steffen
New member
So off we went from IJmuiden to Harwich beating into a westerly force 4. Everything fine for the first 10hrs or so but then a fog clamped down on us reducing vis to 30 mtrs. Going back to Scheveningen would seriously deflate my self esteem so radar on and and onto the the Nord Hinder North. By the time we saw it we were almost on it an its bl...y big at close range i can tell you.
Heard one ship so close it could not be seen on radar but heard by its foghorn, very scary. Foghorned back and tried to call it on VHF ch16 but no reply despite several "securite" calls stating exact position. It finally passed in front of us by the sound of it horn. Never saw it though.
Arrived Woolverstone after 34hrs, tired but happy. Beautifull river Orwell and very good marina. Stayed 3 days. Obligatory visist to Butt & Oyster, nice but expensive. Biked around in the area and in Ipswich.
Next to Tollesbury where we arrived to early and grounded in the entrance of Woodrolfe Creek but got clear again. Picked up a hospitable mooring thanks to the rightful owner and went in somewhat later. Tried to get into the wrong berth first but found the right one later thanks to the harbour master. Met Aunti Vi on the pontoon but far to short as she was going out on the tide, pity.
Got out of Tollesbury by the proverbial skin on the afternoon high with 10cm water between the keel and the sill. We were almost marooned for two weeks.
On to Ramsgate where we arrived at night. SWMBO scared to go in in the dark because of all the illumination on the shoreline but she learned all about lead lights and entering a harbour at night. Made fast at next to a survey ship to be rousted out at 07:00. Thanet, a nice part of England, did the touristic tour on the double-decker, saw the Spitfire museum, the caves and the Dickens house. Very nice.
From Ramsgate back to Oostende in a northely force 6 and then northward back home.
Lessons learned:
sailing on radar,
the treacherness of fog,
getting into a berth on a tidal river with current on the stern, picking up a mooring against the current,
riding a bike on the wrong side of the road (scared the living daylight out of SWMBO),
wind always comes from the wrong direction
England is very expensive for us continentals,
People are very nice (but i knew that already),
the staggering number of public footpaths that go over everybody's property
Happy sailing, Steffen
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Heard one ship so close it could not be seen on radar but heard by its foghorn, very scary. Foghorned back and tried to call it on VHF ch16 but no reply despite several "securite" calls stating exact position. It finally passed in front of us by the sound of it horn. Never saw it though.
Arrived Woolverstone after 34hrs, tired but happy. Beautifull river Orwell and very good marina. Stayed 3 days. Obligatory visist to Butt & Oyster, nice but expensive. Biked around in the area and in Ipswich.
Next to Tollesbury where we arrived to early and grounded in the entrance of Woodrolfe Creek but got clear again. Picked up a hospitable mooring thanks to the rightful owner and went in somewhat later. Tried to get into the wrong berth first but found the right one later thanks to the harbour master. Met Aunti Vi on the pontoon but far to short as she was going out on the tide, pity.
Got out of Tollesbury by the proverbial skin on the afternoon high with 10cm water between the keel and the sill. We were almost marooned for two weeks.
On to Ramsgate where we arrived at night. SWMBO scared to go in in the dark because of all the illumination on the shoreline but she learned all about lead lights and entering a harbour at night. Made fast at next to a survey ship to be rousted out at 07:00. Thanet, a nice part of England, did the touristic tour on the double-decker, saw the Spitfire museum, the caves and the Dickens house. Very nice.
From Ramsgate back to Oostende in a northely force 6 and then northward back home.
Lessons learned:
sailing on radar,
the treacherness of fog,
getting into a berth on a tidal river with current on the stern, picking up a mooring against the current,
riding a bike on the wrong side of the road (scared the living daylight out of SWMBO),
wind always comes from the wrong direction
England is very expensive for us continentals,
People are very nice (but i knew that already),
the staggering number of public footpaths that go over everybody's property
Happy sailing, Steffen
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