Alarm set for 05H00. As usual in these circumstances as was awake way before it went off. Quick rounds of the boat. Everything still ship-shape. Good.

A few scereal bars and a cup of tea for breakfast and we were off. Slipping a mooring went so much faster than picking it up. Hoisted the main - in very light airs - just off Shotley Spit and continued to motorsail downriver. A hint of a breeze by Landguard and it continued to pick up once we rounded Cork Sands. Enough to warrant unfurling the genoa. Gear in neutral - SOG 5 kts - that should do it: finished with engines.

The rest of the trip was remarkably uneventful. NE 3-4 as predicted, though at times touching 5 once we had cleared the Sunk TSS. SOG consistently over 6 kts. Autopilot steered a steady course. Time to relax.

Westhinder Anchorage - when it came - looked like the M25 at rush hour. Ostend loomed in the distance. Not long now. Breeze picked up a bit more, we were making good time.
Slalomed through the racers off the harbour entrance and proceeded in to look for a vacant berth.

Easier said than done. The place was packed to the rafters. Rafts 6/7 boats deep. Didn't think so, it only needed one idiot leaving at silly o'clock in the morning...
Proceeded towards our usual refuge - a few berths only known to the locals and a few choice visitors (grin - wink). Parked, tied up & secured. Decided to let the RNSYC HM sort it in the morning.

Booked restaurant - mussels - drinks at the club - off to bed. Good day.

Caught up with Robert in the morning - big grins and lots of back-slapping. 'That berth just became vacant, fancy it?' says he. 'Yes please' says I. 'I'll keep it for you - you've got 10 minutes to be in it. I'll run you over to your boat'. One rib ride, an XO emergency wake-up call and 5 minutes later we were indeed in our new prize berth. Brigitte returned to bed whilst I went off to by croissants and cake. Civilised breakfast followed in due course.

Later that day, whilst I waited for General Stores (duty free) to arrive I enjoyed the ultimate spectator sport: watching boats park in the Montgomery dock. I'm surprised Robert does not sell tickets. I love the sound of bow-thruster in the morning. Not to mention the frantic activity and the looks of sheer panic.

Rest of the day was standard Ostend fare: drinks with old friends, shopping for food and a nice meal out. Holiday feeling.

We had planned to stay for two days but all forecasts indicated that the wind would be backing NW in the next few days. Motoring into the wind did not appeal. There was that, and the fact that we would be leaving the dog at the mercy of the kids for a couple more days... so we decided to head back in the morning. NNE 4, should be another comfortable crossing.