Hi all,

Well it is strange to be back here with Emerald. My first two boats came from this very place, and my sailing life began here. The photo is the very spot where I slaved over 'Possum' my Halcyon 27 for a year to get her seaworthy more than 14 years ago. I even found the spot where I knocked over a pot of green epoxy barrier coat on the hard standing. It is still there 14 years later, so Possum's hull should be sound still!

Today was a day of procrastination. We intended to go to Walton Backwaters, but the tides weren't great, either an early start (really early) or arriving in the dark, which is something we plan to not do if we can at all help it. We then decided to pick up a 'free' mooring further up the river, but we had a marginal forecast, so have stayed put.

Tomorrow we are going to go anchor off Osea island in the river Blackwater but we'd also talked ourselves out of that today, but have reflected on it and will go for it tomorrow as the wind is forecast to ease. If necessary we can pick up a mooring off the Marconi Sailing Club, or anchor behind Stone Point should the main anchorage be too exposed because of the wind direction.

Then it will be across to the River Roach for a final few days before we head up river Crouch in time for a big spring tide to get us onto our winter mud berth at Brandy Hole Yacht Station.

slainte skip