Trying again

We set off next morning with the new main sheet in place, and a plan to sail out of the harbour and see what the sea state was like. After a lovely gentle sail down the River Orwell we headed across the Stour channel, avoiding a small trawler and a large Stena Line ferry, and out past the Harwich Shelf. The wind was easterly, a much better direction than yesterday, and the sea state also said "Go for it!" Julian put in a course towards Lowestoft, and we motor sailed to let us head closer to the wind.

Then we had the first of our gear failures. The starboard jib sheet block, which should have been held down on the cabin roof, came loose. The nominally stainless steel screws holding the attachment plate down had rusted through. Julian went forward and tied the block back into position between the grab rails. Something similar had happened before, and we knew exactly what to do.

By the time we reached Orfordness the sea state, and how often Robinetta was pumping,  made us reconsider our destination. Southwold was closer than Lowestoft and we knew there was a wooden boat competent yard there to reassure us that the pumping was just her taking up. Or not. I phoned the harbour master to make certain we could get a berth, and was told to come onto the pontoon just by the Harbour Master's office.

When we first plotted the Southwold course the chart plotter told us we would be there by 18:00. We knew this was not true as we were about to lose the tidal push. Even with less than a knot in our favour at the time we could be nearly 2 knots slower in three hours time... 

Julian heard something crack, and I noticed a distinctively shaped piece of  wood on the cockpit floor. One of the dead eyes used to tension the starboard stern shroud had broken. Julian went forward and tied the shroud down as tightly as he could. We would have to be careful not to put too much stress on the mast.

The sea state got up once we were out of the protection of the Aldeburgh ridge and the wind also came round until it was more on the bow, so we were having to tack more often. Our arrival time changed to 20:00. Julian checked the pilot book, and we would be okay to get into the river as long as we arrived by 21:30...

Motor sailing extremely close hauled (for a gaffer) made Robinetta roll uncomfortably, and I decided that a reef would be a good idea. It was, but unfortunately the boom just would not roll the sail away. For the first time ever we could not reef. The sail had to come down all the way. Under engine and stay sail, with the tide against us and waves knocking us back we were fighting to make 2.5 knots.

By the time we reached Southwold it was totally dark. Having been into the river before we knew where we were going, and the chart plotter told us exactly where we were, but there was a strange object in the way... this turned out to be a barge working on one arm of the harbour entrance, but it confused us hugely as we approached.

We were on the Harbour Master's pontoon by 21:00, and securely tied up, with the engine off five minutes later, to our great relief. The last three hours of the trip had been very hard work. We wanted to get off the boat, and go for a drink, but the pub looked very dark... However there were lights on in the sailing club, so we headed there.

A small group of members were sitting around with pizza boxes in front of them, socialising after a cruiser race. They made us very welcome, and we were able to get our drinks, and even buy a pizza each as they had just had a delivery of 50 for their freezer. A lovely end to a trying day.