24th August
Despite not having to leave Ramsgate until at least 11 am, we still woke early and after our first cuppa we washed and dressed. While Chris sorted out a few work related calls, Carole walked up the hill to the shops and bought some milk and rolls for the day’s sail back to Ipswich. A number of boats around us were also making the return trip to the Orwell: our neighbour, Comrades (Brenda and Steve at Pin Mill) and Zulu (three men in a Bavaria 38 also at Pin Mill). It was going to be interesting to see how our progress compared with theirs as we had discussed the best route to go past the wind farms. On previous trips, we had gone through Fisherman’s Gat which is just west of the London Array. However, as the weather was clear with a forecast of SW/W F3-4 > F5, we decided to take a route through the Foulger’s Gat which goes through the wind farm and could save a bit of time.
Our neighbour, Comrades, set off just before us. As most of you know, Chris is not competitive but as the skipper and crew of Zulu left almost at the same time, well it could be classed as a race of sorts. We slipped our lines at 11:30 and headed out. Not long after Zulu was following. Our sails were up but the wind was light so we had the engine on to help push a bit of tide to North Foreland. As expected the wind picked up nicely and the engine was soon off. We were making good progress pulling away from Zulu. The tide was pushing us west so we headed up towards our waypoint which was the Long Sand Outer safe water buoy. Zulu was heading further west just outside the wind farm. However, as we got to our waypoint Zulu was now ahead of us. Their tactic had paid off. Going through the wind farm was not as bad as we thought as there was plenty of room between the pylons and as long as you kept between the safe water marks, there was, just as importantly, deep enough water. Once through, we stayed behind both Zulu and Comrades back to the Orwell making 5–6 knots through the water in the warm sunshine. As we passed Pin Mill we waved to Brenda and Steve on Comrades who were now back on their mooring buoy. We lost Zulu but thought they might have nipped off into the Stour for the night.
By Woolverstone, the wind had decreased enough to put the engine on and take the sails in for the last time on this trip. As we approached Ipswich we radioed into the lock and after a few minutes’ wait for the lock to be turned round, letting the Allen Gardiner out for an evening dinner cruise, we entered alone for a rapid lock in to our home marina. Within minutes we were safely tied up, bow in as we still had the little boat on our stern, and very happy to be back.
Now making our plans for next year……….