Thankyou Andy Murray

We made some time for a sail today. It is quite a long row from the Orwell Yacht Club to our temporary mooring but it was the perfect day for it. We raised sail on the mooring and sailed off it in very light airs. The wind kept filling in and then dying away. It seemed to veer and back a lot two but I think it was mostly just different in different parts of the river.

By the time we got to Woolverstone it was definately blowing up the river and we had to beat down to Pin Mill. A lovely experience. Alison fancied lunch at the Butt and Oyster so we picked up a mooring right next to Andy and Fiona busy painting Electron's topsides. We found out it is Gladys' mooring, so we made sure we didn't hang on it too long. Gladys is Gus Curtis' Leigh Bawley. Gus runs Harry King's boatyard.

The Butt and Oyster was doing good business but was unusually quiet for a Sunday lunchtime. Almost certainly because so many people were watching the Wimbledon final. It certainly made our lunch very pleasant and quick.

I had a 1/2 pint of Adnams Fat Sprat amber ale with my roasted cod, mash, broccoli and peas. Alison had a cider with her belly pork and sweet potato chips. All yummy.

We saw the Thomases go down to the hard and met Pete as we walked Worm back towards the rapidly receding tide. Pete was carrying my razor around just in case he saw us! (I'd left it at Robert and Lorna's place in Loch Melfort). Luckily Alison also remembered we hadn't paid for the Wrabness BBQ so exchanges were duly made and we rowed back to Robinetta. Must remember to wish Pete a happy birthday tomorrow.

We sailed back up to the mooring on jib and staysail. The wind had got quite strong and we didn't want to get there quickly, it was just too nice! The boat on the left is a new friend from the Orwell Yacht Club who helped us through the gate.

From the mooring to Pin mill is 21/2 miles. Not exactly the longest day sail. But with such light airs it was just right.

The Orwell is a beautiful river and it was a truly beautiful day.

We did a little maintenance and relaxed for a while on the mooring and got back to the Orwell Yacht Club around low water. There really is very little water in the creek and all the boats were aground. We picked our way back to the pontoon and popped Worm back where she lives, for the moment.