Have you been out today?

[erbster]

Sneaked a couple of days afloat. Managed solo for the first time. Launched Northney and drifted down to Chichester with a lunch stop at East Head and got up almost as far Dell Quay before wind gave out completely. Ate ashore at the Ship Inn at Itchenor and then spent the night on a mooring. Such a beautiful day, followed by a glorious sunset and a majestic night sky. No wind on Sunday, so motored back to Northey and hauled out.

[Ru88ell]

Spent yesterday in Brightlingsea as it was a bit dull. Glorious day today so sailed passage to Burnham on Crouch. Interesting navigation around the sands, and it was 18kts at time carrying full sail. Fabulous downwind sail to the Crouch and all the way to the marina. I'll blog about it later.

[Ru88ell]

Wow! What a day - my longest sail so far. I left Burnham Marina on the Crouch at 7:30 this morning, and dropped the hook just after 6pm in the Walton Backwaters some 30+ miles later.

Sailing along the Crouch was a breeze, but then we navigated out of the entrance with wind over tide before tacking out of the Swallowtail channel and over to The Wallet and Clacton where the wind died. It returned a while later from the SE as promised, which gave a great angle back to Walton. As usual, the sun shone for most of the day.

I'm now resting having cooked chicken curry and couscous. I might have Ambrosia creamed rice for pudding.

[David Hudson]

Out? Means something different in the land of the Geordie.

(ie . you watch the "Toon" in February with an overcoat on.

[Dennis]

Wow! What a day - my longest sail so far. I left Burnham Marina on the Crouch at 7:30 this morning, and dropped the hook just after 6pm in the Walton Backwaters some 30+ miles later.

Wow! You will soon overtake Dylan Winter at that rate.

Sounds like you are having a great time.

You have to go for it when you can, life is not a practise run.:)

[Ru88ell]

Beautiful sunrise again this morning, but it didn't last. Big winds from the south east today so I sailed to Ipswich - a long downwind sail. Just as I was entering Harwich a fleet of tall ships came in from the north. I sailed the entire length of the Orwell with them! It looked like some sort of Dutch corporate jobby: Phillips; ING; Shell; etc.

The entrance to Harwich was exciting - surfing downwind at 7kts!

[Ru88ell]

I'm a day late with this one - tut tut.

On Friday I needed to get back down the Orwell to Suffolk Yacht Harbour. The wind was stonking at 18 to 20kts from the West, so it was just the yankee to get me sailing at over 5kts over the ground. It was cold, but bright, and barely anyone else out and about. It felt like I had the river all to myself.

I can seriously recommend this area for a visit. I'll certainly go back.

[Dennis]

Yesterday.

5C, cloudless, windless. Felt much warmer though, in the strong sunshine.

More sunbathing than sailing, only 11 Nm covered in 6 hours, totally becalmed for 45 min. (had lunch in that period).

Needless to say, full mainsail + staysail + yankee all day.

"Bernicia", the other half of the Kielder Water Capecutter fleet, was also out on the water. Sailed alongside, had a chat and took some photos (will post some).

A very relaxing and enjoyable day.

[Dennis]

Hauled Mary Ann out today. (Will post the video on Youtube, but will take about 8 hours to upload in HD)

End of her fourth season, it gets better each year.

388 Nm travelled this year out of 1224 Nm total over four years. Most of that has been done solo.

It is such an easy boat to sail.

I have some internal modifications planned, so she will be occupying my drive for a few weeks before being tucked up in her barn for the winter.

Roll on March 2013.

[Ru88ell]

Roll on March 2013.

Why waste 5 months? Come and do a few days with the Erbster and me. We're not planning to spend that long off the water.