May 2nd "Force 5 gusting 6 & 7"

9.5nm, Season total 122.2nm

Having spent all bank holiday weekend waiting for the weather to calm down, I gave up and went for a short cruise up and down the Orwell.  Motored downstream, against the tide and a brisk easterly, and anchored off Suffolk Yacht Harbour.  Then used a reefed jib for a run up to the Orwell Bridge.  Even with a reefed jib, the speed topped out at 6.3 knots!

By then, the tide had turned, and strong wind against tide makes for turbulent waters, so I motored back to the mooring, taking three shots at picking up the mooring, and clouting the dinghy a few times!  Not particularly dignified, but worth it, all the same.