Monday 3rd July 

A few small in house jobs first thing, followed by a trip ashore primarily to meet up with friends for lunch in the Lightship docked in Levington Marina.  It is used as the Haven Port Yacht Club and has a very nice cosy restaurant.  We launched the dinghy and the little outboard started happily.  It was a good opportunity to stretch our legs before lunch and we had a smashing walk along the sea wall from the marina.  The path took us along the sea wall dividing the river from a large fishing lake, it was a joy to see so many geese, swans, cormorants, ducks and sea gulls enjoying the sheltered waters and to hear the birds singing in the woods.  The path would have taken us to the Trimley Marsh Bird Reserve, but we needed to return to the marina for our social meeting and by now, much needed lunch.  

We had a lovely couple of hours with our friends, catching up on the news of family and other friends, but all too soon it was time for them to depart and we wandered back to Whisper for an enjoyable afternoon spent polishing half of the cockpit.  The dinghy and engine were stowed ready for our trip back to the boatyard and haul out on Thursday.  

Tuesday 4th July

A pleasant warm morning with very little wind.  It had been planned for the crew to use the time in the river to practice some manoeuvres under sail.  The lack of wind meant that the rest of the cockpit was polished and one or two evolving  tasks undertaken.  By lunchtime the wind had filled in, so after a bite to eat we left the mooring under sail.  It was delightful to gently sail up the river with the tide under us, remembering and practising the techniques of 'heaving to'.  We must have caused much head scratching from fellow yachtsmen as we turned and twisted our way along, fortunately the river was quite quiet so there were no hazards.  Eventually the gentle meander came to an end as we turned back down the river and reefing the headsail we beat our way against the tide and wind.  It was great fun, the benefit of the smaller headsail, is twofold.  One the helm can see under and around the sail and two the crew, who has to work jolly hard on the short tacks, can often pull in the jib sheet without having to wind like fury for too long on the winch.  As we approached 'our buoy', the now very hot and exhausted crew, stowed the headsail and started the engine.  A quick check over the stern revealed the lack of water from the exhaust yet again!  

Now our peaceful day was becoming exciting. The headsail was deployed again to a pocket handkerchief size.  The boathook and a line prepared ready for a further practice of picking up a mooring under sail alone. The first attempt failed because the boat hook did not hook securely through the weed covered mooring loop.  We sailed away and approached again, this time we were successful, the rope was hooked and our skilful skipper came to secure the line on the buoy whilst the mainsail was somewhat untidily dropped, not very quickly but in the event we had arrived and no doubt gave some great entertainment to the crew on the next mooring beside us.  

A cup of tea was the next priority after all was made shipshape!  Once equilibrium was restored, it was back to the retched engine!  The usual checks were made, sea cock open; water to the water pump ok; impeller checked, also ok; water into the syphon but strangely no water out!  Fortunately being a weekday and not yet 5pm, the engineer was at the end of the phone.  He suggested we start the engine again and give it some 'wellie', this would spin the pump faster and force the water through.  Bingo, what a star!  Water pouring out of the exhaust we rang again to tell him that he is a genius, his reply was 'that engine has a mind of its own'.  We have to agree.  Roll on Thursday! 

Despite the trauma, as we discussed our day over a 'dark and stormy', we agreed it had been a good day and over the last few weeks we have refreshed our sailing skills and learnt a good deal too!  

I can't help wondering if life might become dull once Whisper has her new engine?