Fair Winds for The Swale

11th & 12th September

Fairly strong easterly winds for the 11th down to The Swale and S and S Westerly winds for the return to The Orwell the following day…

11th September and a reefed main and staysail out to NE Gunfleet before shaking out the reefs for the sail, off the wind, down Barrow Deep. Very little traffic apart from a visit from northbound HMS Vigilant.  We were not boarded, they just observed us before she continued north.

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A cracking fast sail …

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Knock John Tower

….no more alien than our own ‘Roughs’ but an alien none the less!

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…and entered The Swale well after dark

12th September

And winds are strong for the return to The Orwell from the S and SW..

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The Swale

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Leaving The Swale at HW

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The Kent coast

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Looking up The Thames

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Heading WNW across to Maplin Sands and plenty of shipping …

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Shivering Sands Tower

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Looking towards The Medway

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Both anchored

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Just past Maplin starboard and fair following winds….

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Poled out all the way to The Naze via The Spitway

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Sun setting over Harwich and still sailing….

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going going…

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gone..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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