A Few Days in the Thames Estuary

28^th June

We are anchored in Stangate Creek, River Medway after sailing here from Pyefleet Creek on the 26^th in strong northeasterly winds.

We had a nice beat out of the Colne and gradually the wind increased and a reef was slipped in to the main whilst crossing the Wallet Spitway. By then we had 20 to 25 knots over the deck.

Bearing away to the south we furled the stay sail and just gently ran down to the Medway under just a reefed main on a preventer.

By the time we passed the wreck of the ‘Montgomery’ it was blowing a solid F6.

We anchored under the north bank of Stangate Creek, half a mile further up the Creek from the entrance to Dead Mans Hole. So close to the bank we are pretty much wind rode. Nice.

The northerlies will finally die later tonight and we will try to sail north tomorrow in the predicted easterlies. But it has been windy.

We sailed across the Orford Bar at 1500 on the 23^rd June.

‘Dura’ was inbound and going like a train with Wendy, Peter and James Robbie.

NE4’s enabled me to gently test my aches and pains as we sailed to Pyefleet Creek under genoa only.

We were heading south down the Wallet, goose winged under twin headsails.

A large Sailing Vessel heading northeast directly towards us under engine only was making heavy going with wind over tide. Watching her carefully I waited as long as I could for her to alter course. Incomprehensibly the boat stood on.

I turned hard to port, which backed the stay sail. The SV cheerfully waved as they passed. I’m not proud of the fact that I shouted invective and shook my fist. Arse Holes!

I’ve done some jobs. And tried to work out why everything hurts. Neck, lower back and ribs. I’m getting old.

I’ve got a ‘vendetta’ with my Jabsco Manuel Toilet. Or should I say with Jabsco! Since 2014 I’ve bought at least eight service kits and a complete pump assembly as a spare. This morning I removed the pump assembly and installed the spare. I suppose I’ve been on board for ten months over the last three years. So although I am a summer live aboard I’m still just one person.

I’ve had to swap the pump twice a year since I installed the loo. I don’t think that’s good enough.

30^th June

Yesterday was a fabulous sail from the Medway.

We slowly tacked out of the Medway against the last of the flood in light airs and it took nearly two hours to be abeam of Grain Tower before we could lay a course across The Flats and Nore Sand at slack water to the north bank of the estuary.

A beat along the southern bank of Maplin Sands before a longer tack on starboard to Blacktail Spit allowed two more tacks before we were able to tack on to starboard and lay a course north east through Middle Deep around the top of Whitaker Spit and through the Spitway in to the Wallet. Enjoyable sailing.

Once through the Spitway we had about another hour of current in our favour before slack water but close hauled we were going to make the Naze on one tack and in good time. I was also tempted, if the wind dropped, to put in to the Orwell or the Deben, or go all the way home to Orford if the breeze held. High water at the Orford Bar was 2140.

The breeze held and Oxley was missing from station when we crossed the Orford Bar rounding Weir at 2035.

We’d been underway since 0830 and finally picked up our mooring at 2140 after a terrific days sailing. My body had stood up to 30 tacks on the passage from Stangate Creek.

The following day was spent with three legends. Candy, Doc and James Robbie.

Philip, our wonderful Harbour Master, collected me in his launch on Monday morning to take me ashore.