A bit of excitement in Harwich harbour

[MoodySabre]

A trip to the Orwell with a friend. A cracking sail ending with a motor up passed the ships in Felixstowe dead to wind. At this point I ran out of fuel! Sails up and under control I radioed Shotley to see if they had a workboat that could bring me out a can. No, they do not have a workboat licenced to come out of the marina. Poor show. I sailed on to Halfpenny Pier - a perfect arrival if I say so myself. As luck would have it Bellatrix was there and Chris sold me a can of diesel. Another 79 litres in Shotley and the tank was brimmed and my wallet was emptied.

Note to Jim - running back from Rotterdam at high revs doesn't half use a lot of diesel!

All's well that ends well.

 

[Tam Lin]

Just as well you managed to find some diesel. It's a long walk to the nearest garage!

 

[FullCircle]

I see, it is Full Circle's fault for failing to cough up a contri to the boat fund after wringing the neck of your fine vessel to the point of failure off the Gunfleet.

Note to self: Remind those based in fiscal rectitude to visit the fuel pontoon more than once a season....

Delighted you had the opportunity to practice those sailing Yachtmaster skills, hope you picked up a man overboard fender whilst pirohouetting round Halfpenny Pier trying nonchalently to snag a bollard.

Well done Roger, and also pleased that Chris was on hand to give you further assist. Hope he is well.

 

[sailorman]

Sensible old sailors carry a 10 ltr can (of white) in their locker ( well i dont have lockers but have a brimming can).
Every day a learning day ( even for a YM )

 

[nigelm]

Sensible old sailors carry a 10 ltr can (of white) in their locker ( well i dont have lockers but have a brimming can).
Every day a learning day ( even for a YM )

A sight glass or gauge might be a worth while investment also ...

I have 20 litres in a container - wont need it till next yr tho

 

[Stork_III]

You could have sailed onto the outside pontoon at Shotley, then got fuel in can or they would have roped you through to the fuel pontoon.

 

[sailorman]

A sight glass or gauge might be a worth while investment also ...

I have 20 litres in a container - wont need it till next yr tho

i also have a sight gauge

 

[FullCircle]

You could have sailed onto the outside pontoon at Shotley, then got fuel in can or they would have roped you through to the fuel pontoon.

An interesting sail up the narrow channel with lots of cross tide?

 

[Leighb]

Returning from Holland a few years ago in a friends Elan 31 we also ran out of fuel after motoring all the way from Flushing, fortunately we were off Levington, and there was just enough breeze that the quickly unrolled genoa gave us steerage way.

The owner however did have a spare 5L can and one of those siphon pump devices to transfer the fuel. Fortunately modern diesels are much more forgiving and self bleed.

The owner was very surprised as he thought he had much better range, it turned out that he had been misinformed about the size of the fuel tank, 50L not 70 as he thought.

 

[Essex Lad]

Similar sort of story. Several years ago, bought boat from Lymington Marina - one of they pricey boat parks on a horribly busy river on the South Coast - and took her out for sea trials. Diesel engine packed up (that's another story), so no option but to return up busy river to marina. Called up marina, explained and requested launch to tow us in. Not licensed to operate outside marina (sound familiar?). OK, says I, we'll sail in. Pandemonium - you can't do that, not allowed, etc. No choice, my South Coast friend, there's a darn great passenger ferry right behind us! We tacked up the Lymington River with said ferry trying hard not to run us down (at least I assume she was) and shot through the entrance to the marina where we were met by agitated launchman who then simply watched as we glided into nearest vacant berth. Manoeuvre successful more by luck than anything else. We found the engine problem many weeks later when on a mooring in Lawling Creek as I hung head down in the engine bay with an engineer on the other end of a mobile phone guiding me through things. Handy things phones, but handier still are sails.

 

[Athene V30]

Similar sort of story. Several years ago, bought boat from Lymington Marina -OK, says I, we'll sail in. Pandemonium - you can't do that, not allowed, etc. No choice, my South Coast friend, there's a darn great passenger ferry right behind us! We tacked up the Lymington River with said ferry trying hard not to run us down (at least I assume she was) and shot through the entrance to the marina where we were met by agitated launchman who then simply watched as we glided into nearest vacant berth.

Sailed all the way up to Lymington Town Quay on an August Bank Holiday a few years ago (was in 1982!). Boat didnt have an engine so no reason not to!!

Well done Roger.

 

[Stork_III]

An interesting sail up the narrow channel with lots of cross tide?

I have done it under jib. Provided you catch the end cleat on pontoon, piece of cake, otherwise perhaps piece of boat.

 

[Leighb]

A bucket on a rope to use as a brake is a long established technique for sail only craft sailing into dead ends. I have used it myself sailing our RHOD into Shotley when the o/b was u/s.

 

[FullCircle]

A bucket on a rope to use as a brake is a long established technique for sail only craft sailing into dead ends. I have used it myself sailing our RHOD into Shotley when the o/b was u/s.

I used to carry 2 buckets, one either side so I could do handbrake turns.

 

[sailorman]

I used to carry 2 buckets, one either side so I could do handbrake turns.

Only coz it was a Ford, No Regrets has just the one small bucket

 

[Leighb]

I used to carry 2 buckets, one either side so I could do handbrake turns.