Sunday Sailing

We were supposed to go to the Holbrook rally this weekend, but the weather forecast made us decide against it. There was hardly any wind expected on the Friday and Sunday, and it's a long slog from West Mersea to Wrabness and back under motor. Instead we decided to just go to check on Robinetta on Sunday lunch time.

Julian made bagels for a picnic, and Alex decided to come too. He doesn't like sailing, but he loves bagels!

Having rowed and towed  Worm last weekend we decided it was time to try the outboard on her. It was also an opportunity to try her with 3 people on board. It was two hours before high water when we got to West Mersea and a long drop to the water at West Mersea Marine so we borrowed a launching trolley and took her to the public hard. I then rowed round to the pontoon while Julian and Alex took the trolley back.

Worm carries three nicely and motors just as well as she rows. Alex had fun on the helm experimenting with the throttle. At speed the balance shifts but she's quite steady.

When we reached Robinetta there was enough of a wind to be worth sailing, and since it was nearly high tide enough water not to worry about going aground. We only put the engine on to let us back off the mooring buoy (where we left Worm) then left it on to recharge the battery as we sailed down the Ray Channel and Thorn Fleet. The channel is a bit crowded for sailing, but we only needed the engine in gear once to help us clear a moored yacht.

Once past Mersea Quarters cardinal we headed for Bradwell, and when we were in deep water we furled away the jib and went onto a broad reach up river while we had our picnic. Julian and I took it in turns to helm. We were sailing beautifully, but only making 2.5 knots against the tide, just the right speed to get us to Thurslet buoy by the time we finished eating!

We tacked round Thurslet, unfurled the jib, and close reached on one tack all the way back to the Nass beacon, doing 5 knots over the ground the whole way. Alex worried about our angle of heel, but he always does and it was really quite gentle, especially compared to last Saturday's race!

We ran most of the way back up the Thorn fleet, but there was a little too much wind for me to want to try picking up the buoy under sail, especially with Worm in the way, so we motored the last little bit.

Sunday afternoon sails don't come much better than this. Blue skies with fluffy clouds, hot sun but enough wind to sail well without needing the top sail, good food and good company. Bliss.