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End of an era

ER has now been sold and will be cruising her home waters again.

That's it for another season

Haslar marina, on route to Chichester harbour

This year was not good for being on the water, what with one thing and another, we didn't get around to doing as much sailing as we would have liked. Hence the lack of posts.

Wilsons boatyard Chichester harbour

After a windy (F7 gusting 8) trip from Southampton to Chichester ER was lifted out of the water and made ready for another winters hibanation under tarpaulin.

We make it to Southampton

After leaving ER in Dover marina for ten days, to let the strong winds abate, we arrived back late Sunday afternoon to prep the boat for an early departure the following morning. With the work completed we set of to find somewhere to eat. After an hour or so of walking through the town centre looking for a decent  pub or restaurant, and steadily becoming depressed with the boarded up shop fronts of this soulless high street, we finally settled for a pasta and beer at the Best Western Marina Hotel.

Dungeness

Putting in a call to Dover port control to obtain clearence to exit the west entrance, we finally get heading west towards Eastbourne at 08.00, passing Dungeness around 11.30ish. Tomato soup with bread, served as a reward for getting half-way through this leg, and brought morale back up after sailing through a very grey morning. We finally made it into the Royal Sovereign marina, Eastbourne, passing in through the lock gates at around 17.30, just before the heavens opened up.

ER locking out of Royal Sovereign

Early Tuesday morning we said goodbye to Eastbourne and made the four hour trip under motor sail to Brighton marina, a shopping centre surrounded by water, but with a great deal more life than Dover's high street had. Again the trip was made under now familiar grey clouds, but the afternoon brought a welcome blue sky.

Departed Brighton early the following morning for a non eventful trip under motor to Southampton.

Blue skies

Bill keeping a watchful eye on shipping

Goodbye West Mersea

Bill on the helm

With my good friend Bill, who kindly volunteered to help get ER around to the Solent we said our farewells to West Mersea with an enjoyable meal at West Mersea Yacht Club on Saturday evening. After a not so enjoyable breakfast we let go the mooring strop at 08.00, waved West Mersea goodbye and set of down the River Blackwater with a favorable tide towards Ramsgate. Weather good but cold. With the help of a northerly wind we had a great journey under sail via The Spitway and Fisherman's Gat (thanks to crossingthethamesestuary.com for the navigation notes) arriving at Ramsgate at 16.30. Meeting up with Bill's partner Lesley, the three of us tucked into a great meal with drinks at the Belgium Bar, again excellent food. ER and crew left Ramsgate after a late breakfast around 14.00 on Monday arriving in the industrial hub of Dover at 16.30.

Approaching Dover from the north

Then it stops going to plan. We wait two days in Dover for strong winds to blow over before attempting  the long haul to Eastbourne. Departing Dover at 08.00 Thursday, and motoring against both tide and wind. Blowing an average above 20 knots with steep seas we arrived off Folkstone harbour at 12.30, that's 5nm in 4 1/2 hours! At that rate it would take us days to reach Eastbourne. So, unable to stay in Folkstone, because it dries out, we headed back to Dover, getting back in 1 hour.

With the knowledge that these winds were not going to change over the next few days we secured ER in Dover marina and jumped on the train home to await more favourable weather before returning to complete the next leg.

ER snug in Dover marina,
without bowline!

To continue. I hope.

Last of the Summer Whine

Made the phone call last week to get ER lifted out the water for the second week in October. So that's it, summer's over.

Not the best of summers, weather wise, but it was a good one for sailing. Our two week exploring the Deben and Orwell was really good. It was a first time for us to sail into Woodbridge, a great town, lots of foody places and pubs. The Tidemill Yacht Harbour marina was a disappointment though. Their website beefs it up by stating that it's 'The finest yacht harbour on the River Deben' well I can't argue with that, because it's the only harbour on the Deben! I understand the high cost of an overnight stay, as the marina is in the middle of the town, but the showers are closed at 21.00hrs (other marinas are open 24hrs), which for the sailor who often needs flexible hours, seems strange to me. That said Woodbridge made up for the short-coming.

Now trying to cram in as much sailing as possible into the remaining weekends.Went out with a couple of old salty dogs  this weekend. A good sail to Burnham-on-Crouch but the return trip resulted in us hitting the putty trying to beat the spring ebb to get back to our mooring. We were lucky enough to be pulled off the putty by the skipper and his partner from the yacht Alderney in their dinghy, who informed us that quit a few boats of late had done the same, in that particular spot, A force 7 blew through that night. A bottle of wine should find it's way to their cockpit.

Saturday Evening - West Mersea