Log of snow goose 23-26.05.15

23.0515 - GYC to Erith

1735-1950, 2 hours 15 minutes. Engine hours 1.

Wind Easterly 10-15 knots, force 3-4

9.5nm, average speed 3.5kn, max speed og 6.7kn

A fine Saturday evening leaving the choppy waters of Bugsby's Reach for less seasick making moorings - the last three weeks on the Thames at Greenwich has been a mixed blessing: Strong tides choppy waters and the tricky task of getting on and off a trot mooring make it a very different challenge to the calm of Gillingham Marina.  

Provisioning at Greenwich Yacht Club

So down river we go for a short evening hop to pick up a mooring off Erith Yacht Club. We started under motor, which is now behaving beautifully with no signs of the earlier overheating now that the water intake has been cleaned. Then once past Margaret Ness sailed all the way in long deliberate tacks, learning to do things calmly and smoothly which this boat likes best. Picked up an inner trot mooring at Erith just as the wind was dying and settled down for a fine gnocchi supper on board. Sadly no-one was at home at the yacht club to entertain us so we stayed on board Snow Goose, early to bed for an early start the next day.

Downstream to Erith

24.05.15 - Erith to Queenborough

0740-1415, 6 hours 25 minutes, engine hours 1.5

Wind NW 10-15 knots, force 3

30.7 nm, average speed 4.6kn, max speed og 9.1kn

First light on an Erith mooring...

A decent cooked breakfast to begin the day, dropping the mooring at 7.00 to stay with the tide to the Nore Swatch. A gentle start, motoring to begin with, but soon able to sail in bouts, resorting to motoring on through Gravesend to stay ahead of the tide. A bright morning with fine views as the river opens out to sea reach. Several rather stout seals lie on the sand like so many logs as we glide by. The boat behaves impeccably even in light winds doing 3.5 to 4.5 knots down Sea Reach, finding its own groove.

...and off to Gravesend

Sea Reach

Seals seen through the lens of the binoculars

Arriving at the Montgomery ahead of schedule we circle round it as close as we can get.  At low water the masts rise well out of the water making us wonder what its like below – eery. An enjoyable beat into the Medway and up to Queenborough. 

The wreck of the Montgomery

The boat is missing 2 battens and the sail trim is far from right yet but we are learning fast and so far Snow Goose has been a delight to sail.

Reaching up the Medway

25.05.15 - Queenborough to Brightlingsea

0715-1550, 8 hours 25 minutes, engine hours 1

Wind NW/NNW 10-15 kn reducing to 10kn, force 3-4

35.3nm, average speed 4.2kn, max speed og 7.7kn, max speed ow 5.5kn

Leaving Sheerness with one reef

Early start to catch the tide, 0730 off the moorings and down the Medway with one reef and 15 knots of wind. Skirting Sheerness with its jumble of old and new buildings – it seems to have been immune to the pressures of conservation with 20^th century structures piled on top of historic Napoleonic masonary.  The same applies to the Isle of Grain Martello Tower opposite, a crazy concoction of 'buildings'. Out to the Montgomery, this time at high water, almost entirely submerged, and then on out to the comparative space of the Estuary.  

Sailing from buoy to buoy

Nothing in the shipping lane as we skip across to the Northern shore and contour crawl along the edge of the Maplin Sands. A continuous north-westerly keeps us on one tack for 5 hours, buoy hopping all the way up to the Spitway. Here we regret not having set the depth guage correctly and tack severall times just in front of the Spitway trying to find deep enough water.  Actually it was all deep enough and we need not worry.  Final beat across to Brightlingsea, the wind becoming  north-north-westerly by now. Sail trim improving all the time. Motoring for the last ½ hour into Brightlingsea as the wind comes onto the nose - tired but happy with a fine day’s sail under huge skies.  For much of the day we have had the Gunfleet Wind Farm ahead of us apparently getting no closer, just bigger – it is very large.

Making good progress towards the Spitway

26.05.15 – Brightlingsea to Osea and back

1330-1900, 6 hours, engine hours 1

Wind NW/NNW 10-12 kn, force 3

25.3nm, average speed 4.2kn, max speed og 6.7kn, max speed ow 6kn

After a leisurely morning of breakfast and boat fixing in Brightlingsea Harbour, a delightful sail in the Blackwater at its best. Setting off on a rising tide out of the Colne and towards the Blackwater, watched over by the brooding presence of the Bradwell Power Station, (which is being reclad to make it last last the remaining 90 odd years of its decommissioning!).  Sailing on one tack most of the way up to Osea Islands before turning round at the anchorage to head back.  The newly installed Tiller Tamer is a huge improvement and will transform single handed sailing, allowing one to walk about  the boat much more freely. Blue skies and green water – especially when seen through the hole in the hull when I take the log fitting out to try to free the paddle wheel. The log turns out not to be reading due to poor electrical connections not the paddle wheel, so I need not have got so wet doing that. 

Passing Radio Caroline

With the systems all running smoothly we concentrate on sail trim and getting the most out of the boat.  It works well and we get 6 knots out of her in comparatively light winds – I look forward to a stronger wind sail. Lessons learnt:  Do not point too high and do not sheet in too tight. Now where have I heard that before?

Under Essex skies

Return to Brightlingsea, tired and ready to clear up tomorrow before leaving the boat in its new summer home.

Brightlingsea Harbour calm