Lovely Sailing day, honest!

Overnight there was an amazing lightening storm, with heavy rain and gusty winds. We were snug down below, and well anchored, and by the time we woke up the rain was over and the sun was out. The forecast was SW 4-5, occasionally 6 at first, and it certainly felt like a 6 when we got the anchor up at 1100 to watch the race start. Julian put a reef in the main while we were at anchor, but we sailed down to the line on just the stay sail. We had the tide with us, and were doing 3 knots rolling along with the wind and tide. It was a much rougher situation when we turned into the wind to avoid boats at the start.

After the race went off we got the main up, but could not control the power in the sail, so immediately reefed right down. We then had a run on staysail and fully reefed main until we reached the Whitstable street buoy and could turn into a very broad reach and unfurl the jib (no2). Sailing became easier then, once we were not worrying about accidental gybes (we can't rig a preventer when Robinetta is reefed, there's just nowhere to tie one with the sail rolled round the boom). Meanwhile the boats that were racing had gone out to the Columbine Buoy and were on their way back in and crossed our track so we had a great view of them crashing through the waves. Julian helmed virtually all the time, I just took it for a little while to let him take pictures.

We checked our course carefully, and talked ourselves into the knowledge that it would be safe to take the Coperas, Gore, and South Channels along the coast to the North Foreland. So many other boats were heading into it that we could just follow their track, checking our GPS position and depth gage all the time just to be sure. We had a delightful sail along the coast in the shelter of the Margate Sands, it was a perfect time to eat lunch so we did. We had a cup of tea, then Julian asked me to take the helm as he was getting pretty tired. Another gaffer had been creeping up on us, but slowly enough for it not to be embarrassing. Turned out to be Tab Nab, heading from Faversham to Ramsgate. We had a chat as they passed, then followed them round the North Foreland.

No sheltering sands here, and we had to beat, but very much a long making tack, then a short one back in shore. The sea state was moderate, but at the North Foreland that means closely spaced six foot high swell. Tab Nab looked like she wanted to take off as she reached the top of the swells, and Robinetta buried her bowsprit repeatedly. It felt good though, She might have been plowing through some of the waves, but the wind was strong enough to keep her moving and the tide was still with us so she did not lose way. The foredeck got a good wash to get rid of the Swale mud from the anchor. Helming was hard work in the gusts, but the rest of the time she felt beautifully balanced and easy to handle. I handed the helm back to Julian reluctantly two mile out from Ramsgate and he brought her in the rest of the way.

We entered Ramsgate Harbour just on low water, got fuel at the fuel barge, then went on to the waiting pontoon, ready to lock in an hour and a half before high water. There were other gaffers waiting to lock in with us, so we all went up to the Royal Temple Yacht Club for a drink before going back to move the boats.