Marica goes clockwise

The boat was aground for a couple of hours on Thursday night. Fortunately the differences in drying heights of the big patrol boat and Marica were not large enough to cause a problem with our mooring lines. I chatted to a couple of guys, who were going fishing, waiting on the jetty before I could get into the harbour office. I paid up and was told that I should be able to get up river to Rye town now. As I was sorting my lines the fishermen were picked up by a boat. However, there was a bit of a cock up and as the boat pulled away against the tide a line was still attached at the stern. The net result was the boat slammed into the jetty on her stern. It looked like there was not significant damage but there was a bit of shouting.

We motored up the River Rother to its confluence with the River Brede. Then up the Brede and the starboard channel where it divides. On to the Stand Quay in the middle of town. I tied up at the first mooring and walked down to find the best spot. Further down near the facilities and right in the heart of the town was my choice. The showers were good and hot. Marica settled down in the mud at a jaunty angle. Every other boat had carved its own spot in the mud and was upright. I secured the main halyard to the steps to try and grind the starboard keel harder into the mud on the next tide.

In the evening I took a wander around the steep, narrow, cobbled streets. Every other shop seems to be antiques or some kind of art. I didn't see too many pubs, but lots of fish and chip shops. I chose what looked like the cheapest, Keetle o'Fish and was very disappointed by some cardboardy tasting chips, flavourless fish and insipid mushy peas. I did research the local pubs while I ate, not something I normally do. The Standard Inn looked good or the Ypres Castle Inn (called Y press by locals I learnt later). I went to the Standard and tried a pint of The Standard Farmer Ale from the Old Dairy Brewery in Kent. £3.60 and 4%, a slightly fruity flavour. Two of those and I was just leaving, feeling very tired, when I was accosted by a young Polish woman. She introduced me to her partner, two visiting relatives and a man with a huge barrel chest. Her man has been converting a boat into a live aboard for a number of years and showed me photos. Really amazing work, but not liveable on yet. We had great conversations, quite a bit of tequila and more beers. I was invited back for an impromptu party. I went to the boat to pick up some wine.

Back on the quay I could immediately see a problem. The boat was over at close to thirty degrees to starboard and out from the quay at full stretch of the mooring ropes. Of course the halyard was pulling the mast down now the tide had come up again! I could not release the halyard as it was pulling too hard. If I had another bit of rope I could have taken the tension off to undo it. I tried pulling in the bow and then the stern to see if I could get on board. No, again too much force required. I saw the boat seemed OK and the tide was falling, so it should settle back to where it had started. After about an hour I could pull in on the starboard shroud enough to get on board. I released the halyard and went below, nervous that I would find a big flood. There was a lot deranged items and the washing up bowl was at 45 degrees and full of water, but the floor was dry. I tidied up a bit and had a cup of tea.

I'd just taken my clothes off to get into my bunk with the boat now keeled over to port again. My feet got wet on the port side of the boat. A bit of water on the floor. Could it wait until morning? I put my boots back on and investigated. The bilges were full up to the floorboards. I started bailing. Over 100 washing up bowl fulls down the sink and still there was plenty more. I tried the bilge pump in the cockpit. It's not worked since I replaced the engine as I could not get the pipe underneath this new low profile machine. Yes there was now sufficient water for it suck out a few more gallons. Then back to bailing and a hand pump in the cabin. I got to bed a little after 3:30, so much for an early night.