Monday, 18 July 2011
Storm Bound
Still windy (F5-7 SW) on 0710 forecast, so definitely not going anywhere today. Did some shopping with Sue after another cooked breakfast done by Mike. I'm being spoiled! Ditto lunch and dinner (steak) before an early bed 2130 to be up by 0400 tomorrow.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Bradwell to Brightlingsea
Mike cooked breakfast, then we had a lazy morning before leaving the marina at 1200. It was pretty windy, so we just unfurled the jib and broad reached across to the Crouch. Mike set the autohelm, which is digitally controlled, and keeps Elfreda well on course.
The sky turned black ahead as we gybed round to run into the Colne just past the no.8 buoy, and the rain was hard in our faces as we approached the Pyefleet. I had to take my glasses off as they were too wet to see through, and I was peering through the spray hood trying to spot the mooring Mike was aiming for when he suddenly gave me the tiller and went forward. The buoy was about 10' ahead and the wind and tide were taking us straight on, so I slowed us down with reverse while Mike grabbed the mooring and got a rope on it. Elfreda just pivoted round to lie to it after we were moored. I really can tell that Mike is used to sailing without a crew!
The waves kept us rocking while we had a lunch, (Pimms, then chicken salad), but things quietened down once the tide turned. This lulled us into a false sense of security, so things did not get stowed as well as they should have.
We cast off at about 1500 to motor over to Brightlingsea, and there were no problems until we were past the Brightlingsea Spit Cardinal; wind over tide kicked up a lot in the entrance, making Elfreda roll enough to dislodge the egg container and send some tomatoes into the bilges. 3 broken eggs and 1 squashed tomato later we were safely tied up on a pontoon in Brightlingsea harbour. Victoria was just moored just across from us, so we wandered over to say "Hi" then had a lazy afternoon. We spent a convivial evening with Sue and Howard in Elfreda, sharing dinner and drinks and confirming plans for the trip over to Holland.
The sky turned black ahead as we gybed round to run into the Colne just past the no.8 buoy, and the rain was hard in our faces as we approached the Pyefleet. I had to take my glasses off as they were too wet to see through, and I was peering through the spray hood trying to spot the mooring Mike was aiming for when he suddenly gave me the tiller and went forward. The buoy was about 10' ahead and the wind and tide were taking us straight on, so I slowed us down with reverse while Mike grabbed the mooring and got a rope on it. Elfreda just pivoted round to lie to it after we were moored. I really can tell that Mike is used to sailing without a crew!
The waves kept us rocking while we had a lunch, (Pimms, then chicken salad), but things quietened down once the tide turned. This lulled us into a false sense of security, so things did not get stowed as well as they should have.
We cast off at about 1500 to motor over to Brightlingsea, and there were no problems until we were past the Brightlingsea Spit Cardinal; wind over tide kicked up a lot in the entrance, making Elfreda roll enough to dislodge the egg container and send some tomatoes into the bilges. 3 broken eggs and 1 squashed tomato later we were safely tied up on a pontoon in Brightlingsea harbour. Victoria was just moored just across from us, so we wandered over to say "Hi" then had a lazy afternoon. We spent a convivial evening with Sue and Howard in Elfreda, sharing dinner and drinks and confirming plans for the trip over to Holland.
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Setting off
Mike Macarthy normally sails his classic bermudan yacht single handed, but he had major knee surgery last winter and can not move around the boat as easily as he used to. I heard him asking around for crew to help take Elfreda over to Holland, and volunteered to help out since I was free that week. I'd done one cross channel crossing, in a Dufour 40 from the Hamble to St Vaar and back, but expected quite a different experiance in a 25' long, YW 5 tonner.
Sailing trips always start with the forecast, and this one changed as soon as the forecast was made. The initial plan of Maldon to Bradwell creek on Saturday, then getting up early to make Ramsgate on Sunday before heading to Ostend became Maldon to Bradwell Marina to Brightlingsea to wait for the weather.
We set off down river from Maldon at 1300 with the lunchtime high tide. The rain came straight down as we cast off, but by the time we were round the bend into Collier's Reach the rain had eased, and the reefed main and jib took us along nicely for a reach down river to reach Bradwell by 1500.
After a drink in the Marina bar we headed into the village, and had fish and chips in the pub before spending some time in the Bradwell Quay Yacht Club where we bumped into David and Persephone Lewin (Moonstone VIII).
A convivial start to the trip, and gentle introduction to sailing Elfreda.
Sailing trips always start with the forecast, and this one changed as soon as the forecast was made. The initial plan of Maldon to Bradwell creek on Saturday, then getting up early to make Ramsgate on Sunday before heading to Ostend became Maldon to Bradwell Marina to Brightlingsea to wait for the weather.
We set off down river from Maldon at 1300 with the lunchtime high tide. The rain came straight down as we cast off, but by the time we were round the bend into Collier's Reach the rain had eased, and the reefed main and jib took us along nicely for a reach down river to reach Bradwell by 1500.
After a drink in the Marina bar we headed into the village, and had fish and chips in the pub before spending some time in the Bradwell Quay Yacht Club where we bumped into David and Persephone Lewin (Moonstone VIII).
A convivial start to the trip, and gentle introduction to sailing Elfreda.
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