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| Back to Harwich |
October half term wouldn't be worth it unless some sailing were involved. Not that I have always managed it, but this year the stars were in alignment and I was able to pop down to the Orwell for a brief 'overnighter'.
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| Full track for both days, 31.2nm |
Between other commitments and howling gales, the weather cleared and I launched at Woolverstone for what has turned out to be the final coastal sail of the season. There may be opportunities for a day trip to somewhere like Rutland Water later next month. We shall have to see! However, the engine is now at Seamark Nunn for winter storage and servicing - expensive but worth it if, like me, one has little understanding of the workings of the infernal (sic.) combustion engine...
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| Once again, launched at Woolverstone Marina. It doesn't get any cheaper but it is a convenient place from which to set off - plenty of room for onshore parking and a half decent slip, although I do wish they'd do something about the green algae which makes it treacherous under foot. |
Winds were benign on the day of launching (26th October) and, given fading light, the best I could do was to motor downstream with the tide, and cross over to the Walton Backwaters where I anchored in a creek intriguingly known as
The Dardanelles. In all the time I've been doing this trip, this was the first time I have anchored here and it was well worth it - although I didn't get to see much of it in the lengthening hours of darkness at this time of the year!
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| October 26th, trip from Woolverstone to Walton Backwaters, 10.2nm |
Fortunately, winds picked up overnight, so the next day, I breakfasted off Stone Point, before sailing out of the Walton Channel and over to Halfpenny Pier in Old Harwich.
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| Halfpenny Pier. It's never accessible during the summer, and it is so good to have it all to one's self during the off-season. |
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| Walton Channel to Halfpenny Pier - 6.9nm |
I had the option of spending another night aboard, but the forecast was for strengthening winds - Inshore Waters projection for the next 24 hours to be F5-7 with occasional gale F8. That put me off, so I resolved, after elevenses, to enjoy the remainder of the sail taking in a bit of The Stour, and then returning up the Orwell for a late lunch in the lea of Deer Park on the north side of the river.
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| Drilling jack, Paragon B391 at Harwich docks |
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| Felixstowe was its usual, busy self. |
After food, it was a simple case of returning to base, recovering the boat and returning home.
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| Afternoon track - return to Woolverstone, 14.2nm |
