We'd planned to sail, and sail we most certainly did..... yes it was only our second proper sail of the year, but it was so spectacularly good that it is one of the best bank holiday weekends we've had in several years!
The plan was to head for the Ore for some beach time with the kids.... we'd also planned on meeting up with James for a sundowner, and Bernie and crew were planning on being in the area too...
Tides suggested a late entry into the Ore, so we finally roused ourselves out of bed and cast off at around 11:00..... that usual 'first sail of the season' nervous moment.... a combination of 'will the engine splutter and die 10 yds off the berth' and 'will I remember how to park her in the lock or will I end up sideways' resolved itself in a positive way, with no dramas, and so we set out to sea....
The weather was warm, sunny, and the wind at about 12 to 15kts.... as we were several hours early for a safe entry into the Ore we decided to go the long way round Cork Sands, with a vague plan to head out towards Rough Towers.... it was bloody marvellous... just the right amount of wind for her to be heeled yet not overly so, and making 6 or 7 kts through the water..... I was having a great time, as were the crew, when James called on the VHF..... "sorry not going to make the Ore.... being dragged off to Oman with work in the morning"..... so we had hot weather, but I suspect he'll be having hotter!
A quic crew conflab suggested that as we'd just tacked to clear the final corner of Cork Sands, and were now by utter coincidence heading straight into the Wallet, and were enjoying it so much that we'd just carry on.... and head towards Bradwell or West Mersea and Osea Island or some such.... and what a great sail.... one short dink in the Wallet to clear Clacton, and we flew....
In the meantime, M had been in strategic text message contact with The similarly aged crew of 'Mr Tinkles', who are based at Bradwell, and all was arranged.... arriving a tad early to get into the Bradwell Creek, the wind magically vanished to leave a georgous warm and sunny afternoon.... so we enjoyed a gentle potter at just 1,000rpm up the Blackwater and back for a safe and easy entrance....
I wandered over to Mr T, and was immediately offered a glass of wine.... well I say a glass.... more like a bucket actually.... and that was the evening written off.... a brilliant evening... full of laughter and great company, while the kids, enjoying some company of their own age entertained themselves admirably...
Sunday was a little quiet... a combination of a hangover, plus tidal constrained until mid afternoon (well we could have left at 08:00, but that wasn't feeling like a good idea at the time), saw us napping in the cockpit!
Eventually, we agreed to leave, heading towards Brightlingsea... along the way, Roger had arrived in the marina to go for a sail on his Moody, Sabre... he was just prevaricating when we told him that he had no choice and forced him to join us and Mr T for the trip....
So we had a quick and pleasant run down to Brightlingsea in about 20kts of wind.... it was a tad shallow in places as I cut the corner a tiny bit more than I should... but no problems....
Brightlingsea is really lovely... its quiet, cheap and pretty.... its only failing being that everywhere shuts at 18:00!
So we were forced to get takeaway fish and chips and take them back to Morgana where everyone congregated for a good chin wag... excellent evening...
Monday saw us casting off at 09:00 for the run back to Shotley.... the wind had swung a bit, but only a little.... so we had a reach out of the river Colne, and then a run all the way back down the Wallet... we actually tacked backed down.... well sort of... we did one Gybe half way and just stayed a few degrees off deaddownwnd, so that there wasn't even an accidental gybe risk..... and with about 15kts of true wind, and therefore 10kts apparent, it was easy and relaxing.....
We were in an tied up by 14:00... not the fastest of trips, but not too slow either....
All in all, a really great weekend, that everyone agreed had been one of the better ones in a long while.... made by excellent company and great weather....
Miles logged 60nm
Miles this season 72nm
Miles since this blog started 3,969nm
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