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!

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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.....