Had a nice gentle sail up to Bristol on Tuesday afternoon and anchored just off the entrance to the fairway at around 3:30pm, ready to watch the fireworks. We toodled down to see Mike and Jane and after a quick drink with them came back to find the harbormaster waiting for us... The wind had changed direction and we were now edging into the fairway - please move! What a pain! I let the harbormaster know I thought the required move was nuts - and he said he'd pass it on to the harbormaster... (I thought he was it...)

We re-deployed about 100ft away - and settled back - but another yacht felt we were too close for comfort (&^%*&) so we upped again and moved well away - to the edge of the harbor adjacent Poppasquash. While anchoring, Graylag frantically hails us on the VHF - so I respond... "You're right over my anchor" : "Really - how much scope do you have out?" : "110 ft all chain." : "So far we have 80ft out, and we're a solid 60ft away from you." : "Oh OK - you seem to know what you're doing." : "Thanks - let's have a drink sometime!" : "Sounds good."

We continued our deployment and settled down for dinner of Chicken, Corn and Salad (very tasty) and got ready for the fireworks show...

We're beginning dinner - with a glass of wine, when a blue flashing light appears on our starboard side. A somewhat terse exchange then proceeds - during which he indicated that he, the Bristol Harbormaster had asked the Tiverton Harbormaster to request we "adjust" our scope - we didn't have to actually move... Since we were not told this, we assumed we had to move (and anyway, why would any harbormaster think it's OK and safe to tell a captain to reduce scope?). "If we are in a good position now, I'd like to finish my dinner and wine and be left in peace!"

After sitting at our stern in silence for a couple of minutes with blue light still flashing, he buggers off to be a pain to someone else... (It's then that a rather bemused Laurie reminds me that our Documentation certificate has still not come back from the Coast Guard and that the dingy registration number is not affixed!)

We continue dinner - but before we can finish, Mark from Greylag rows over to us to find out what the Nazzis wanted! Obviously slight the worse for a bevy or two, Mark very nearly falls in the water while boarding Toodle-oo! We have a glass of wine together - and a nice chat, then pour him back into his dingy (just)! As he paddles back to Greylag, the harbormaster decides he needs an escort - complete with blue flashing light!

Finally we can enjoy the fireworks - but unfortunately we're farther away than either of us realized so it was not as good as planned... Our fault - not Bristol's - who put on an excellent show.

Sunday dawned damp and dreary. We slowly got our stuff together and after a brief chat with Elixir and Jamin who had taken moorings right under the fireworks, we went in search of breakfast - and found it at the English Pub! Breakfast sandwich and a pint of London Pride went down well! Laurie even went for a pint of Guinness!

We walked the parade - before it started, then watched the first few groups processing through before hitting Aidens for a couple more Guinness!

Our sail home was neat - into the wind, so we were short tacking down the harbor and getting good practice. We made it into the slip and hour or so later - with no difficulties (that's a first) and then enjoyed a beautiful summer late afternoon/evening drink in the cockpit.

In spite of harbormasters, we had a nice relaxing 4th!