Monday 20th July - First day of the holiday...

...well, almost. Officially, today was a 'training day' - only Cambridgeshire could have arranged the end of a school year to be on a Monday - so we have put in the hours for this during the year as twilight sessions after work.

Harwich harbour, looking East from the Stour

Took the opportunity to go for a sail, this being a day with a reasonable foreacast. Reached the boat at around 11am, the tide was already on the ebb. Wind, SW F2/3. Decided to sail down to Harwich harbour, and have a look 'round the corner' - round Shotley Point and up the Stour, for the first time this season, even though this would involve making headway against the ebb whilst going up the Stour.

Shotley point (or a giant electronic toothbrush...)

The only interruption occurred as soon as I cast off the mooring, and turned on the Clipper duet, which, for the second time this season, decided not to work. I anchored up a mile downstream from Pin Mill to investigated all electrical connections. All seemed pretty much to be in order, and, for some bizarre reason, the thing started working again after an hour. (Have subsequently acquired a reset procedure from the makers which I will try using if this reoccurs).
When I reached the Stour, the Wind had turned Westerly F3. That, combined with the strength of a tide at full ebb, meant tacking up the Stour was going to be of limited value, so following a few futile tacks, I motored the first section, up as far as what looks to be a new dock construction extending Parkeston Quay - the ferry terminal at Harwich.

Parkestone Quay, Harwich International Ferry Terminal

At this point, I reset the sails - jib, mizzen, reefed main - and spent a pleasant couple of hours tacking my way upstream. I had hoped to reach Holbrook Bay, but the aforementioned electrical interruption meant a revised target just West of Erwarton Ness. At pretty much low tide, I turned round, and made my way back home.

River Stour, looking East towards Harwich harbour

I sailed the entire way back, including a gusty sail tacking into an increasingly strong F3/4 during the final stretch of the Orwell up to the mooring.

GPS has the trip measured at 18.2 nm, including a top sailing speed, with tide of over 7 knots.

Updated total for season now 143.5 nm.