After last years nerves....this year single handing!!

D3B

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As I currently have a vacancy at Perry towers /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I decided that with a fairly good weekend forecast it was time to bite the bullet and make a single handed passage /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Some friends were due to arrive at Shotley from Oostende.
So, having made all the necassary arrangements I set off on saturday from Lowestoft to Shotley. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
I have made passages up and down that piece of coast quite often and was pleasantly surprised to find it quite busy.
Came across a flotilla, which turned out to be the Angliaafloat slow boats trip going in the same direction.
Arrived at Shotley at the same time as a couple of the boats arriving from Oostende, which meant i would have a helping hand in the lock. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif not needed! what an excellent lock facility. when they built that lock they must have had single handed boaters in mind /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif....like having cushions to lay down on....and i was given a very nice side on mooring, which with the wind blowing me on made for easy mooring. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
a nice meal and good company in the shipwreck. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Sunday morning and time to return to Lowestoft.....but the weather had taken a turn for the worse with slight fog /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif i could see a good 2 miles but with Harwich VTS reporting dense fog at Orford Ness, i was having second thoughts (at the moment i havent invested in radar).
I set off keeping a close eye on the weather. the sea was milky calm and virtually no wind at this stage and i could see a clear 2 1/2 miles. so i pressed on at a nice 22 kts. Orford Ness arrived and no sign of the dense fog mentioned by VTS /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif but visiblity did get down to about 1 1/2 miles at Sizewell /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif so i slowed to 10 kts for a short while. all the time i was using the land as my guide to how the visiblity was progressing. my passage plan is about 2-3 miles off the shore line for most of the route, so if i couldnt see land i knew the fog had got heavier. thankfully it didnt appear and i was back up to 22 kts very quickly. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Joined the Angliaafloat flotilla on the 14.30 bridge lift back into Lowestoft and back to my berth where some friends were already waiting to assist mooring. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
i have had the luxury of an empty berth next to me since i moved to Lowestoft Haven last year, so i could make a complete hash of mooring and not damage any other boats /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
shock horror.....with the flotilla being squeezed into any available berths i found a large broom boat in the next mooring /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif i would have to perform my best mooring technique.....and with a crowd of about 8 helpers and onlookers.
i slowly reversed into my mooring and....






guess whos a real smart arse and made a perfect mooring /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif



thoroughly enjoyed myself and after two years of problems it seems the boat is finally performing the way she should without problems.


Now all i need is to find a nice swmbo so i dont have to keep going alone.
 

DAKA

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[ QUOTE ]


Now all i need is to find a nice swmbo so i dont have to keep going alone.

[/ QUOTE ]

You could take up a Rag and stick, they are predominantly all 'Boys together' and have a cosy time /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif


/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 

Rustyknight

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Good to see you've kept with it! The more times you get it right, the more you'll find it easier to cope with when it goes wrong............. I think. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 

Sixpence

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Nice one D , it just goes to show that it can be done but the more you practice the easier it gets . I used to have difficulties getting into a non tidal but windswept mooring but after I'd done it a few times with the inevitable bumps , I got it down to a fine art and the other boat owners moved thier boats back from where they'd hidden from me /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif all things come with practice /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 

Greg2

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Well done Dougie!! Very pleased to hear that you got the better of the nerves thing. Single handing anywhere is a significant step and down to the Orwell and back with fog thrown in makes it quite an achievement.

I was working the weekend but saw the boats for the 1430 bridge on the club webcam...very jealous /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Roll on this weekend /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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