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Robinetta floated level at 0430, and we were tempted to just go to sleep properly for a bit. However we needed to get home, and we would ground again within the hour, so it was get up, and engine on. We were away from the dock at 0505.

It was very dark, overcast so there was no moon or star light, and slightly foggy. Luckily we had brought our hand held GPS with us, and used it yesterday. It does not have any charts on it, but it did record our track. I helmed while Julian took the GPS to the foredeck and used it to identify the lit channel markers and tell me where to steer.

We picked our way down river carefully, keeping an eye on the depth gauge, and had no problems. The scary thing was that at least two other boats were following our lights....

We got the sails up at Osea Island and started motor sailing, but the fog got really thick just after that and going past the moorings off the Marconi Sailing Club felt dangerous. Luckily the wind increased soon after and blew away the fog giving us a good sail the rest of the way out of the Blackwater.

The wind dropped again later in the morning and we had to put the motor on at 1050. The autohelm came into play again and we ate lunch as we motored past Clacton Pier. We were motor sailing past Walton Pier at 1400, and a soon as we cleared the pier we turned the engine off and sailed into Harwich Harbour.

We were back on our berth in Shotley by 1640, having taken over 13 hours for the trip. Maldon feels like a long way away....