Arrived Burnham from Alderney
Caduceus
Martin and Elizabeth Bevan
Sat 9 Aug 2008 19:10
to one of the fairway buoys. When we arrived we took the only one available
and it looked all right, however changing wind and swings had the inevitable
effect. We therefore did what we should have done in the first place and
anchored whilst we sorted ourselves out and rigged the pole for what
appeared might be a downwind sail.
Needless to say the pole was not required and we set off in a brisk 18 kts
of wind which gave us 4 hours of 8nm + through the water and a favourable
tide to get us on the way.
Course was set towards the Owers in order to cross the shipping lanes in
daylight and well clear of the TSS. The wind then went light and astern and
motor sailing took us through the night giving a reasonable rate of progress
aiming to get to Burnham before dark on Saturday.
Saturday 0700 saw us off Dungeness and we continued to motor sail until we
were off Broadstairs when the wind strengthened as forecast to give us a
fast reach across the Thames to Fishermans Gat through which we went at a
good 11kts.
Such joys have to be paid for as it was now low water which put any of the
swatchways out of the question. A fast run under genoa alone and against
the now foul tide took us to the north east end of the Sunk. Having cleared
the Sunk Sands we were then left with a 30 mile slog into the wind with the
tide behind us and winds of a steady 30kts gusting to 35kts. The North Sea
at its best and most familiar. Thank heavens for the Amel's protected
cockpit and steering position.
We eventually made Burnham just as the tide was turning and secured
alongside at 1910 ably assisted by Ray and Trish Symmonds who were able to
celebrate the end of our 1632nm Biscay Triangle.