Burnham bound

After some consideration, we decided to head for Burnham, to meet up with a few other East Coasties, and to enjoy the first two days of Burnham week...Tides were civilised, suggesting an 10h00 start, to take the tide round North Foreland, up to Fishermans/Foulgers gat (dependent upon sea state for crossing the Sunk sands) and then over Sunk sands, and plugging the tide for an hour before it turned fair back intowards the Crouch...So we had a relaxed start, went for fuel, and upon getting ready to leave the fuel berth, the engine wouldn't start.... it turned over perfectly well, but wouldn't fire.... I checked the stop solenoid, and tried again, and after labouring for a few seconds it fired up..... later considering the situation, I decided that the combination of very rough seas the few days previously, along with low fuel levels had probably put some crud into the fuel pump system.... its been fine ever since....So we left Ramsgate to a much flatter and altogether more pleasant sea state.... still a bit lumpy but bearable.... and true to form, the wind was on the nose..... still it'd be OK once we turned towards the Crouch....We motored up to Foulgers Gat (i'd decided the shallower Sunk crossing opposite Fishermans Gat wasn't wise in a falling tide with a lumpy sea running) and after passing through the gat, then crept gingerly over the Sunk sands.... no problems at all.... in fact, plenty of water the whole way over.... and then we turned westish towards the Crouch.... i'd noticed as we crossed Sunk that the wind was fading... so as we turned west, i discovered that the sea breeze had kicked in, and killed the wind... we in fact had 3kts... on the nose.... sigh.... anyone want to buy a set of sails?... only very lightly used....so it was a tedious motor up to Whittaker, and down the channel into Burnham... interesting at low water.... shows the hazards that you must avoid quite clearly!at least it was hot... in fact lovely and sunny by the time we reached Royal Corinthian.... where we grabbed a buoy, blew the tender up (roll on them davits!), and the motored over to see the 'gang'... we ended up leaving the morring and going alongside Full Circle for the night where we sat and enjoyed a bottle or two of wine in the usual pleasant company........ racing tommorrow aboard various boats.... hope the wind comes back!

Miles logged 47nm
Miles this trip 276nm
Miles this season 903nm
Miles since this blog started 2,700nm