The Swale May 2014

Sunday 25.5.14

Distance 7.5 nm

Wind South 3-4 gusting 5
No crew

Flying along under an East Coast sky

Setting off early from Greenwich with Spray on the Trailer, Conyer is an hour away and after the hello’s and paying of fees there is just the right amount of time to rig and launch on the top of the tide. It's a peaceful marina and despite a lovely breezy morning not much traffic out into the Swale. The creek is winding and a times narrow. You have to trust the channel markers which take you well in towards the banks on the bends. Then out into the Swale. Sails up and suddenly the motor speeds up, driven by the sails - time to kill the engine. Peace, combined with a tingle of excitement as we get under way with just the wind taking over. This is what makes sailing so satisfying, the sound of water in the bow and the thrill as the wind gets up. We whizz through South Deep past the moorings (for later) and shoot out into the Swale proper. At this point of the tide it's a wide and inviting waterway. Beware though, the channels are narrow and the water is shallow. That's fine in a Drascombe and at times I'm down to 0.7m on the depth gauge. I must check what that actually is, if its really the depth below the hull I must be close to grazing the oysters with the centre board.

Sail setting reasonably well on a reach

Beating up and down the Swale at 4.5 - 5.5 knots is fun and towards the end of the morning the sails are setting really well and the speed is as good as it can be in these 3-4 winds. As the wind increases I am frankly over canvassed and the boat is heeling but I'm not stopping now to reef, it's too much fun. Besides playing the sheets like a dinghy to keep her from heeling too far is entertaining. Slightly surprisingly I get wettest going about, a sloppy tack or perhaps a particularly strong gust.  The Swale is looking good today and the water, while not actually blue, is reflecting the sky and looking quite unlike an east coast estuary. In a hour and fifty minutes I cover 7.5nm and a top speed (over the ground) of 8 knots.  Time to stop before I tire and start making silly decisions. I beat back into the South Deep channel and when the wind comes too far onto the nose give in to motoring which is actually a relief after the boisterous wind in the sails. This outboard is growing on me. It's heavy and not so new but on low revs it gets along confidently and most important, quietly.  Moored up along with three other boats, this place is a well kept secret, a special spot. The birds on Fowey Island chatter and cackle and rather bizarrely I have the company of a cuckoo calling from somewhere behind the sea wall. A large unidentified hawk glides over us flying low and bothered by gulls. I hope its a Marsh Harrier.  As the tide sinks so does our viewpoint and the mud glistens on either side, above us. The mud is so wet that against the light it reflects like the water and the two are indistinguishable from one another. The effect is odd, drying boats and buoys hovering strangely high up. Now its time to attempt a watercolour in Turner primaries. This could go wrong.  

  

Evening:  It did go wrong, too purple or something. Anyway, a spectacular evening, light and calm except for the screaming birds on Fowey Island. Interesting how as soon as a place is designated a bird sanctuary it fills with birds - or perhaps it's the other way round.  The sun an inch above the horizon the water flat and the reflected light seems brighter. 

Monday 26.5.14

Windier and wilder. The wind has moved into the north overnight, which apart from having to get up to stop the halyards vibrating, was peaceful. Serious breakfast followed by spring clean while waiting for the tide. As we get to within an hour of high water out of nowhere a parade of large yachts appears returning to the marina. Where were they in the night, one wonders, to have timed it so precisely? Swale Marina is as friendly and calm as ever. This has been a thoroughly worthwhile outing despite 5 o'clock exhaustion each day. The outboard misbehaved this morning, running badly while cold. Time for an official Honda service!

An easy recovery on the excellent slipway at Swale Marina