SV Ostinato: November 2013

Last sail of the season, Ipswich to London

It was fun returning to Ipswich. The Harbour Master, Phillip and his crew at the Ipswich Haven Marina gave us a warm welcome back....and a slip close to the showers. We also had a great evening with Ivor and Denise, members of the Orwell Yacht Club, which included a return to the OYC. How nice to see the ABYC burgee hanging in the club. Ivor and Denise will be visiting Shell Point and ABYC as a stop on their vacation to the States in November so we spent some time talking about the Forgotten Coast's "must sees". After reweaving the trampolines back in place, Bill took the opportunity to tour a bit of the East Coast, King did his magic on the engine and heating problems and I went to TK MAXX for some retail therapy. It really works! The new bikes made the multiple trips to Fox's chandlery, by all of us, a bit easier than our last visit when we hoofed the 2 miles each way. Besides Bill attempting to wash his clothes in the marina dryer, everything went without a hitch. Thankfully he hadn't added the detergent! Claire has promised to do some retraining when he returns home.

Last May we waited forever in Ipswich for a southerly wind to blow us north to Scotland. Now, we couldn't buy a north wind. We finally settled on a light southerly wind and hoped to make the best of it to reach Stangate Creek in the River Medway. Stangate Creek would be our overnight stop on the Thames before catching the next day's tide up to London.

Prop unwrapped - check, trampolines reattached - check, new circuit board installed on port diesel heater - check; fuel filters running clear and bad fuel off - check; port alternator repaired and starboard alternator on hold (the nice part of having a cat) - TBD/London; books, charts, passports, and everything else that wasn't attached, off the floor and back where they live - check; plastic twisty tie recovered from electric head; fuel and water tanks refilled, laundry, grocery shopping done and a night off to go to the movies. All just in time to slip through a very tiny weather window.

Quiet anchorage in the River Orwell

As we waited in the Prince Phillip Lock, (yes, the same one that kept us captive last May) the lock keeper commented on how much better we were looking on our departure compared to our arrival. I thanked him for noticing. We motored down the river and anchored for the night across from the Suffolk Yacht Harbour so we could take advantage of the morning tide. No one was up for being bounced about the boat again so it was with great relief the next morning that the weather forecast continued to show light winds,a tight beat but that would do.

A beautiful sail down the East coast

We had bitten in pretty hard with the anchor the night before so King, the resident worrier, was sure that we had attached ourselves to Davy Jones locker, or some such, but it came up without a hitch and we were off. This time, we departed the harbour without reprimand from the Port Authority for straying into the big ship's channel. Always a good way to start the day. Under sunny skies, the winds averaged 10k. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a whopping good sail. We certainly deserved one!

By the time we had reached Stangate Creek, the sun had given up the ghost. As the thick, heavy clouds took over the sky, the temperature seemed to instantly drop ten degrees. We were all happy the heaters were repaired. The plan was to have a leisurely, pancake breakfast kinda morning, departing as the tide changed around 10 a.m. Oh how we love plans! About 7 a.m., King decided we were close to being aground which would hamper things a bit for that 10 o'clock departure. "Everyone up! We have to move the boat." After several futile attempts to find something beside mud to sink the anchor into, we cried "uncle" and began the trek up the Thames.......as slow as we could with a 4k tide at our back. The locks at St. Katharine's would not open for another ten hours. We were entertained during the long trip by watching the drama of several police boats, full of guys dressed all in black, following a large container ship going down river. Several hours later, they passed us going the other way. What can I say, it was a very slow entertainment day. Next to the high crime drama, the highlight of the trip was going through the Thames Barrier with King and me "discussing" which opening was our assigned "G". We were both wrong.

Thames Tidal Barriers just down stream of Greenwich

Slipping through the barriers

The Tower Bridge means we've made it back!

Even the water taxis didn't stress us out this year as they zipped around us moving hordes of tourists up and down the Thames. We were almost there.

Finally, we had arrived! King kept Ostinato doing donuts in front of the Tower Bridge as we waited for our turn to enter the locks.

Just as we tied up in the lock, crew from Wings, Artemis, and Alchemy arrived to welcome us back to London.

Helen, Ginger, Sally, Al and Gus, all return cruisers from last winter

It's great to be back in London!

Bill has departed back to Florida. His company was great....especially on the North Sea crossing. The morning before he left, the UK experienced 80 mhp winds across the continent.... I slept right through it.

Now the task of changing the boat from cruising mode to dock living will begin. I look forward to using real wine glasses again, not worrying about filling the water tanks and getting satiated on concerts, theater and museums. Can hardly wait!

THE END......

Ha, ha! Just kidding. You guys already know I can't be quiet all winter.