The Kent Cod kayak fishing meet was cancelled due to poor weather. With strong winds on the Friday and Saturday but by Sunday things had much improved so I decided to head out to the boat and do a spot of maintenance. Opened up the main engine hatch located on the cockpit deck. There had been a fair bit of water in the bilge when I came out earlier in the week. I put this down to rain and poor drainage in the cockpit. I dried everything out and made sure there wasn't anything coming through the stern gland, there wasn't. The scuppers are pretty pathetic and were a bit blocked, so I cleared them which should help. I topped up the diesel and the water tanks, the sight tube for checking the fuel levels is completely useless. I shall have to replace it with a clear length.
The forecast was good for the next day or two so I decided to stay on board and go for a sail the following morning. While getting into the tender to fetch the outboard I managed to inflate my life jacket. I felt a right twat wedged between the guard rail and the cockpit combing. I did what anybody would do in that situation...look round to see if anyone had seen me.
I got up at the crack of dawn and the weather was fine, so I tied up the tender and let go. In pinup reach I put the head into the wind and put up the main, then the genoa. Engine off and did the five miles to Stangate Spit under sail alone. I stowed the sails and anchored. The wind picked up considerably, a good 6. Quite uncomfortable when it was wind against tide.
I got up at the crack of dawn and the weather was fine, so I tied up the tender and let go. In pinup reach I put the head into the wind and put up the main, then the genoa. Engine off and did the five miles to Stangate Spit under sail alone. I stowed the sails and anchored. The wind picked up considerably, a good 6. Quite uncomfortable when it was wind against tide.
I spent 24 hours in Stangate Creek, then a half hour before low water I picked up the anchor. It was a pretty long winded affair in the stiff breeze, but eventually it let go and I was on my way back to Gillingham reach. I decide to mainly motor back as with the strong wind and low water I didn't want to chance going under sail only. This turned out to be a good decision as the wind was nearly gale force in Pinup Reach and the bottom end of Gillingham Reach. I managed to grab my buoy first time and tied up OK.
So what shall I do for my next trip? I may just go out on the Ebb tide and come back on the flood, see how far I get. As plans go its a simple one.
I must say my leg and in particular my ankle was quite painful by the end of the trip. Scrambling about on a boat for two days didn't do it any good at all...I’ll give it a few days.
I must say my leg and in particular my ankle was quite painful by the end of the trip. Scrambling about on a boat for two days didn't do it any good at all...I’ll give it a few days.