The final voyage

Glen dropped Rik and I off at Fambridge bright and early. Well it wasn't that bright and in hindsight it wasn't that early either!

We launched the tender, scrambled aboard and loaded up our kit for the day. With the last of the ebb under us it was an easy paddle down to Brigantia.

On board, we checked fuel and water. Plenty of the former, not enough of the latter. Tying the tender to our buoy, we nipped onto the pontoon for five minutes to top up the water.

Off we went under power. Not so much as a breath of wind. So much for the F4 that was supposed to greet the day. We made good time down towards Burnham and started to get a bit of a breeze from the North West which filed the genoa and gave us a bit of extra get up and go.

However, the somewhat late start was now choosing us dear with the tide flooding hard nigh on halving our speed over the ground. Sausage butties went down very well at this point!

Out towards the Ray Sand buoy we crawled eventually turning North towards the Blackwater. With the main now up and a working breeze we were able to get her close hauled on the Port tack and just lay a course up the edge of the flats outside the old beacons.

Off with the engine for an hour. Ah, blessed silence! It wasn't to last however as our E.T.A. at Tollesbury was well adrift of what it needed to be.

Back on with the noise machine and a phone call to the chap whose bought her for some local advice about getting in well after high water. He was out and about in his dinghy so came out to pilot us in. I'd never have followed the line up the creek he showed us without his guidance but it definitely kept us in the slacker water

After a slight bit of confusion over which side of the pontoon we needed to be, we docked Brigantia and set about removing all our kit. We'd brought every kit bag we've got with us and on the sail up we'd taken turns to go through every locker. Despite having thought we'd removed most of the stuff already, we found loads more!

The deal was now done. Paperwork signed, payment confirmed. Brigantia is under new ownership and good luck and good sailing.

If you've enjoyed reading about our adventures on board Brigantia, come and join us aboard S.V. Erbas at www.sverbas.blogspot.co.uk

The End (which is just a new beginning!)