... as you mean to go on. First sail of 2012: January 2nd. Not entirely easy to enthuse teenage crew. Who gets up at silly o’clock in the morning? Well, not them. Getting them up, clothed and into the car was not an easy job. Felt a bit like herding cats.
Anyway, it wasn’t that bad once we were on the road. Everyone slept – including the dog. For all intents and purposes I was alone in the car with just my thoughts for company.

Once we got there and the crew managed to drag themselves aboard routine kicked in. Disconnect shore-power, sort instruments, store food, remove boom cover, start engine, briefing regarding manoeuvre out of the berth, get lines ready to slip, and off...

Wind ‘felt’ OK once we were out on the river (12-15kts), but the – usually reliable WindGuru – had predicted wind speeds in the low twenties, so I decided to put a reef in the main. We could always shake it out later. Couple of minutes later we sailed under the Orwell Bridge – heading for Landguard. Pretty uneventful trip till we passed Pin Mill. Running dead downwind – relative wind speed 16kts – SOG 7.8kts (against the tide). That reef’s staying in.

Reaching from Levington to Shotley: relative wind speed low twenties. One reef in the main and full genoa – cracking, sporting sail and massive testosterone boost. Another exhilarating run down to Shotley Spit – wind kept picking up though. When we started reaching for Landguard the wind remained consistently above 25kts and the sea turned lumpy. Steps turned into ‘vibrator-dog’ – this could no longer be called ‘fun’.
Another testosterone boost till Levington, then it was time to stop all this silliness. No-one, least of all me, fancied tacking upriver. Time to furl and stack away the sails and have lunch. Never had so many people agreed with me at the same time.

Hot soup and a sandwich tasted as good as lobster and caviar. Smiles all round. Once every cup had been licked clean Steps returned to birdwatch-station and skipper and crew chatted about ...

Only a short while later we were back alongside, safely tucked away in our berth. Steps once again did a runner – checking for dog-friends on other boats. When I finally had her cornered, I saw something that warmed my heart. Without having had to say anything, the kids were putting the boat to bed: securing/doubling up the lines, flaking and covering the main, securing the sheets, sorting shore-power and the instruments ... Moments like this: priceless.

Uneventful drive home – everyone slept. Hope to this again – soon – as often as the weather allows. Windy as hell in the UK at the moment; but when life hands you lemons: make lemonade. Sunday and early next week doesn’t look too bad. Better make the most of it.
Anyway, today had been just what the doctor ordered and definitely tasted like ‘more’.