2012 Summer Cruise - day 12

After a rather sleepless night for the skipper (the crew fared a little better) we dragged ourselves out of our pits and set too putting the boat to rights.

The Genoa was bent back on, the cockpit tent stowed away and the lockers re-stowed. Finally, we got under way at a quarter to nine, rather later than intended.

We motored downriver surprised at how much wind there was given how sheltered it had been at anchor. Deciding discretion was the better part and all that, I put the first reef in the main before it was even hoisted.

Motoring out across the bar at the river mouth was a bit too exciting. Our late start meant it was well nigh the bottom of the tide and we only had inches under the keels and it was a bit bumpy to boot. We got away with it though and soon had reefed main and partial Genoa up as we bore away on the starboard tack to the South East.

Flat out sailing!

With a stiff breeze and a fair tide we made good progress through the minefields North of.Harwich. Yeah Gods there are a lot of pot markers around there! Eventually, we tacked to get around the North end of the Cutler holding well inshore before coming back around onto the other tack which took us nicely across the shipping lane well ahead of an incoming cargo ship. We actually crossed the lsne a good three miles ahead of the ship but of course he then crossed our track barely half a mile astern of us. We do 5 knots at best, he's eased back to ... 15!

Now it was tack for tack up the South side of the shipping lane. Rain was approaching from the South West so we skinned up in the nick of time. On our horizon in the rain we could just make out one of the sailing barges under full sail and we even managed to get some sort of photograph of it for once!

Once the rain passed, the wind dropped significantly so we shook out the reef in the main.

Dodging the other sailing boats, of which there were quite a few, we made our way gently upriver past the huge container ships at Felixstowe. It's quite sobering to consider that you could, with care, fit two Brigantias into just one 40' shipping container and these ships carry thousands of the things!

Calling up Suffolk Yacht Harbour on the VHF we arranged a berth for the night, dropped the sails and motored in. After booking in, a quick pint in the Lightship was followed by a snooze and a shower.

After dinner we returned to the Lightship and persisted with the beer even though it wasn't very good. I wouldn't be rushing back again and if I did it'd be something out of a bottle I think