Fambridge Again

We set off for the second Fambridge OGA gathering even earlier than the first, at 0510. Partly this was down to the tide being an hour earlier, but also because I was afraid that we would be aground if we left it later. We got off alright, and raised sail before we reached the Nass Beacon at 0545. We used that as the start point of our passage race, and headed out to the Spitway as fast as we could, even raising the top sail at one point, although we took it down after half an hour, and had to put a reef in only ten minutes after that!

By the time we reached the Spitway at 0800 it was just past low water, and without a working depth gauge I did not really want to tack, so we used the engine to get through as quickly as possible. After that it was engine off and ride the tide all the way to Fambridge. The wind was in the perfect direction for reaching in passed Ron Pipe, and we were moving over the ground at over 7 knots a lot of the time. We got onto the pontoon at North Fambridge Yacht Club by 1150 after a great sail.

The weather was dull all day, and by 1500 it was raining. The Old Gaffers gathered in the club house, and settled in for an evening of beer, and fish and chips, but I'd had too early a start to stay long, and headed to bed soon after the music started.