Tuesday the 17th of February was a lovely day weatherwise but I had to go to the dentist, although it occurred to me that there was nothing to stop me sailing on the evening tide. So I was all loaded up with food beer and wine by midnight and was away down the river to Stangate creek. I was anchored and ready for my pit by 01:30.
I was up early and had a leisurely breakfast the forecast was dodgy for later in the week but I decided to go and if I had to wait it out in the Swale before returning so be it I had plenty of food and water.
I was up early and had a leisurely breakfast the forecast was dodgy for later in the week but I decided to go and if I had to wait it out in the Swale before returning so be it I had plenty of food and water.
I had the anchor up by 10:15 and was soon under sail alone, in fact I had the engine off before I was out of Stangate creek. I was off of Garrison point at around high tide and carried the ebb all the way down to red sand towers but when I turned south to head towards the entrance to the Swale I found I was being pushed towards the wind farm. Once I realised I was not going to make it to the Swale without slaloming in and out of the windmills I came about and beat my way north. I was making next to no progress West and 3 hours later I was just off of red sand towers barely a mile from where I was when I abandoned my attempt to get past the wind farm.
So reluctantly I started the engine and and motored my way back into the Medway. It was a bit of a slog pushing the tide much of the way, but eventually I was tied up to a buoy opposite the segas basin. I had a few hours kip before getting back alongside at around midnight.
It had been an intense 24 hours afloat with 35 miles covered, much of it under sail . Next time I try to get to the Swale I shall have to time it so I am at red sand towers at low tide. That would be about the time it would take if I left Gillingham reach at high tide and did it in one hit.
It had been an intense 24 hours afloat with 35 miles covered, much of it under sail . Next time I try to get to the Swale I shall have to time it so I am at red sand towers at low tide. That would be about the time it would take if I left Gillingham reach at high tide and did it in one hit.