2012 Summer Cruise - day 13

A late start today! Slipped our lines at Suffolk Yacht Harbour at the ridiculously late hour of 11 am and motored out past Felixstowe docks.

Several sailing barges were around today, mostly lying to anchor in the lower reaches of the Orwell. They are a magnificent sight to behold and I'd love to go for a sail on one sometime. One of my ancestors older brothers was a mate on one back in the 19th century so I have a famiuly connection with them

Shotley Point and HMS Ganges

The Orwell and Stour are rich in visual interest. As we motored out the modern container port of Felixstowe lay to port whilst across the river to starboard, above the masts of the yachts in Shotley marina, can just be seen the water tower and, with the eye of faith, the lower mainmast at the former HMS Ganges.

With the port and Navy Yard of Harwich completing the triumvirate it's a busy place and you need to keep your eye on the buoys and boats and an ear bent to the VHF.

Sneaking towards the Naze

A windless day meant a flat calm glassy sea so I cut the corner as tight as I dared towards the Naze. Got the sails up and the engine off for a while down the Medusa channel and just managed to pinch a course past the end of Walton Pier.

The slight breeze from the South East I'd been sailing with disappeared and it was back on with the engine for the rest of the trip. It's a shame to have to do so much motoring but on the other hand there's not much point in jilling about going nowhere at all

An uneventful run, apart from spotting a friend (Rog on Sabre) and having a chat on the VHF, saw us berthed in Bradwell Marina by twenty to six.

It was a lovely evening so we went for a stroll along the sea wall to St., Peters on the Wall. More of a hike actually but it made the first pint in the Green Man taste particularly good. Dinner and several more pints followed before staggering back to the boat and heading for bed