I know I'm sometimes a bit slow to catch on....

.....but I've only just realised that if you click on the pics on my blog they open up to full-size versions!

No more sailing to report on yet, but hopefully soon.

The self-steering has had another alteration and will be tested next chance I get, it almost worked on the trip back from Saltfleet....

Saltfleet to Boston. (With pics!)

As usual, on the trip up I'd forgotten to take any pics even though I'd got the camera in my pocket and the phone takes reasonable pics and video. Seems to be the norm for me!
The return trip is unusual, I took loads!

Alison decided to let me do the trip solo, she had been onboard for almost every trip lately and she knows how I need to get out on my own now and again. So no pics of Ali.....

We'd left Saltfleet on Monday, it was Wednesday evening when I drove back there, tide was already up so I tidied the boat ready for leaving on the morning tide.
Wind was still a gentle S/W which held the boat nicely off the mooring staging, lines were left long enough for the boat to sit on the slightly flatter mud further out. As it got dark, the tide began to fall and I started to settle in for the night.

Then it changed!

First thing I noticed was the wind picking up, enough to rock the boat and I stuck my head out for a look. It was now blowing from the N/W and had pushed the boat down the channel and towards the bank. As the tide dropped the boat began to list, the more it dropped the more it listed....
Half an hour later I was beginning to wonder if it would fall over!
A look outside confirmed that the bow had gone well up the bank and wouldn't be moving until the morning.

I decided on a more comfortable night, so after fixing a rope around the base of the mast (just in case!) I pitched my tent in front of the car and moved in for the night.

The pic is a bit grainy as it was only just getting light, but this is how the boat looked as the tide came up in the morning!


High tide was due at around 9am, so getting away at 8 seemed reasonable. I heard noises at around 6.30 to find Chris and Pete ready to go fishing! They were using a small motorboat and were already afloat. I was on my way by 7am.
After a gentle potter down the short and well-marked channel, one that seems to have an undeserved fearsome reputation, I headed out to where the lads were fishing to shout goodbye and thanks before pointing south, the tide would still be with me for at least 3 hours and the wind was an F3 from the north - I started to fly.

A last look back...


Speaking to Chris later he told me that within half an hour they had lost sight of my sail!

First plan was to have a go at setting up the windvane steering, this was a partial success. The system worked, the vane turned the pendulum which worked the lines to the tiller. Still a bit of tweaking to do yet, the chain which sits across the tiller is too short, but the biggest snag is that the arm from the vane down to the pendulum was catching in the mechanism. The builder has used a piece of aluminium angle, which means that I will have to shave a little off one edge to clear the woodwork. If it had been wood, as per the plans, I could have modified it while I was sailing.

On with the sailing then....

The landmarks I'd passed on the way up looked a little more familiar now, but were passing at a surprising rate, speed was over 5kts all morning, as the tide slowed, eventually turning against me near Skegness, the wind picked up to the top end of F5. A bit of reefing was called for, which made little difference to boat speed, but eased the strain on tiller, rigging and helmsman!
The waves coming past me from astern kept things interesting, never been surfing before!



I reached the comparative shelter of the entrance to Wainfleet Haven at around 2pm, it would make no sense leaving here before 4pm as I wouldn't be able to get on my mooring until 8pm.
Anchor dropped and kettle on, I ate my lunch before a good hour of sleep.


The entrance to Wainfleet Haven. If you look very carefully there are small bouys on the beach!



Around 4 I started the engine and pulled the anchor aboard, not a massive job being anchored in about 5 feet of water!
I would have sailed off the anchor, but had tucked in very close to the shore for shelter and there is a LOT of sand and little water there....
Turning to head out into deeper water I knocked the horseshoe lifebouy off it's bracket and into the water while getting the sail up. I took the opportunity to do a MOB practice, managed to pick it up on the second attempt under sail.

The tide was now in my favour again, the wind still behind me, so I reefed down and had a gentle sail through The Wash, speed was still 4 - 5 kts.

I drifted across towards the sandbanks to get a closer look at the seals, dozens of them sunning themselves and a few decided to swim out to see me.

As I neared Tabs head the wind eased, but still had plenty to sail into the river. The intention was to sail as far as possible, leaving the engine until I absolutely had to use it. It turned out to be about 15 minutes later! The wind seemed to switch off, I tried a bit of Dylan Winter style drifting sideways but there were bends approaching which have rock-lined banks....


Sail tidied away, I motored up the river to moor up around 8pm. A cup of tea followed by pie and chips left me tired and happy.....




P.S. Due to popular demand, a pic of my crew Ali!

Heading north

Saltfleet Haven hasn't a big entry in the pilot books, although historically important to Lincolnshire it has mellowed in old age into a peaceful spot for the yachtsman who has the nerve for a narrow channel over a sandbar backed by a landscape not overly endowed with any distinguishing features!

I'd been talking about going for a while, quite a while in fact, and with settled weather and a forecast for F4/5 Southwesterlies I had run out of excuses.....

After dragging ourselves out of bed at 5am and, after a 70 mile drive, Alison and me left the mooring in Boston at around 7.30. I kept the engine on until we were past Tab's Head as it is a fairly long passage and I wanted some early progress...
It was clear, after a couple of hours, that we were getting just that. The speed on the GPS rarely dropped below 5kts and often went over 6! The tide really does make a difference in The Wash.

We took the inshore route past the entrance to Wainfleet Haven, situated on the northern corner of The Wash and out into the North sea proper.
The speed stayed high as the wind increased to an F5 and the tide slowed. Heading a couple of miles off the coast we could still hear the noise from Skegness, it's best seen from the boat, although 2 miles might still be a bit close....

As the day went on I ticked off the landmarks, Skegness, Butlins, Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards.... Mablethorpe is marked by a massive new red brick building - I assume flats to house the retirees who seem to congregate on the coast of Lincolnshire!
Theddlethorpe gas terminal (slightly inland and unobtrusive) chimneys marked the last inhabitation before Saltfleet, from here the coast is low dunes backed by clumps of trees.

By now the speed had dropped due to the tide running against us at about 2kts, the wind had also dropped to a calm F3, once or twice the GPS indicated 1kt!

A very unusual thing (at least it is where I sail!) then happened, the VHF came to life, I was called up by Billy, the commodore of Saltfleet boat club. He'd come out to meet me at the channel entrance and could see me clearly, sat low in a 12ft rib he was just about visible with the binoculars.
With the light beginning to fade and the temperature dropping, I did the gentlemanly thing and started the engine in order to shorten Billy's wait, it would have been another hour by sail.

Greeted at the inner bouy by Billy and Pete, I followed them in over the bar, watched by seals on either side, halfway along the short channel a Porpoise surfaced between us!

Turning the boat in the river (creek? It's hardly big enough to be a river!) was "interesting", only accomplished with help from the bank, there is probably less than 30ft of width where I was turning.
Moored up, we headed to the New Inn for a meal (very good) and a pint (nothing to write home about), we had to make a quick move to The Crown (Speckled Hen, mmmmmm) after they got the bingo machine ready at the New Inn!!! I did mention the retired often head for this coast.....

The night on the boat was eventful. The visitor's mooring is newly built and the bank still slopes steeply, this meant that as the tide went out the boat sat at such an angle that the "uphill" side berth was unusable, only having 2 berths left us with a problem!
We arranged ourselves to sleep across the boat, me squeezed in front of the mast where the beam is probably about 4ft... We didn't sleep a lot!

As the morning's tide lifted us a couple of hours sleep was grabbed before it was time to get up.

Plan was to leave the boat there for a couple of days until the wind was forecast to go north, ideal for the return trip.

Monday's adventure was to be a journey back to Boston by bus to pick up the car, 40 miles - about an hour by car - this took 3.5 hours. Enough said....

First channel crossing....

......second, third and fourth. A busy weekend!

Work has slowly progressed on the self-steering, it's almost ready for a sea trial (that makes it sound professional!). Problem is that getting any sailing done has been a problem lately due to various reasons.

So when I got the chance to run away to sea for the weekend on someone else's boat(s!) I jumped at the chance.

James had a Hunter 26 which he was swapping for the "Andrea Gail" - George Clooney's boat from the movie "Perfect Storm" which has benefited from the addition of a mast and sails.

Sorry James! But you can see the resemblance.....



James keeps his boat in Calais, the other boat lives somewhere in The Solent, this made arranging a swap slightly more complicated.

Plan was to nip over on Thursday evening ferry, catch the last lock out of Calais and run straight across to Dover. Friday would be a run from Dover to Eastbourne where the swap would take place. This was changed when we saw F5/F6 on the way over....

Due to a bet between James and Phil, a fine meal was enjoyed by all, the bill was "enjoyed" by Phil all on his own! One or maybe even two drinks went down before we tried to maim each other on the dodgems.....

Plan B was to leave on Friday morning and run straight to Eastbourne, a day of good sailing and failing winds later meant we motored into the marina at midnight.

Saturday was a day off, problem being that there is bugger all to do at Eastbourne marina....and it rained.
Boat swap went without a hitch, although nobody could understand how James packed so much gear into a 26ft boat!

Sunday morning we left on the Andrea Gail for Boulogne for a night before the short trip round to Calais on Monday morning. I couldn't resist the chance to use the mast steps for a photo.



Another good meal and wine in Boulogne, Phil only paid for his own this time!

The sail to Calais in the morning was great, at times, with the engine on tickover just to help things along, we were touching 8kts.

After another French pavement cafe meal (egg and chips!) it was time to get the ferry home, finally got in my own bed at 2am, not bad considering that morning I'd sailed from Boulogne to Calais!

Thanks again to James for the experience, great company, great weather (apart from Eastbourne) and some great sailing.

Some progress!

Toe had healed enough to get the boots on, so I got them on!

Managed to get out twice over the last 2 weekends.

First trip was just a quiet Saturday out on my own. Red hot sunshine and hardly (but just) enough wind to sail in the morning, blowing F5 on the nose on the way back!
Managed to drift as far as Scullridge before the tide changed and I headed back.
Nice to be back on the water.....

Second weekend was the first meeting of the East Coast Forum, organised by Dave (T25/Sixpence/Trevera/etc....) and held at Fosdyke marina.


Took Ali with me this time.
Had to keep the engine on as far as Black Bouy, not a lot of wind and in the wrong direction.....
Light winds all day, enough sun to get burnt (again!).
Sailed past Scullridge to the N/E end of Long Sand to look at the seals, then back to the end of the Palour Channel to drop anchor and have a break for an hour, tucked behind Roger Sand for a bit of shelter as the wind (and rain) had got up a little.
Sailed as far as the stone jetty on the Welland, then started the engine as I was getting hungry and the food was in the pub!
Loads of seals in the river on the way up, made Ali's day.
Reached Fosdyke and turned in the narrow channel then had the engine flat out just to be able to stem the tide and get onto the pontoon (with help from gathering crowd). It does flow past Fosdyke!

So, 10 hours of sailing and I was now 6 miles south of where I'd started, could have walked it quicker, but not as much fun.
Good night in the pub, a few familiar faces and a few new ones. Beer and food both good. Looks like this could be a regular event...


Left early next morning as the tide was coming in (quickly!), this would let me get to Tab's Head for high water, then back to Boston while I could still get on the mooring. Got there too late once and had to raft up to the fishing fleet.
Motorsailing for about 3 hours. Passed what must have been every fishing boat in the area on their way out, never seen so many boats on the Witham!
Mooring was slighty easier than Fosdyke, drifted in at almost 0 mph as the tide was gently going out!

Bloody good weekend!

Been a bit quiet here lately.....

.....mainly due to chopping the end off my big toe with the lawn mower. Ouch!!!
Just over 3 weeks since it happened and healing well, just need a plaster over the end to keep the dirt out now.

Chances are that sailing might be back on the agenda very soon.

Not been completely idle, spent the last couple of trips to the boat sorting out the newly-acquired self-steering gear. It's a home-built job, but done nicely from a book by Bill Belcher.
I wasn't keen on how the windvane pivoted on the stainless pin, it ran straight through the drilled ply and looked to be an obvious place for wear to set in. I've made bushes for the pin to run through from stainless tube which should last forever!

Second job will to make the pendulum blade hinge up. It's a one-piece job and solidly fixed to the framework, if it were to hit bottom, or get a rope around it something would have to break!
Looking at kick-up rudders on dinghies and catamarans for ideas....

The boat that shouldn't sail!

I'm a bit of a latecomer to sailing, I only took it up as a replacement for mountain walking/climbing after the arthritis set in. This means I haven't been indoctrinated with some of the long-held beliefs that seem to exist throughout the sailing community.

One of these beliefs is that bilge-keelers are the work of the devil, and of no use to "proper" sailors.

I know Roger Taylor (http://thesimplesailor.com/), amongst others, has a different opinion!

The second of these beliefs is that the junk rig is of even less use to windward than bilge keels.

Now, as I said, I've not been sailing very long and cant claim to be any sort of an expert sailor. My boat was rigged by myself from drawings I gleaned from the internet and books, it's still not perfect, but it works......

So know you've got an idea of the setup, a novice sailor using a badly set up junk rig on a bilge-keeled boat (Newbridge Coromandel). According to the "experts" I'd probably be lucky to sail with a force 10 blowing from right behind me!

So now, what I've actually found on the water is a bit different, quite a bit actually....

I was sailing a couple of weeks ago with a more experienced sailor on board, he commented that I was sailing closer to the wind than he would have been able to with his Hurley 22!

I've tried, just out of interest, to see what sort of angle I can tack through. In a F2/F3 I was tacking within 90 degrees. I've offered to take anyone who thinks I'm being less than honest out for a sail, so farI've had no takers!

Right, on to the junk rig itself.

When I decided I wanted my own boat there were a couple of things I had to take into consideration. Firstly, I would mainly be sailing single-handed, secondly my arthritis means that clambering on the coachroof or hanking on foresails wasn't an option. After much reading and suggestions I started to look seriously at the junk rig. A single sail, all lines easily handled from the cockpit, reefing being an almost one-handed job. It looked ideal.
Being new to sailing, and having no interest in fitting in with the "Yacht Club" types it even looked odd enough to attract me!

For the uninitiated, I'll just give you an idea of sail handling.
Being heavier than a "normal" sail due to the wooden battens, the halyard has a 4-1 purchase using blocks, which makes hoisting the sail easy. I've added a winch to my coachroof to help with the job as the arthritis gets worse, but rarely use it yet.

The sheet "zig-zags" from the pushpit anchor point up to each batten and back, in use it gets treated as a single sheet.

The only other lines are the yard hauling parrel, this simply pulls the centre of the yard up and in towards the mast, and the luff parrel which moves the whole sail backwards or forwards in relation to the mast in order to balance the boat.

Hoisting the sail is just a matter of letting all the lines go and hauling the sail up! No need to point the boat into the wind, but better if the wind is forward of abeam as the sail will then "weathercock". Once it's hoisted the sheet is taken in and you're sailing! The other control lines can be altered to suit whenever you're ready......
There's no need to haul the sheet in with the sort of force normally used on a "Bermudan" rig, in fact if the sheet starts to feel heavy it's probably better to ease it back off! The stresses and strains on a junk sail are far less than on most other types.

It's often been mentioned how quiet and relaxed sailing a junk rig is, I couldn't agree more!

Now, a few lessons.

1) Tacking.

Push the helm over. Sail on new tack.

2) Gybing.

Push the helm over. Because part of the sail is in front of the mast (much like a balanced rudder) , gybing is a gentle affair and is a quite normal part of junk sailing.

3) Reefing.

Let the halyard go until the sail drops to the required position, make the halyard fast. Adjust yard hauling and luff parrels.

As an example of how useful the ease of reefing is, a little tale....

I'd been heading back to my home port in strong winds and with the tide, I'd been sailing as slowly as possible for 4 or 5 hours as I couldn't return to my mooring too early on the tide. I'd reefed right down, with just the top "triangle" of sail still working. In this way I'd kept the speed down below 3 knots in an F5.
As I neared the entrance to the river I decided I'd be happier with a little more power "just in case" as it's a nasty spot to get things wrong.
In a few seconds I hauled 2 panels of sail back up and shot into the river at 6 knots!
Once inside the safety of the banks I dropped the sail once more..... back down to 3 knots.
Further upriver I hauled up some more sail as the wind dropped, eventually dropping it altogether and starting the engine.

I can't imagine being a happy chap if I'd had to do that single-handed on anything other than a junk-rigged boat!

The benefits are not just confined to heavy weather or changeable conditions. Earlier the same day I'd been drifting along with barely enough wind to sail. Although it was, at least, right behind me! With the sail fully up and the sheet tied off I barely had to touch the tiller for an hour. the sail just sat there waiting for little gusts, no flapping, no filling and emptying..... my girlfriend dropped off to sleep, I almost did the same!
Half a mile or so closer inland was a friend in a slightly bigger boat, with 2 crew, vastly more experience and a big spinnaker. Over the course of an hour or so he pulled slightly ahead of me, often having to "play" with his big sail to keep it under control. After a while he gave up and dropped the headsail, within a few minutes I'd caught him up and, after a couple of pics, left him behind!
He told me afterwards that he had to suffer "stick" from his crew all day about it!

So upwind, downwind, ease of use, lack of stress, I'm still trying to discover the drawbacks.....

Ken.

The crew.....

I mentioned in a previous post that Ali was completely new to sailing, an hour on the river was all she'd had so far.
I was a bit worried to be setting off on a long trip without knowing if seasickness would be a problem, only way off the boat would be by heading back to Boston after all day onboard!

To say I was impressed is an understatement, not only no sickness, but she actually had a bigger appetite while sailing!

She helmed the boat for long periods, and soon picked up the "feel" for what was happening in less than perfect conditions.

She even managed to pretend not to be bored when I was explaining tides, winds, depths and bouyage, in fact I think she really was interested. Lol! She seemed to be taking it in and understanding what was going on. She was impresssed that the sea state calmed after the tide turned as I predicted. I was impressed that she understood why!

The only downside to this is that I might not get to sail single-handed as often as I like to, but that's a small price to pay!

Wells to Boston.....

After a couple of beers and an Indian (due to early closing chip shop!) we were soon in the "Land of Nod", not the one near Whitby, just the contented, knackered one you get after a great, but long, day!

I woke in the early hours and could tell that the boat was sat on the bottom, but nice and level, so soon dropped off again. I eventually crawled out around 5am to be met by a beautiful sunrise and flat calm conditions. I had a stroll around taking a few pics.....



A little later I heard the unmistakable sound of a fishing boat chugging out of the east towards us, this turned out to be Max heading out for an early start!


After some breakfast, and use of the excellent facilities above the Harbour Master's office, we said our goodbyes and, with a little help to turn the boat around to face the ebbing tide, made our way back out to sea.

Some of the locals were already on the beach!


Once out of the channel the wind was very light, but from the east, so ideal for us. With the sail up we were making something like 2 knots through the water, it was, however, slightly annoying to see the coast moving the wrong way! We would have a foul tide for an hour or so, but the conditions were so pleasant we were more than happy to put our feet up and relax. As the tide turned we gradually picked up a little more speed and were soon past Burnham (which actually still had water in the channel!) and Brancaster.

Alex, on his Macwester, heading back for Wainfleet, had been closer inshore. Over the course of an hour or so he eased ahead, until he dropped his unruly headsail, I then caught him quickly, took a pic or 2 then left him to take stick from his crew!


As we got closer to "The Bays" the wind had increased to F4 and I'd reefed a little as we had plenty of time in hand. Back into The Wash and I was trying to decide whether the dot on the horizon was Boston Stump or Roaring Middle bouy, both these would be on a similar bearing so I headed towards the dot....
After about 15 minutes I could see "the dot" was actually a fishing boat, so looked at the compass instead. Back on course, I'd been about 20 degrees further south than I wanted, not a problem, as there was plenty of room to spare, but lesson learnt!

Once out into The Wash, the wind picked up a little more and the sail came down a little to match. With 1.5m seas rolling in from astern and gusty winds it became a full-time job to keep a straight course, but not unpleasant. The tide was on the last of the ebb, I was hoping that once it turned in our favour that the seas might flatten out a bit. As we got closer to the Freeman channel, where we would have to take the waves more on the beam, it did just that! I still got an earful of water now and again....

The only problem I had now was that I would be back in Boston too early, this would make it difficult to get onto my mooring, so it was more reefing and actually trying to sail it badly and keep the speed down! Spring tides meant that towards the western end of the Freeman I was still doing 4 - 5 knots over the ground with just 2 panels of sail up. I dropped the sail to almost nothing and while heading towards Black Bouy I was sailing as badly as possible, but now down to 2.5 knots, just keeping enough way on for steering!
I pulled the sail back up a little and got some drive as I neared Tab's Head, I wanted some power here as it's not a good place to get things wrong! Entered the river at just over 6 knots!
Once inside I dropped the sail again for a gentle sail upriver until I finally gave in and started the engine, the first time since leaving the channel at Wells.

We were still a little early to the mooring, 2 hours before high water, so the tide still tried to push me past, but got in first time and without hitting anything!

I have a new problem now, sailing single-handed (something I really do enjoy) might not be possible, as Ali can't wait to go sailing again!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The lifeboat I mentioned on Sat turned out to be heading to help a good mate of mine! Unknown to me, he'd sailed from Fosdyke a little later than I'd left Boston. In tricky conditions he'd grounded near Black Bouy. Thankfully, it ended safely, no damage to boat or crew.....

First "real" trip of the year.

First "real" trip ever actually!

Two weeks earlier we'd (Me and Mac) been out as far as the Roaring Middle bouy on a day sail, this had been the first trip of any sort this year. That went well, a bit of bumpy stuff at the eastern end of the Freeman channel was the only excitement.
Mac enjoyed the rest of it, which was the main point of the day out, a bit of a confidence-builder for him.



So this was going to be the first "big" trip. Out of The Wash and into a strange harbour, Wells-Next-The-Sea, which is in Norfolk, so obviously a little bit strange!

Biggest worry was that Ali would be coming along. Now she's a rough tough Geordie and happy to have a go at anything (anything but stairs with gaps between the steps.....) but she'd sailed just once before, that was for half an hour and not leaving the river! I'd got no idea how she would cope with a full day at sea.

After piling all the gear onboard, we cast off shortly before 8am on 9th May, a day that might be remembered by a few others for very different reasons (which would include Hunstanton RNLI!).

With the tide already ebbing, the river was behind us fairly quickly, as we left Tab's Head the winds were light S/W and visibility was so good that my stress levels soon went down to zero.

I decided to keep Ali occupied and put her on the helm, she took to it quickly and seemed to be enjoying being "in charge"!
An uneventful couple of hours saw us through the Freeman, where we were passed by the ketch "Cariad" and out into the deep stuff, where depths often get into double figures!!!
Somewhere after the Roaring Middle light had been passed, and closer to the cliffs of Hunstanton, we saw a RIB speeding past, it looked from a distance to be the RNLI. I thought at the time that they might be out training on such a pleasant day. I was wrong, but more of that later....

Approaching "The Bays", the anchorage north of Hunstanton and the eastern corner of The Wash, I turned the laptop on to make certain of my position, plotter program said I was where I expected to be, nice to be able to confirm it though....
Picked up the deeper water of the channel through to The Bays and headed towards Brancaster. We were somewhere near low water now and the wreck on Scolt Head was high and dry on the beach.
Wind had slowly picked up all morning and was now F4 gusting F5 and I dropped the sail a little which made things more manageable and enjoyable.

Past Scolt Head and the entrance to Burnham appeared, a couple of small boats were anchored outside, the only way in at low tide would have been a walk up the beach!

All that was between us and Wells now was Holkham Bay, so I headed a bit further out and straight for the Wells Fairway bouy. It was now blowing a steady F5, but Ali still seemed to be fine with it, although after our early start she'd gone below for a kip.

I reached the Fairway bouy a little early for entry to Wells, a couple of hours early, and the outer part of the channel had moved to face N/E rather than N as shown on the chart and the Wells Harbour website. I had a half-hearted look at going straight in, but the breaking waves near the first 2 bouys did nothing for my confidence and I chickened out!
Back round and dropped the anchor near the Fairway bouy. I found out later that this was probably the worst place I could have stopped! The boat pitched and rolled horribly as I tidied the sail away.
After 10 minutes of this I watched the "Cariad" head up the channel and into Wells, closely followed by 2 fishing boats, I didn't need any more encouragement and pulled up the anchor to follow them in!

As soon as we were in the lee of the beach things got a lot more pleasant again, not a lot of water in the channel, but that was what I've been used to after a few years of sailing in The Wash, and a lot better than being on the anchor outside!


Arrived at the quay and promptly ran aground as I went to turn to the pontoon, quickly backed off and turned again. I could see the water flowing quickly past the pontoon and thought it would make a nice ending to the day to ferry-glide into the berth. What I didn't know was that for about 15-20 mins on each flood the current runs around the back of the pontoon and out underneath it just where I was trying to get in! This was that 15-20 mins....
First attempt was going well unil I got into this sneaky bit of current and I was pushed back out, narrowly missing the rudder of a nice catamaran whose owner was doing his best to help me moor up...

I had to back off and wait while a fishing boat went past and the much larger "Goosander" which had come up the channel behind me turned and fired itself at the pontoon, hitting it at maybe 4 knots. At least he got in!

Next attempt was at a steeper angle (after shouted instructions from the Harbourmaster) which got my nose in against the current, grabbed and manhandled towards the pontoon by said Harbourmaster, Bill - owner of the cat I almost hit and, as I found out later, someone I'd known in the "internet world" for a while but never met, Max, better known as ggt.

Tied up, introductions made, we headed off for a look around, followed by a pint on the "Albatross".
Later we met up with Max, who took us for a stroll around and a visit to "ggt" herself, then a couple of drinks in the company of Max, joined by Bill and Sandra for an hour or so until the music was turned up and we headed for some food and bed.




One tip for visitors to Wells, which isn't in the website or pilot book, the chip shop shuts at 9pm! The Indian isn't far away though......

All I need......

.... is a place to keep a record of the things I get up to in my Coromandel, well, the things I'd mention in public anyway!

Bought, kitted out and used on a budget of just less than bugger all, I've been extremely lucky to have a very capable little boat and I'm extremely grateful to have had lots of complete strangers (most of whom are now friends) help me along the way.
I might do a bit about the main ones later just to give you an idea of how I got to know what I'm talking about when I talk sailing......

Maybe this blog can help to pay them back in some small way.

It's not going to be updated regularly, I'm far too disorganised for that, but it might just be worth having a look once in a while, when you get really bored, to see if I've made any progress!