Getting There

We took a walk last night and saw a lovely big yawl anchor near Pioneer. She came in under jib and mizen so we don't know what sort of main she has but the mizen was gaff. We might have seen the crew in the Kovalam.

Met Rik Graham on the pontoon - he had sailed Kelpie II down from the Orwell and was heading back in the morning. I hope he had enough wind to get home.

Had a nice chat with Paddy and his wife this morning. They own Angie, a lovely old Fred Parker sloop. They are friends with Barry (Random) and Graham (Jacinta).

I took the cleats off the gaff and tacked some cable clips on so the front of the span was further forward and the back further aft. I should have moved the whole thing aft as we still had problems raising the main but once it was up it set nicely. The small cable clips failed but the principle is good - small wedges on both sides of the span will do a better job.

We also picked up a new glass for the oil lamp, a new painter for Worm and a new ensign stick and some diesel. A cracking sail out to the Molliette but then it went light airs and we drifted back to Mersea in the sunshine. The most relaxed I've felt for ages.

Got to the Ray at low water and picked up a buoy two down from ours with only 2 ft of water beneath the keel - we would have never made ours and this one is not occupied as far as we know.

Relaxed on the buoy while some water came back, then put the covers on to avoid the bird mess issue, and headed home.