This was a cruise with the Haven Ports YC who are based on the lightship at Suffolk Yacht Harbour and we are immensely grateful to David & Gill Hervey Murray of Leading Wind for the time and effort they put into planning the event and getting us accessible berths.
Simon joined us late on the evening of May 24 for a civilised departure on May 25 at 0845. At that point we didn't really know how much fuel we would be using and the fuel gauge wasn't connected, so we had filled up at SYH with Guy the day before. Just as well, as it was a motor all the way to Queenborough, down the Wallet, across the Swin and down past Foulness, across the Thames at Sea Reach and into the Medway and then the Swale.
Queenborough found us an alongside berth but we decided it was just too much of a challenge to take Sam along the jetty and up the various steep ramps. However, it was just as well we were within easy reach of the land, as it transpired that our gas wasn't working and there was no shore power. Fish and chips all round at least kept us full and the odd glass of wine made sure we were relaxed. I've never been ashore in Queenborough before, it has a few nice buildings but otherwise is emphatically Isle of Sheppey.
The passage up to St Kats the next day into a W3-4 was a great test of the new engine and it passed with flying colours. We had to be at the St Kats lock at 1800 and were there with several minutes to spare. What a shame that we still had to circle in front of Tower Bridge for at least 30 minutes, were then called in by name on the VHF, sent back by the man on the lock with hand signals, and sent in again by Leading Wind. Our sympathies to the last three boats in our group who finally docked around 1930.
We had a great berth alongside the extremely blingy Queen's Barge, Gloriana.
It definitely concentrates the mind when arriving and leaving.
We visited Tower Bridge on the Bank Holiday Monday - the rest of the group went on Wednesday but we weren't staying that long. We had a coffee and walk along the south bank and later dinner wit he rest of the HPYC group. At £85 a night (yes yes, I know it's cheap for central London) I was glad we were only staying two nights.
Tuesday saw us filling up with fuel again at the Wapping barge, which required several phone calls to confirm and more paperwork than I have ever completed before when buying diesel. We headed back down-Thames to Queenborough, with Sam celebrating his birthday by staying in the cockpit until we had passed Thames barrier. This time we picked up a mooring and had pizzas cooked on the Cobb barbecue (Simon had achieved enough gas flow to boil a kettle but not for proper cooking).
And on Wednesday we had a truly fabulous sail back to SYH with about 10 minutes in total under engine. It was good to be able to show Simon what sailing is supposed to be about.
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