Day off work and off to Ostend. The engine and autopilot have been hanging over our heads like just so many swords of Damocles for far too long.
Not exactly sailing weather was forecast - more like dead calm. Not ideal, but as we were one man (two if you count Snorky) down... Not exactly ideal, 15 hours of motoring with a knackered engine, but provided we don't push it too far we should get there.

Trip up on Thursday night, arrived just after sunset. Quickly launched the tender. All aboard - well, nearly... In the dark, Brigitte badly sprained her ankle. Hope it's not an ominous sign. Some dinner and off to bed, early start tomorrow.

I had the alarm set for silly o'clock in the morning. Quick rounds on deck start engines and off. I hoisted the main for what seemed to be for cosmetic reasons only. You can only hope, can't you? Brigitte soon disappeared down below and left me alone with my thoughts. The crew resurfaced just before ten. Good, I was in the mood for a bit of company. Here's the helm.

Nothing happened for the next eleven hours - and it happened bloody slowly at that. And now for the trip highlights. Halfway across we were overwhelmed by the most foul stench ever. Something rotten in the Kingdom of Denmark? Surely we can't be that far off course? Then Brigitte noticed a 'lump' in the water, about a mile off. I decided to investigate; it looked even big enough to b a body. It wasn't a body, but it was the source of the stench all right. A porpoise or shark belly up. Way past it's sell by date. What a shame.
Other highlight: shortly afterwards we had a stowaway. Little bird crash landed on our foredeck. You could see it had completely lost its bearings. Young one too. Something to do for Yanni. And credit where credit's due - the little man did his best. Some water, some breadcrumbs,... the little fellow had it all. But most of all it seemed to enjoy the corpses of the bugs that had been bugging us all day.
Our stowaway made several attempts to go for it; only to complete a round around the boat before touching down on deck again. Aircraft carrier for birds? By Westhinder he finally took off for the last time; and set off... in the wrong direction. Hope you got where you wanted to go safely.



Sunset came and went. Another night time entry. At least we know the place. I listened in on VHF CH9 - something was going on in Ostend. Sounded like a dredger. And so it proved. White-red-white, smack bang in the middle of the fairway. Just squeezed by. With Brigitte's ankle I had hoped for an alongside berth. No such luck. Boats rafted up two or three deep, but plenty of buoys available. Long line aft was ready, fenders either side ready, mooring lines bow ready,... preparation is half the battle.

As usual, when everything goes just perfect - there's no-one there to see you do it. I motored up to a buoy, flat on the belly and hooked on, Brigitte now at the helm. Point us towards the quay, gently does it, but more, leap of faith, and all secured. Straightened her out and that was it. Off to the chippy.

Night all, work starts tomorrow. And according to the forecast it would be the best day in a long while. Some R&R.