following morning, we arose at a very civilised time... the same LW timings meant no exit until after lunch.... so after our now customary hearty fried breakfast, we went ashore.... the outboard ran half the way, and then I rowed the rest.... I suspect old fuel....As it was 1hour before LW, we could walk out onto the sandbanks, and walked a good distance off the beach.... absolutely teeming with wildlife..... shells, molluscs, jellyfish, tube worms, and loads of different sorts of sea weeds..... only spoilt by a solitary rusting beer can.... what a sad race we are. I was keepinga close eye on the tide times.... with such flat sands, the water can come in at alarming rates, so I chivvied the kides off the sands, after paddling in shallow pools, where the sun had warmed the water to the temperature of bath water.....We retraced our steps, and I took (rowed) the tender back to Morgana.... it was still only midday, so we again, enjoyed a lunch, and then sat in the sun..... C got out the words for her school play, and started quietly learning them, M sat and cast a fishing rod over the stern again and again... and SWMBO and I sat and dozed in the sun, while we listened to relaxing music...... It is times like this that it is important to take a big mental step backwards and remind yourself just how bloody lucky you are..... I coudn't have been any happier......By 13h30, impatience had the better of me, and I decided to face the gauntlet of the shallow entrance! (I make it sound like Hades!!!!!)..... and we motored out.... after the first dog leg, we raised the sails, and with a beam reach again (thankyou!!!!), we made just over 6kts through the water.... in fact, this was a bit much for me.... as we were still in very shallow water.... as the sounder reached 0.5m, I was just about to reach for the sheets and slow her down a bit, when we went into deeper water (relatively anyway... 2m), and I relaxed again.... the kids steered all the way back into Harwich, and only as we reached guard, did we have to drop the sails.... not because of wind strength or direction, but because we were in the shipping channel, and a Maersk ship was wanting to come in! (we don't argue with them)We then had a long wait to lock in.... with about 9 boatd in front of us... but had a good lock through, and then nearly made a complete mess of getting on our berth.... my fault... the wind was more across the berth than I had figured, and I turned in too late, meaning we were not lined up.... only the chance availability of a free double berth opposite us, allowing me to motor backwards into it and have another successful go, otherwise, we'd have been on the linear pontoon at the end of the aisle....A fast tidy up, and away by 16h45, via the chandlery, not for more expensive marine bits, but far more vitally.... ice cream!Home by 19h00... a little redder than on Friday... weary, but happy!
Miles logged 19nm
Miles this season 593nm
Miles since this blog started 2,387nm
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