A where is it with a difference

Sixpence

Sixpence

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Difference being I'm not going to post a picture of the where, mainly because it was dark by the time I was safely tied off. Would have made it in daylight but had to give way to a heavy which wanted priority. Well, he was bigger than me after all

Anyway, snap decision made last night after viewing the weather forecast which said to expect up to F3 to start, reducing F1 by 11-00 with low probability of rain, was to depart at 06-00 Sunday 14th March, planning to arrive at the destination at 18-00. Last time I trust a forecast, heavy rain and even hail

There's a clue or two for the detective types anyway

Departure delayed due to flat battery and lost fresh water container, but that would mean there was no need to anchor for an hour or two while waiting for the tide, so no great problem there

Finally cast off by 07-45 and by 11-00 I reached open water and could haul up hankies. Back one first, but that would only go up to the second reef which was lucky as the wind was more F5 gusting F6. Front hankie also jammed but this was soon cleared by yours truly crawling about on deck and pulling at bits of string until it finally cleared

Sixpence140310004.jpg


Then the crash landed flying saucer came into sight. Well, it looks like one from a distance anyway

Sixpence140310005.jpg


Finally gave up on the hankies after realising the approach channel was going to twist and turn all over the place before lining up on the final river, and the pilot boat went shooting out towards the incoming heavy. Lucky the sails did get an airing though, only had one pint of fuel left on arrival. But the two former light houses at the entrance made it worth while

Sixpence140310007.jpg


Sixpence140310008.jpg


Then the bridge came into view. Arranged earlier to open, but the heavy was coming up fast astern so the bridge man gave instructions to tie off at the seagull poop covered waiting pontoon and let him through, an interesting excercise at three hours after low tide, on a spring. Managed to stop myself sliding straight over the pontoon then followed him through

Sixpence140310009.jpg


Ten hour trip later, through almost everything the weather man could throw, arrived at destination and very happy to see Louise waiting at the marina

Question is, which one ?

Oh, and is one pint of fuel left in the tank, a little low ?

First sail of the season, looking forward to more, and now it's time for a well earned pint I think. Knackered of Lincs
 
Wisbech Yacht Harbour. I claim my prize. Why did you jump ship from Fosdyke? Wisbech has few visible delights that I have ever seen, and its a right old slog up river having to wait for the bridge.

By the way, I understand that the East Light House is soon to be for sale. ( that is Peter Scott's old hideout when he was a certified goose killer.)
G.
 
Thanks Roger, but I'm afraid George has the prize. Passed Hunstanton in the distance but it's not somewhere I would attempt in the weather today

George, got a mooring on The Deben now, so heading South to that. Afraid it's the three hour trip from mooring to open water followed by not having a choice about staying out that decided it for us. Not intending to stop in Wisbech for the same reason, though they do at least have some local facilities not at Fos
 
Stap me, young Tanner, you are in serious danger of becoming a grizzled seadog. All this business of hankies and string, such technical words do not fall easily from the lips of beginners and tyros, you know.

Are you growing a beard and taking up the smoking of a clay pipe ? Perhaps sitting on your quarter deck, unravelling a long-lost woolly jumper to knit yourself a lobster pot or spinnaker net, dispensing wisdom to the snaking queue of visitors who, emboldened by articles in Sunday colour supplements on "Secret Traditions of the Deepest Fens" or "The Sage of the Forty Foot Drain", make pilgrimage to your mooring, bearing autograph books and thrusting digital cameras into the hands of passersby, keen to record their fifteen minutes of fame with that relic from a bygone age, Someone Who Sails.

Good little story to warm the cockles of me heart. And the little romantic touch of the maiden waiting forlornly on the distant shore for the return of Her Hero. AAAHHHH !


PS, My dad was a fenman from east of Wisbech, and used to skate to school in winter along those long drains. "Winters,we used to have winters".
 
sarabande said:
Stap me, young Tanner, you are in serious danger of becoming a grizzled seadog. All this business of hankies and string, such technical words do not fall easily from the lips of beginners and tyros, you know.

Are you growing a beard and taking up the smoking of a clay pipe ? Perhaps sitting on your quarter deck, unravelling a long-lost woolly jumper to knit yourself a lobster pot or spinnaker net, dispensing wisdom to the snaking queue of visitors who, emboldened by articles in Sunday colour supplements on "Secret Traditions of the Deepest Fens" or "The Sage of the Forty Foot Drain", make pilgrimage to your mooring, bearing autograph books and thrusting digital cameras into the hands of passersby, keen to record their fifteen minutes of fame with that relic from a bygone age, Someone Who Sails.

Good little story to warm the cockles of me heart. And the little romantic touch of the maiden waiting forlornly on the distant shore for the return of Her Hero. AAAHHHH !


PS, My dad was a fenman from east of Wisbech, and used to skate to school in winter along those long drains. "Winters,we used to have winters".
Click to expand...

Don't suppose now would be a good time to mention that I never did sort the battery out, so the VHF and depth sounder only worked for a short time, and steerage was poor due to a barnacle overload :o
It were frikking cold out there m'lad, but some is made of stern stuff :D
 
Hi Paul, good to hear from you. Afraid work looks like it's going to get in the way of a few things this year, but hoping to be on the mooring as soon as possible now. Slight problem with immigrant barnacles to deal with, then most other jobs can be sorted once we're there.
 
Sixpence said:
Don't suppose now would be a good time to mention that I never did sort the battery out, so the VHF and depth sounder only worked for a short time, and steerage was poor due to a barnacle overload :o
It were frikking cold out there m'lad, but some is made of stern stuff :D
Click to expand...


Nobody answers the VHF anyway, and who needs a depth sounder in The Wash? ;)

She sailed sideways so well that I can't wait to see the state of the hull, I reckon you'll need a skip to put the barnacles in. :D
 
Our very own intrepid seafarers strike out

congrats Gentleman cruisers,did you go round or over the sands ?
I hope Dave bought you a nice pint of proper beer Ken
Pity about that narrowboat getting in the way :)
 
Come on Dave, answer Paul's question.
Are you sailing round or are you going lift her out and tow her with that great big trailer you told us about?
If towing are you intending to launch as we planed?
 
Sixpence said:
Only some as it was a spring tide so there was a bit more room to play with, but not enough to get me over others as the weather was a bit lumpy :eek:
Lucky I did have Ken though, that instruction from the bridge man to stop at the waiting pontoon was at full flood so it was far from being a one man job to land on it. Didn't work him too hard though :D did the string pulling myself :cool:
Looking forward to making adjustments to the front hankie puller downer string though, got some more pulleys from Roger coming so it should run a bit smoother ;)
That plus the anti foul should make things a bit easier this year, should have listened to Jim and Neil when they advised me to slap anything on, better than nothing :o
Final decision for when and how to get there will be made after lift and inspect. That nice harbour man at Wisbang has been very helpful today :cool:

Ken, barnacles to be sold at Wisbech market, I hear the Polish pay up to 50p a kilo :D
Click to expand...

Blocks Dave Blocks ;)
we have things Ship Shape on the Deben :cool:
 
JKay said:
congrats Gentleman cruisers,did you go round or over the sands ?
Click to expand...

Only some as it was a spring tide so there was a bit more room to play with, but not enough to get me over others as the weather was a bit lumpy :eek:
Lucky I did have Ken though, that instruction from the bridge man to stop at the waiting pontoon was at full flood so it was far from being a one man job to land on it. Didn't work him too hard though :D did the string pulling myself :cool:
Looking forward to making adjustments to the front hankie puller downer string though, got some more pulleys from Roger coming so it should run a bit smoother ;)
That plus the anti foul should make things a bit easier this year, should have listened to Jim and Neil when they advised me to slap anything on, better than nothing :o
Final decision for when and how to get there will be made after lift and inspect. That nice harbour man at Wisbang has been very helpful today :cool:

Ken, barnacles to be sold at Wisbech market, I hear the Polish pay up to 50p a kilo :D
 
JKay said:
congrats Gentleman cruisers,did you go round or over the sands ?
I hope Dave bought you a nice pint of proper beer Ken
Pity about that narrowboat getting in the way :)
Click to expand...

We went the long way round Joe, no rush so no chances taken. ;)
I'm off the beer until the Doc tells me different. :(

The big tin boat was turning round at Wisbech, but he got out of the way before we had to push him up the bank. :D
 
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