FInally heading north

We have been planing to take Robinetta to Scotland since the spring of 2020, and now, at 6pm on the last day of August 2021 we were actually able to leave Tollesbury and head north. We motored down Woodrolfe Creek, keeping a careful eye on the depth gauge. We were within an hour of high water, but it was neaps, and there was very little water at the head of the creek. We raised the staysail as soon as we could, but waited until we were in Mersea Quarters before raising the main and setting the jib. It was 2 years since we last did this, and I wanted plenty of water around. The engine faltered for a moment as we reduced speed, and I wondered if the old fuel in the tank had got contaminated, but it picked up immediately so I relaxed.

It was late in the day to start a voyage north, and there were only Northerlies or North Easterlies in the forecast, but as we sailed out of the Blackwater Julian put in a chart plotter course to take us towards Lowestoft. I already felt tired, and Julian has been having trouble with back pain, but we could hope!

The sailing was lovely. The forecast was for force 4-5, so we had the no 2 jib and a small reef in the main, and Robinetta romped along at over 4 knots. The tide wash helped us through the Wallet, and we only had to put in 2 tacks to avoid the sands. Because we were heading for Lowestoft Julian had taken us out from the coast rather than hugging it, and by midnight we were 6 miles off Walton pier. The wind had got up, the seas were uncomfortable, and we had lost the helpful tide. It was time to change plans and go into Harwich.

I put in the new course and went down to put the kettle on for a cup of tea, when Julian suddenly called me back on deck. I heard him say the gaff had broken, but it was actually "just" hanging down the mast. We furled the jib and Julian got the engine on and held Robinetta head to wind while I lowered the gaff and stowed it along the mast. Then it was a slow slog into Harwich, with Robinetta rolling all over the place with only the staysail to steady her, and a new engine we had been told not to over rev until it had bedded in.

We were safely berthed in Shotley Marina by 04:30, and went straight to bed.

In the morning we could actually see what had happened. The throat halyard had parted about a meter above the deck and needed replacing. That meant my first trip up the mast in a while. The only 3 strand available in the Shotley chandlers was white, so now we have mismatched ropes for the first time, and the lingering fear that we should have replaced other ropes too. At least we already had a new peak halyard...

The engine performed well, and my fears about our 2 year old diesel having been contaminated proved unfounded. If the seas in the Wallet could not stir up sediment or diesel bug in the fuel tanks I doubt anything will.

We will set off north again with the tide on Thursday, having taken a much needed break at Shotley  doing repairs after our shakedown voyage.