Was it an unlucky day? The jury is out
It was certainly one of the more tricky days for the navigator. The forecast looked pretty uninspiring and seemed set fair to stay that way for a few days. Northerly F3/4 isn't what I'd have asked Santa for, not by a long chalk
After debating running round to Harty Ferry in the Swale and then completing the run to the Crouch on Friday, we decided one day of misery was a better option than two and headed for home
Of course, there was the option of staying put in Ramsgate for another day in the hope that the weather tomorrow would be better but it looked a forlorn hope and in any case there isn't a hell of a lot to do in Ramsgate
Having made the "let's just go for it and get back" decision, the next issue was one of tides. We've learnt the hard way on this trip that a foul tide is to be avoided if at all possible. Today though I had another problem to consider
The shortest route back was the way we came south i.e. crossing the SW Sunk. However, after scraping the barnacles off last time, I wanted at least half tide this time. Add everything together and it dictated an 07:00 departure and a foul tide all the way to Fisherman's Gat. The good news would be a fair tide down the Whitaker and into the Crouch. What goes around ...
A foul tide and a foul wind is too much for anyone and it was sadly a case of bite the bullet and motor North. As always, it just seemed to drag on forever and there was an uncomfortable rolly swell too.
Twice we had to turn to starboard to avoid shipping. The first was a work platform type vessel which steamed down from the North on a head on collision course and made no alteration of course or speed. Not surprising really given that there appeared to be no-one on the bridge!
The second was less equivocal, a cargo ship heading for the Prince's Channel approaching from starboard was without doubt the stand on vessel and we turned and ducked around his stern.
At last, we reached the gat and turned into a more westerly heading. As we'd hoped, this gave us just enough angle off the wind to get her sailing close hauled. The peace and quiet was very welcome but it wasn't to last.
As we crossed the Black Deep, the wind lost it's get up and go and consequently so did we. The tide could now get a proper grip on us and push us South of our planned crossing of the sands.
Soon enough we were in that situation which must have been a nightmare for mariners in the days of sail - down tide and down wind of where we needed to be. We were in no mood to emulate my forebears and started the engine!
Across the sands with plenty of water this time, we turned North across the Barrow Deep and then skirted around the end of the East Barrow into the Whitaker Channel.
Every attempt to get her sailing, and we tried several times, was foiled by the wind either shifting to head us or dying away to nothing, or both, within minutes of us unfurling the genoa and getting the sails set.
Finally, inside the Inner Crouch, we actually managed to get sailing for the last couple of miles before ducking into Burnham Yacht Harbour for the night (the tide was on the turn, we'd been on the go for nearly 12 hours and frankly we'd had enough so another two hours under motor flogging the tide up to Fambridge did not greatly appeal)
A quick dinner on board was followed by beer and a pick on the junior crewman session in the Swallowtail bar.
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