November 17, Season's swansong

Today's spring tide at 2pm seemed like an ideal opportunity to bring the season to a late close.  I had welcome company from Bob who, following correspondence on the Drascombe Forum, came along to 'test drive' a coaster - I hope Daisy II set a fine example.  The breeze was pleasant and we managed a short sail up towards the Orwell Bridge and then back to Pin Mill.  It would have been good to have spent more time sailing, but time and tide wait for no-one...

Daisy II with grubby bottom, waiting for end of season pressure wash!

Recovery onto the trailer was uneventful and Daisy II is now on the drive, waiting for tomorrow's light and a pressure wash.
Who knows, there may be an opportunity for a dash to an inland reservoir somewhere but, somehow, I doubt it!  All good things must come to an end...

6.1nm; season's total 461.7nm

...implacable November weather...

Half term yielded just one opportunity for a trip, the weather towards the end of the week taking a ridiculously wet and squally turn.  True to form, as soon as schools went back, things calmed down somewhat...  Perhaps this is why I normally stop sailing at the end of October.  However, as today proved, there's still good sailing to be done...
The forecast, today, November 10th, was for rain and yet more rain.  But, given musical commitments tomorrow, there was no choice but to take a chance.  Besides which, what's the point of all that wet weather gear if it isn't used once in a while.
In the event, it did rain but not particularly heavily - and the sun tried a few times to break through but was beaten back by more mist and cloud.  Neither was the wind strong but there was sufficient for me to sail with the ebb, down the Orwell and through Harwich Harbour, even topping 5.5 knots at one point.  On the return trip, the wind truly did die, so I motored back to the mooring.  One of the advantages of sailing in November is that few other boats are around - all that water to myself...
Only when I returned to shore did the rain clear and a sunset begin to set in...

13nm, season's total: 455.6nm

November 1st weather...

I'm determined to sail on into November, in order to make up for some of the less clement weather experienced earlier this year.

The weather-scape today was extraordinary in its variation, although it could be argued that there was consistency in that showers threatened from all directions!   Luckily for me, I only really had one soaking, just after pulling away from the jetty at Pin Mill, having stopped for a bite of late lunch.  Fortunately, I could see it coming and was appropriately attired.  
These photographs show the weather taken from various directions, later at 3pm...

view south east towards Pin Mill

view north west, towards Ipswich and the Orwell Bridge

view west, towards Woolverstone Hall

view east, towards Levington

6.2nm, season's total: 442.6nm.