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We should have wondered what was to hit us when we took two head to wind attempts to raise the mainsail. We were going for three reefs but I have not fitted the sheet! 2nd reef was set and we pulled about two thirds of roller jib and set off. Winds were now gusting in mid to high 20’s as opposed to low 20’s on the mooring. We knew we had two hours of tide to stem, and tacked into the wind up Gillingham Reach; averaging 5.5 knots was quite an achievement 7.5 if you count two for the tide! Then it was round Folly Point only to meet a coaster determined to collide with us, as we edged to starboard, then tacked to port over to the Power Station, by now we had all felt the effects of each change of tack coming faster and faster as we were restricted to the channel at this speed. Which meant a skipper’s call, if we turned back we would moor and get ashore before low water prevented that. To go on was to face another hour of restricted channel tacks and the prospect of being late past Garrison point and hence facing shallows on the Overland bit, or possibly a long time at sea in worsening conditions to go via the Princes Channel. We would also have passed around the Longnose in F8 and in the dark? That call did not take long and a run with just the jib was a swift and smooth trip back over every hard won mile of the previous hour or so. Back at the mooring we vowed to return early Monday morning for a day sail as the forecast was fine. A crew debrief in the pub and everyone was happy; only 24 hours later the Monday idea was scrapped with a much worse forecast released. Home More General Stories Search News Story Submissions Comments (0)No comments. |
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