Half term cruise 30th May - 1st June, River Blackwater

 

Showery weather off Osea Island

This was the first opportunity for a cruise since acquiring a puppy which, as any dog owner will know, takes time to train…

Anyhow, this blog is about boats not dogs, although it is hoped our new friend might become a feature of future sails.  But, for now, still sailing mostly solo.

This launch on the Blackwater was a brief window of opportunity and the weather was quite suspect, although the main showers tended to happen at convenient times, usually when anchored and often in the middle of the night.

The cruise followed the usual pattern on this estuary, which is a trip across to the Colne for a night in the Pyefleet Channel, and then a sail up the Blackwater the next day.  On this occasion, on the second evening, I spent the night anchored off Osea, on the south side, which was modestly successful, but always destined to become bumpy for a small boat at a point overnight when the tide turned against the wind.  I should have persisted with looking for a quieter spot up Mayland Creek or Lawling Creek.  

Threatening skies never far away, but mostly managed to hold off whilst in motion.

Day 1 (red): 15.4nm; Day 2(yellow): 21.7nm; Day 3 (green): 6.1nm; total length 44.2nm