Forecasts and container ships!

Sailing close to container ships

We are exceptionally fortunate to benefit from the fine service provided by the Met Office.  However, some aspects of their forecasting remain a mystery.  Today's inshore waters forecast was a case in point: F3-4, occasionally F5.  Looking at the pressure chart - high pressure with widespread isobars - and the wind speed predicted for Harwich - around 6 or 7 mph - it was hard to believe winds would ever creep above F3 and, for the most part, flags were limp.  Perhaps I was too close to shore, and these speeds genuinely applied several miles out at sea.  It is odd that F3-4 occasionally 5 seems to be a routine light winds forecast but seems to apply to anything from a 'millpond' up to needing to tuck in a reef!

After motoring around Collimer in the expected millpond, emergent ripples justified hoisting sail and, against a very light south easterly, sailing with the ebb, I carved a passage through Harwich harbour.

For some reason, today was a day for container ship movements.  Two arrived and three left as I was in the harbour.  Although visibility was generally poor, I managed some photos of these remarkable feats of engineering on the move!

China Shipping Line ship performing a 180 degree lengthwise rotation.

Another ship with attendant tugs being pulled away from dock.

Maersk on the move!  This ship has 22 containers along its length, piled up to 8 containers high (not counting any out of sight in the hold) and 19 wide.  That works out at 3344 containers...

13.0nm

Next weekend, Daisy II comes off her mooring and returns to terra firma, for the first time since May, in order to attend the Drascombe Association Broads rally on the River Waveney, September 19-21.  It will be interesting to see how well-barnacled the hull will be...