Relocation

[Toutvabien]

Moved Jigsaw to her new home in Brightlingsea this weekend, a calm motor across the estuary on Saturday followed by a delightful night at anchor in the Pyefleet. Sunday morning revealed that the anchor windlass was u/s, so, after a brief consultation with the crew, I was given the task of hauling up 120ft of 9.5mm chain and a 30kg anchor by hand. As it emerged from the deep covered in primevil slime I remembered the delights of East Coast anchoring, the last time I pulled up Jigsaw's anchor (about 11 months ago) it was in Little Harbour, on Peter Island, in the BVI's. It was a very different experience to Pyfleet Creek, but each is as beautiful in their own way.

It is delightful to be back on the East Coast proper, and Brightlingsea is just as friendly and hospitable as we remember it. Now looking forward to getting the windlass fixed and revisiting all of the rivers, rias and criks of Essex and Suffolk.

The girls have already started emptying Brightlingsea Creek of crabs and are fans of the Chinese take-away by the harbour office.

 

[Pye_End]

You are lucky to be near enough to be up on the Essex rivers. Moving house to an area due to work is rather more acceptable than moving to be near such gorgeous sailing ground! I miss keeping my boat on the Blackwater, and the Medway is no comparrison.

Glad you had a good trip. It was certainly flat on Saturday. I had a 9 hour motor, and only got the faintest of breezes a mile off my berth.

Hope you got your fairlead sorted out.

 

[sailorman]

[120ft of 9.5mm chain and a 30kg anchor by hand]

In the Pyefleet /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[FullCircle]

120ft???????????????????????????????????

thats 40yds. Crikey I could moor in Mersea and anchor in Brightlingsea with that much chain out!
You do know that you wont see the anchor in our clear blue waters?

Welcome back. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Hope you enjoy your time here, do say hello to us all.

 

[Toutvabien]

Yes it really is gorgeous, we are really glad it has worked out this way.

Did not manage to get a matching fairlead, but fitted one that is functional, with the aid of 11yo who has small enough fingers to get the nuts and washers on to the bolts up inside the deck/hull joint.

 

[Sixpence]

As Dave exits stage left, hacksaw in one hand, tape measure in the other /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif think I measured my chain at 60ft, for a 21ft boat /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif don't know if that's right or not /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[sailorman]

depth of water not length of boat Dave /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Sixpence]

For Sale - 55Ft unused chain /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Toutvabien]

Yeah I did slightly over do the chain, partly due to incompetence, and partly due to poor light and not being able to see the colour of the cable ties. There is 200ft of chain in the locker which was used extensively while anchoring in depths of up to 15metres while we were away, I suspect that most of this chain will stay in the locker unless somebody does some very serious dredging of the Blackwater.

Pulling it all up by hand was, however, a suitable punishment.

Scrubbing all the mud off of the foredeck was a delightfully witty reminder of exactly why I love the area.

 

[moondancer]

I have to do that by hand each time I anchor. Probably explains why I choose Marinas mostly.

 

[Gargleblaster]

I had been considering a windlass after having strong winds and tides dig my anchor in to the extent that it was all but impossible to pull out single handed. But I belong to a club that has an 80 year old member who has a Nicholson 32 [7 tonnes] that he sails single handed, always anchors off, doesn't have a windlass and pulls his anchor up by hand. After that I thought I will have to wait till I am at least 85 before I need a windlass on my 3 tonne boat. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

 

[davidfox]

Quite right, you are clearly a simpering weed for considering it!

I have a windlass (which I dont use of course)

 

[Toutvabien]

The anchor on Jigsaw is usually lifted by one of our 11 year old daughters, I suspect that they would struggle slightly with pulling it all up by hand.

Although if I don't get the windlass fixed soon they are going to have to learn.