It occurs to me that I could be had up under the Trades Descriptions Act and ought to title these particular ramblings as "Summer Idle" or some such.
This extended week was always intended to be "hop and stop" as Jane prefers the being there to the getting there and I've already had my epic adventure this year!
Never the less, today we did actually go sailing. What's more, we set out from Burnham somewhat after dawn but well before sunrise in order to catch the last of the ebb tide towards the Spitway
As soon as we were out of the marina, the sails were up and the engine off. Needless to say, the wind was due Wrong again. Right up the chuff so all the usual faffing about with goosewinged genoa, poled out at times and semi-accidental gybes ensued
Despite these tribulations, we made excellent time to the Swin Spitway buoy before coming hard on the wind and heading across the bottom end if the Wallet towards Clacton in order to get an angle on the wind into the Blackwater proper.
After initially flattering to deceive, progress became increasingly erratic as the wind shifted about, died, picked up and generally frustrated every attempt to get the boat settled into some sort of groove
Jane had already baled out and put her head down for a snooze. The 4:00 am alarm call would have been bad enough without the added charms of the usual Outer Blackwater chop to contend with (I have to confess I wasn't enjoying it all that much either)
With uncanny accuracy I decided enough was enough if we were to make the tide into Tollesbury and started the engine. With George at the helm I dropped the main and lashed it temporarily to the boom - I see no point in leaving it flogging around to no effect just for the pretence.
The uncanny accuracy was that once we'd settled down our ETA at Tollesbury Marina was exactly the time of high water! Approaching the Nass Beacon I called up the marina on the VHF and arranged a berth for the night with the option to stay two
After a bite of lunch, we booked in and had a drink before repairing back on board to put a proper harbour stow on the main, generally tidy up and prepare dinner. Following my culinary efforts yesterday, Jane took a turn and made a delicious chicken chasseure with the other half of the chicken breast and served out up with mixed veg.
After washing up, we headed back to the club for a couple of drinks before settling down for the night. Tomorrow will be another busy day doing very little, Thursday night actually see us heading towards Harwich!
PS photos might be in even shorter supply than usual because the boat camera flew off the cockpit seat and landed in the puddle of water that accumulates in the corner when we're heeled over close hauled. It didn't bounce nor did it float and now it doesn't work either
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