A strangely perfect weekend

[Guise]

Ok, so that was the second perfect bank holiday this month, which is strange enough. However it was our first outing since last June due to various mechanical and family issues so pretty exciting for us.

So first thing we noticed was 2 inches of slimy, almost jellied, water in the bilge - which should be dry, pumped that out and the electric pump made some very strange noises, entered the heads (where the pump is) to investigate and found a small amount of water in the shower drain, tried to pump that out and the pump was dead. At that point noted that the fresh water pump was cycling on occasionally. By now we're feeling rather depressed with all three no doubt expensive pumps faulty !

I then opened the locker door where all the pumps are and found the fresh water pump hose connector dripping steadily, a spare O ring sorted that and solved the mystery of the water in the bilge. At the same time I found the bilge pump filter completely blocked and cleared that, as I refitted that I found one wire from the shower drain switch had come off, so I clipped it back on. In ten minutes everything was fixed.

Now is it me of does life on board never, ever work like that normally?

After that we had a sparkling flat out sail out to Roughs Tower on Saturday with a lovely trundle to Wrabness and back next day. We're swallowing the anchor this summer after many years of sailing - but if the rest of the season goes like that we'll be happy!!

By the way - what's that bloomin' great hose in the middle of the Stour just before Wrabness?

 

[johnalison]

A quick and effective repair is almost as satisfying as nothing going wrong in the first place. We were tucked up in the Orwell on Saturday but the rest of the party made it down the Wallet to join us. The organiser had to turn back due to a minor injury sustained on the way to a crew member, which is ironic since his last email had wished us a safe passage, and that coming from someone who has rounded the world and survived a tsunami.

 

[John 32i]

By the way - what's that bloomin' great hose in the middle of the Stour just before Wrabness?

Think they are pipes which will eventually be sunk and will run cables for the windfarm

 

[Lucky Duck]

Wave breaks for a new marina

 

[MikeBz]

I thought they were pipes for watering the new samphire farm which is mooted to replace the unpopular mussel farming scheme.

 

[Corribee Boy]

They're going to be part of the new en-suite bathroom I'm planning for my beach hut!

 

[Mandarin331]

They're going to be part of the new en-suite bathroom I'm planning for my beach hut!

Well as you've confessed to parking them bang in the middle of the river would you please get on with your excessive beach hut plumbing and move them, my son was quite upset as we short tacked past them the other week (it was his turn on the Genoa sheets and he's now much fitter).

 

[Leighb]

Harwich NTM 17-18 refers to this “Obstruction “ it’s to do with the East Anglian offshore wind farm.

 

[Elemental]

Here's the text from the Harwich Harbour Authority

Full text from Harwich Harbour Authority.

Temporary Mooring Installation Works – River Stour.

Mariners are advised that on or around the 6th of April 2018 temporary trot moorings will be positioned in the river Stour between the following approximate positions.

51 ̊ 56.96 N 0001 ̊ 12.00 E to 51 ̊ 56.93 N 0001 12.93 E

Please note that the distance between the above latitude and longitude positions extends approximately one nautical mile.
The following vessels will be involved in the mooring installation; Ashraf, Tasks 2, Megan M and Schwartenbek. Please note that two floating pontoons (16.2 m LOA and 10.26m Beam) will also be used.
All vessels passing these works should do so with care and caution and with minimum wash at all times, especially when men are working on the waterline.
Mooring work deployment should be completed by the 11th of April 2018. It is anticipated that the temporary moorings will be removed by the 30th of June 2018.

Mooring buoys will be lit with an all-round white light. No vessel shall moor to the buoys without the expressed permission of the Harbour Master.

Once the trot moorings are in place four pipelines will be towed into the haven and positioned on the moorings. This work is part of the East Anglia Offshore windfarm operations compromising of 102 turbines. Due to the length of the pipeline navigational restrictions and risk mitigation measures will be implement during towage operations. An additional Notice to Mariners will be promulgated clarifying these arrangements.