Quiet crossing

A quiet crossing is a good crossing!

The previous evening, we'd arrived at Shotley in plenty of time to get ourselves sorted properly.... a few jobs to do, including removing the davits so that we could go in stern too at Oostende, all completed, with time to relax.... we moved Morgana to the fuel pontoon so that we could fill up, and spent the night there..... and at 01:30 the alarm went off.... an evil time to be awoken!

We locked out quietly, along with two other boats, Duncan in his Sadler, and Alan in his First..... he'd dragged a rather large crew along, so we were looking good in terms of space on board!

We motored out into a windless night....

As ever, Harwich is a bit of a minefield at night with regards to bouy lighting.... they are there... well lit, but impossible to see against the mass of sodium lighting from the contrainer docks.... not a problem for us, as we know the water well, but every time I enter or exit Harwich at night, I wonder about how first time visitors cope!

We motored on to Cork Sands Yacht Beacon, and then to Rough Towers.... buy this time, there is enough daylight to be able to see quite well, and so we continued...

In fact, we continued under engine the whole of the rest of the way.... the TSS was painless, and we didn't need to take any avoiding action at all, and by 13:00, we were entering Oostende....

We'd set up lines ready for the med style arrangement in the Montgomery dock, and as we entered, Robert, the harbourmaster directed us to a berth that made my heart sink!.... it was right in a corner, with boats already on both sides.... so one and a half times our beam as a gap to get through, and then try to grab the pick up bouy....

Theline to the bouy was now set up on the wrong side.... so I asked SWMBO to move it.... a bit of a communications error on my part, as she though we were going in bows to now, and so relocated the line to the other end of the boat!

As I stuck Morgana into reverse, the engine made a funny noise, which distracted me.... and gulp... it was looking like a bit of a cockup was in the making....

But we recovered manfully... A little carefull use of the engine, and in we reversed.... Robert grabbed the line in his rib... and threaded the bouy for us... and phew... we were in!

A cold beer followed shortly after, and then we waited.... and we waited.... and we waited.... It appeared that the other two boats had decided to try and sail.... even though the wind was light to non existant.... and they finally arrived at around 19:00...... along with a couple of hours of pouring rain.....glad we motored!

We did however feel somewhat sorry for them, and produced a rather splendid Chili con Carne for 14......

A pontoon party followed, with much merriment, and a substantial amount of alcolhol consumed, and we retired to bed, exhausted, but happy at just after midnight...

Miles logged 76nm
Miles this trip 76nm
Miles this season 148nm
Miles since this blog started 4,045nm