Winter Sailing

Blazer In Winter.

I did make it down to North Fambridge on the 4th of January for the weekend on my own while Jackie went to the Isle of Wight with her sisters.

Ambitious plans for sailing to Shotley and back were scuppered by the fog.

I set off - only to get as far as the Roach - no fun in very poor vizibility.

I fuelled up at Burnham and was back at Fambridge before lunch.

7th of February 2013.

Left Derby at 06.15 Thursday with Jackie - arrived North Fambridge at 11.00 having topped up the shopping at ASDA.

The first run down in the Fiat Panda that I bought from Nigel - Good except the traffic was slow going - Jackie watched a good film on the ipad - nice.

Ran down river on the ebb under fore sail to Burnham yacht harbour - bought short Gill wellies for Jackie in the sale at the chandlers.

Beef Bolognese for tea and Jackie thrashed me at Scrabble - again.

The coal stove was working overtime - nice and warm - even with the wash boards out!

The plan is to catch the tide and do the Ray Sand channel over to Bradwell from here on Friday - back on Saturday.

The weather looks good - but COLD!!

Friday

Yes - very cold but clear morning.

Left Burnham at 07.00 to motor against the tide down the river to the Ray sand channel - lovely sunrise.

We unrolled the foresail as we turned North and sailed across to the Blackwater.

The sail must have upset the stove flue because the CO2 alarm went off !!

I ventilated the cabin and Jackie stayed in the cockpit - wrapped up as warm as we could.

Not enough!! - Jackie became very cold and once the fumes had gone it was hot water bottles and all the quilts to warm her up.

We made Bradwell by 14.00 and were given berth A7.

I fluffed the turn into the berth and made a pigs ear of turning round.

The result was that Blazer ran her rubbing strake along one of the piles at the end of the finger pontoon -
no problem - but I forgot that the outboard overhangs a lot!!!

Wallop - Snap - Splash - Gone!!!!

Of course when I sorted Blazer out and tried again we went straight into the berth.

No amount of fishing with a grapnel or poking with a long stick could find the outboard - so abandoned it.

To make things worse - the main reason for going into Bradwell was for Jackie to have hot showers available - but the showers are being re-built and are closed!!!

Steak tea and Scrabble - lovely.

Saturday

Motor sailed back to Fambridge in clear cold weather - lots of hot water bottles for Jackie - better.

Beef stew and Scrabble for tea - fantastic.

Sunday

All tidy and away home by 11.00 - very cold - sleet - windy - horrid!!

M25 hold up - so M11 route - home by 14.10 great.

Decided now - No more winter cruising - Blazer to be lifted out for a small programe of jobs.

Mike.