West Mersea to the Swale

It's about 40 nm from West Mersea to Harty Ferry. At Robinetta's normal passage planning speed of 3 kts, that would be 13 hours. We knew we needed to do better than that. We got an early start from home and got off the mooring before 8:30am. We managed to maintain a good 4 kts motor sailing, or often just motoring. At times we had a nice sail and at other times the Thames was like glass.

In the Spitway, the Dutch gaffers Orm and Blackwater passed us, probably heading for Ramsgate. We turned down the Middle Deep, through the West Swin and over to Whitstable Street, getting to Harty Ferry at around 5pm. Kajan and Windbreker were there and Yvonne suggested we anchor between her and the Faversham Creek cardinal. We joined them at the race briefing at Hollowshore and met a number of friends there. Raven, Greensleeves, Crow and Cygnet of London were all going to race.