Got down to the boat on Monday evening and had some dinner on board, before turning in ready for an early start. It was a sunny morning and after a bacon sandwich and a couple of mugs of tea I was ready for the off. I had made up a couple of strops for mooring onto my swing buoy and it was now much easier to let go and tie up.
With another hour of flood tide to go I decided to head upstream towards Rochester. Using the motor all the way to Bridge Reach before hoisting the sail and heading back on the now ebbing tide. There is lots to see going past the historic dockyard and the towns of Chatham and Rochester.
With another hour of flood tide to go I decided to head upstream towards Rochester. Using the motor all the way to Bridge Reach before hoisting the sail and heading back on the now ebbing tide. There is lots to see going past the historic dockyard and the towns of Chatham and Rochester.
The wind was very fitful all day blowing quite hard one minute then gently the next. I stuck a couple of reefs in and only unfurled half my genoa. All the same I made good progress down the river and by 12:30 I was in Stangate Creek anchored up for a few hours. Five O'clock and I was under way again, tacking into the wind all the way back to Gillingham Reach. There is much to occupy the mind sailing a boat into the wind in the restricted waters of an Estuary.
By evening I safely moored up on my buoy and making my way back to the club house. All in all an enjoyable days sailing.
By evening I safely moored up on my buoy and making my way back to the club house. All in all an enjoyable days sailing.