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Heading to the River Blackwater - early July 2020

With marinas now being open for the past week, it seemed like a good time to have a trip down to the River Blackwater. First thing first, a last minute Felixstowe Ferry Sailing Club cruise to Titchmarsh Marina near Walton on the Naze.

7th July

Also the first time this year sailing with crew- afforded Boris’ bubble. A mid morning start saw Zara, Waratah and Andromeda set-off on the short trip along the Suffolk coast past Felixstowe, crossing Harwich Harbour and finally entering the Pye End Channel towards Hamford Waters and Titchmarsh Marina. The wind almost played ball affording a beat down to the deep water channel by Harwich, prior to the tide and wind direction conspiring to favour the Perkins being fired up to sneak along the shallow Pye End Channel.

Considering this was to be the first marina visit since 2019, mooring up on the finger pontoons went well, no scratches nor embarrassing incidents.

The restaurant was still closed, due to re-open later in the week, crews chose to either cook and dine aboard or order a takeaway Thai from Walton.

8th July

At this point the various crews chose various locations to head back to. Most heading back to the Deben, whilst Andromeda decided that the weather forecast was unlikely to be a bad as was being predicted.

Leaving LW+1hr Andromeda took a slow sail out along the Twizzle, negotiating Stone Point and crossing Penny Hole Bay toward the Naze Tower. All fairly shallow, but relatively flat, and today the conditions were benign, just enough wind to starve off the need to fire up the Perkins. This is always a welcome option when passing the Naze due to the amount of poorly marked Lobster Pot Markers. They have a habit of keeping the Walton Lifeboat busy during the summer, releasing numerous yachts from the traps and towing them back to the Marina. Surely it’s not that hard to stick a decent flag on the marker buoy and tend to the pots to endure that they remain above water at HW?

Off along the Wallet all was going well, 5-6 knts SOG until Clacton where the wind disappeared following a light shower. Initially we were planning on picking up a mooring at West Mersea but with the tide now starting to be against us we decided to go for the closer option of picking up a mooring in the Pyefleet. We would have anchored, and perhaps we should have, but the wind was due to increase overnight and into the following morning so for ease, a buoy it was going to be. Wrong!

Overnight the rope mooring hawser wrapped itself behind both keels, meaning that the boat was sideways on to the tide and surging with the wind over tide situation. This obviously happened at 3am.

Rather than go ham-fisted and try to resolve the problem, we decided to figure out exactly what was happening whilst sat below, sketching out the likely run of the rope. It did help that it was raining at this time. Minimal time on deck was preferred.

Anyway, on successfully firing the mighty Perkins up, ensuring that the rope was not going to get in to the prop and make matters significantly worse, Andromeda was reversed around 180 degrees then forward sharply to ‘boing’ the rope off the keels. Two attempts and we were free. 15 minutes later and the crew were back asleep.

9th July

A slow awakening in the morning, with a full breakfast/brunch and we were off to Bradwell. The wind was due to decrease throughout the afternoon, which was good. Throughout the morning it has been blowing F5/6 from the SW i.e. on the nose to Bradwell.

The trip over to Bradwell turned out to be a cracking sail. A reef in the main and a few furls in the genoa and we were enjoying a brisk sail, with long tacks into the Blackwater.

All that was left was to navigate Bradwell Creek and park up in Bradwell Marina. Luckily we had the last berth available. Usually by now a lot of the berth holders are out on their summer cruise. Not this year so there is a shortage of berths available to visitors.

Anyway all tied up, a barbeque meal that didn’t get barbecued, and it was off to the Pub - The Green Man in Bradwell Waterside. All very civil in regards to the Covid social distancing thing. Not many in, but the beer was good - Adnams Southwold.

10th July

To stretch out the land legs, a wander around the Dengie peninsula was decided upon. This follows the coast past the Bradwell Magnox nuclear power station which is now being decommissioned and around to St Peter Chapel overlooking the mud flats of the Dengie. Back in to the village of Bradwell and a pint of Ghostship, sitting outside the Kings Head in the sunshine.

Back aboard for a Ploughmans lunch, prior to setting off back up the coast towards Harwich. The sail started off well departing Bradwell HW-1, pushing the last of the floodtide and cutting across the Colne Bar and past Jaywick towards Clacton. The wind was still in the NW so a broad reach, expecting to go onto a reach past Clacton. Nope, off Clacton the boat ½ mile in front stopped and then headed back towards us. The wind had veered 180 degrees. After trying to shape a course to sail for half and hour, it was no good, the Perkins was fired back into life.

Once off Harwich Pier the wind then swung back to NW, which made for a slightly bumpy night alongside Ha'penny Quay. Another pub, the Alma was patronised, perhaps the strictest Covid compliance. Walk in to be greeted by a friendly member of staff, informed of the rules, don a face covering, escorted to our table, off with the masks, informed of the one way system around the pub (face coverings adorned of course), one in one out of the toilets. All in good humour. Figured as we’d earned it, we may as well have a couple of pints.

11th July

HW on the Deben Bar was at 1622hrs so no great rush to depart Ha’Penny Quay, we could get back in at 1330hrs, and with an 90 minute sail there was no need to leave before 1200hrs. So that’s what we did. Two attempts at springing off the pontoon due to the the onshore wind and we were away. Harwich Harbour was the busiest I’d seen it, sail boats everywhere, enjoying the end of lock-down (ver1.). A great close reach up the coast and just enough angle to sail in over the bar before getting headed at Felixstowe Ferry moorings. Back under motor, and onward towards Ramsholt where once again we could sail towards Waldringfield. Reaching the moorings at HW, we spun around and allowed the ebb to ease us down to a vacant mooring off the quay at Ramsholt.

The evening was spent, experimenting with T3’s Mini Mavic drone. Ideal conditions, little wind, good lighting and perhaps one of the most scenic views in Suffolk.

12th July

The last day was reserved for the short sail back to the home mooring, tacking up the river against the flood under genoa only. A bit of a work out.

Synopsis - nothing broke, weather was typical British summer, pubs were serving beer!

Out and about mid June 2020

Sailing around the East Coast Rivers aboard a Westerly Discus 2020

Wow, another week of cracking weather, particularly for us here on the East coast of the UK, where it’s been very dry- hardly any rain at all since March. Figured I’d better make the most of it, it could change at any time.

CV-19 and sailing. All still a bit of a mess, Boris bubbles, not staying away from home without a reasonable excuse, can mix with groups of six, can go shopping for a TV, can’t go to the pub. Who knows?

Down to the boat Friday afternoon, taking food down for a week aboard, along with shiny new Marlow genoa sheets. All aboard chilling out.

Saturday 13th June

A trip with other local boats up river to Waldringfield. Scorchio! Picking up a mooring up adjacent to Waldringfield sailing club, the afternoon was spent watching the comings and goings of the sailing club - loads of boats out on the water. Great. Swimming in the river, it is warming up now. Saturday night was to be a BBQ at the Rocks, though with us planning to leave the river early on Sunday morning we decided to moor at Ramsholt and stretch the legs with a walk to the Rocks rather than anchor off. Though Nakita did decide to anchor and move up the river later that evening.

Great BBQ, lovely spot.

Ramsholt is renowned for being a great place to watch great sunsets, and that’s exactly what we did, with Thunderstorms just offshore adding to the audio. With a few downdrafts pushing through from the Thunderstorms, Andromeda was getting pushed very close to an adjacent boat.

It’s at this point, that you have the quandary - it’ll be alright, it’ll sort itself out. No need to let go of the mooring, motor in the dark to pick another mooring up in gusty winds. Or - Nope; been here before. You can’t sleep wondering will it be OK and then deciding at 1am that you had better move, by which time it’ll be bucketing it down, with thunder and lightning added into the mix.

A quiet night was spent on another mooring!

Sunday 14th

An early start to get out over the bar at HW, heading past the Ferry to drop the hard dinghy off on the home mooring on the way through. A motorsail, more motor than sail and we were on the floating Ha’Penny Quay at Harwich. It was definitely the case to get there early to have a spot with several boats being turned away.

Time to explore Harwich. A wander along the seawall looking over Languard and round to the breakwater. We then aid a visit to the old Fort which has now be turned in to a museum. Still in its infancy as a museum but worth a visit anyway.

Lunch was from the Chippy as a takeout to eat aboard.

Mid afternoon we departed Harwich to head around to the Walton channel, heading against the first of the flood out of Harwich Harbour before close hauled along the Pye End channel just sneaking past the Harwich breakwater and across the shallows of Halliday Rock Flats. Minimum of 1.5m under the keel. A cracking sail, F3 gusting a little more, with full sail up.

Vacant buoys were picked up for another spot of ‘night fishing’; again not much success.

A quiet night aboard, cheese and biscuits.

Monday 15th

The day started with a dinghy adventure, heading along the channel to Walton Yacht Club on a falling tide. We just made it to the slipway with the water fast draining out. A wander in to Walton for an ice cream and paddle along the beach prior to returning to the dinghies.

By now the water remaining in the channel was very skinny. Several techniques were required to punt, paddle and row further downstream before the depth increased enough to lower the outboard back into the water.

Lunch destination was decided to be Stone Point. When passing the day before it was busy with families, today we were the only souls. Parking the dinghies on the steeply shelving beach, we found a spot in the dunes to set-up lunchtime base camp.

Three of us hardy souls went for a swim in the channel. I wouldn’t say it was warm but so long as you kept moving it was comfortable. Whilst most of the gang had sarnies or salad, one crew had freshly cooked pizza.

By 4pm we could head back out of the channel, with two boats heading back to the Deben whilst Andromeda and Waratah continued back through Harwich Harbour and into the Stour, again a great sail with the sea breeze hanging in there, providing a reach down the whole length of the Stour towards Wrabness.

Borrowing a couple of moorings there for the night, Waratahs night fishing activity caught more than they had bargained for (see image below). And yes it did stay there all night, only being evicted in the morning.

Tuesday 16th

A leisurely start today another glorious sunny day on the boat. Time to stretch the legs with a walk up to the village of Wrabness and an ice cream as a treat. Walking past the village we wandered in to the a local woodland nature reserve, which tested our navigational skills to find our way back out of.

Setting off mid afternoon towards Hamford Water we had a great sail along the river Stour, long tacking all the way to Harwich before being able to bear away slightly towards the Pye End Channel. Hamford Water was quite busy with other anchored yachts, so I chose to take up the outer most position, which was fine as the winds were relatively light and with the tide falling over night protection would be offered by the exposed sand and mud banks.

Wednesday 17th

It's becoming a trend now. Another late start awaiting the second half of the Ebb to make our way out of the channel - minimum under the keel was 1.3m. A sea mist had set in for the afternoon which indicated a change in the weather and wind direction around to the NE. Ideal for passing through the docks of Felixstowe and along the River Orwell towards the Orwell Bridge. There were spun around and motored back towards Pinmill to pick up moorings for the night.

We headed ashore, for a BBQ on the green, with the Butt and Oyster providing takeaway pints of Ghostship. Ideal!

Thursday 18th

It rained overnight and continued until mid morning. We'd decided to set off towards Harwich early in the afternoon, but once passing Levington it was blowing 20+ knots on the nose and I figured that wouldn't be the most comfortable experience bobbling around on a mooring overnight. We spun around and went for another sail along the Orwell (nothing wrong with that) and returned to Levington to pick up a sheltered buoy for the evening.

Friday 19th

The return leg. With HW at 1130 we needed to set off at 08.30 to allow enough time to sail against the floodtide around to the Deben. The wind was still between 18-20 knots required punching until arriving at the Languard Cardinal buoy before bearing away towards the Deben. The area named Rolling Ground was just that, but with a strong enough wind and from a good direction I was able to sail over the bar and in to the Deben, collecting the hard dinghy from the home mooring on the way up river towards Waldringfield.

Having now discovered that some of the pubs were serving food and beer, we'd pre-ordered Fish and Chip with Ghostship to was it down with; eaten on the shoreline. Once the food had settled all that was left was the sail back towards Felixstowe Ferry.

A great week of sailing. Excellent weather and great socially distanced company.

8 days of cracking hot sunny weather and only a few more yachts out and about.

The UK government has lost the plot. The politicians have lost the trust of the population with government advisors embroiled in lockdown breaches. So sod it, I’m back off on the boat. However, as of the 1st June the new ‘laws’ have confused the issue of staying on-board overnight. It’s complicated. There are still ‘reasonable excuses’ to stay aboard, rather than travelling to and fro to the boat, and no one really has the authority to police the laws, even once they have got their head around them. Hopefully it’ll become clearer over the next few weeks. 4th July is a date that seems to keep cropping up as to when further lockdown restrictions will be lifted.

27th May

After a straight-forward 150 mile drive to the boat (roads are getting busier) it was load up the dinghy and head out to the boat.

Once all sorted, it was off for a sail up river with Nakita, to Methersgate. Great weather, and only the Genoa required.

I picked up a mooring off the quay at Ramsholt whilst Nakita returned back to Felixstowe Ferry.

Dinner - Pork Chop with New Potatoes and Veg

28th May

It was up early to fit a set of rigging screw covers. Due to the 150% overlapping Genoa on Andromeda, the sheets do tend to get caught on the rigging screws when tacking. A set of 5 were sourced from Ebay (£8.00) which had previously been fitted to a Westerly Oceanlord. Which is great as they were already cut at about the right angle to fit straight on to a Westerly Discus rig. The shrouds were undone one at a time and the covers fitted. They look OK, and from initial testing they do improve the situation of sheets snagging.

Late morning, I cast off from the mooring and headed back to Felixstowe Ferry to await the flood tide prior to heading out over the Bar and up the coast towards Orford on the Rivers Ore and Alde.

Setting off at HW -2.5hrs both Andromeda and Nakita headed over the Bar with 3m depth of water (1.6m) under the keel and into a NE F3 wind. Great sailing apart from the fact that this was on the nose for getting to the Ore Bar in time for HW. Nakita cut loose at 1620 and I raised the iron headsail to make the Ore Bar for local HW.

It was the first time over the Ore Bar this year, and the Oxley buoy is directly on the offshore edge of the bar/spit, i.e. you must keep it to port. Heading in with 2.2m under the keel to the starboard-hand Weir buoy. Once behind the knolls it was a quick dash along the Ore and the Alde, around Havergate Island to anchor in the river just below Orford. There were plenty of water skiers out enjoying the weather, though there were a number of small pot markers in the main channel of the river. These are usually just towards the banks, but I think with the lack of traffic on the river at present, the local fishermen have taken to fishing new patches.

Dinner Cottage Pie.

29th May

A slow start to the day, having to wait until 1400hrs before making my way back towards the river entrance. Unfortunately this gives the sea breeze a chance to kick-in which when coming from the NE does make the bars a little more rocky/rolly.

So at 1400hrs with a moderate breeze it was up with the main (single reef) and a downwind sail towards the bar. Contrary to what you would think once reaching the entrance, I find it best to hug the knolls for the deepest water as well as presenting the least amount of tidal flow to push against. At this point the engine is on to provide that extra grunt when required. Out over the bar, the sea state was fine, a little rolly but a good fun run down the coast at 6kts towards the Deben.

With this years channel position running perpendicular to the shore, you don’t get much protection from the knolls in a NE wind, and it can get a little bouncy. In stronger onshore winds it can become dangerous.

Back on the mooring for 1700hrs.

30th May

A day of chilling out on the mooring, a provisioning dash by bike into town, a visit to Bawdsey by dinghy and a tow to shore of a family stranded on the Horse Sand!

Dinner Pizza

31st May

Today was a trip up river to anchor off the Rocks for a BBQ ashore. It seemed like a number of others also had a similar idea enjoying the weather following lockdown. All were well behaved and no issues with social distancing. I met with two other boats at the Rocks for our BBQ lunch.

Apart from traipsing through a muddy foreshore, the spot we chose for the BBQ was spot on, out of the wind and away from other groups.

For the BBQ I use one of these on one of these, which are really convenient, saves faffing around lighting charcoal and are pretty cheap. The whole set-up can be had for less than £20.00.

Chicken Kebabs and Sirloin Steak was the order of the day.

By the time we’d got back to the boats the wind had increased and was becoming a little gusty. Heaving up the anchor was a bit of a chore, and then a motor sail back to the moorings.

1st June

Another day of rest on the mooring, just popping ashore to stretch the legs and fill the tanks with water.

Dinner sirloin steak and new potatoes.

2nd June

The tides were right today for a an extended day trip, i.e. I could get out on the morning tide and return on the evening tide, both in daylight. The forecast also showed that there was unlikely to be such a strong afternoon sea-breeze, which would make it easier for returning back up the coast in the afternoon.

Setting of at 0800hrs with HW due at 0921hrs, I sneaked a sail in the light winds down to Harwich, by which time the wind had gone on the nose and dropped to nothing. So, on with the engine and a motor along the River Stour towards Wrabness. Usually I’d borrow a mooring at Wrabness, but with the lockdown, I was uncertain as to whether the moorings had been serviced this year, and I was happy to anchor anyway. So I headed to Holbrook Bay and found a spot on the 4m contour just out of the main channel to drop the hook.

It had gotten very hot, with the temperature on deck reaching 40+°C, and the air temperature in the high 20’s. So, following a light lunch it was time for a snooze.

To return it was going to be a 3 hour run back, arriving at the Deben Bar sometime between 1930 and 2130 in order to head in on the flood-tide. I managed to sail some of the way from Wrabness past Harwich and out to Languard, at which point the wind and tide were on the nose and it would take at least a couple of hours to get the 3NM back up to the Deben. So again on with the engine getting to the Bar at 1930 with a Lasagne in the oven ready to be consumed as soon as I reached the mooring.

May 2020- Post lockdown cruise aboard a Westerly Discus

Finally we can get out to sail. HM Government amended their Covid-19 advice with reference to outdoor recreation - specifically removing the restriction on the distance you could travel to participate in recreation. This was to commence on the 13th May 2020. The RYA and English Harbour Authorities had to play catch-up following this surprise announcement, and worked to provide guidance as to what was and what wasn’t the recommended advice to sailors.

I think it’s important to remember that most of this is guidance and actually not law. And that the principles of the laws that have been put in place are to limit the transmission of the Covid-19 virus as well as provide additional legislation when managing the effects of the virus.

I was lucky in that Andromeda was already launched and good to go, the long range weather forecast was promising and the fact that I could easily sail singlehanded to my mind meant there was very little getting in the way of heading out on a mini socially distanced cruise.

With the guidance in mind; I needed to ensure that risk to others was kept to a minimum. This meant reducing the risk of requiring outside assistance, coming in to contact with others, who may transmit the disease to myself or vice-a-versa. I could be asymptomatic and could potentially transmit the virus to them. The likelihood of me having the virus was very small, and the consequences of somebody transmitting the virus to me we low; i.e. I have no underlying health conditions.

‘Feverish’ online research of the guidance from the RYA, Harbour authorities and the RNLI was undertaken to see what was perhaps the best practice and essentially be able to include this in any passage planning.

The only really contentious point of guidance was that of staying aboard overnight. Harbour Authorities, Marinas etc were advising against this, as it was deemed that in my case a boat was a non primary residence. A second home. My logic is that it makes more sense to stay aboard anchored, or on a mooring, than it does to complete an impractical round trip of 300 miles to and from the boat each day. So that’s what I did.

Thursday 14th May

I headed down to the boat fully provisioned for a week and with a new purchase to install aboard. Andromeda is pretty well kitted out for staying at anchor. 250l of water, 200l of fuel, hot and cold water, TV/DVD, fridge, heating and shower. So no hardship, just a draw on power if staying away from shore electricity for any length of time. With this in mind I’d ordered a 100w semi flexible solar panel, and charge controller to add to the now ageing rigid 50w panel. The engine would be run anyway on most days so the new panel is just to stay on top of the constant power draw from the fridge.

Out to the boat, in the dinghy carting a bundle of kit and all aboard settled in for 1600hrs. By 1800hrs the panel was temporarily rigged and providing ‘angry solar pixies’ to the batteries.

The evening meal was also a new to me boat food concept. Pre-made food at home which is possible to rewarm in the oven once aboard, whilst maintaining good storage and the least amount of mess.

Essentially batch cook at home, Cottage Pie, Lasagne etc, decant into foil containers, freeze and then vacuum seal.

Foil containers are cheap. The vacuum sealer came from Lidl (£25.00 with a couple of rolls of plastic film). Faff factor is small. The reason to freeze before vacuum sealing to to stop liquids squirting out. The frozen foil/ vac packed container meals were shipped down to the boat in a cool box and remained frozen aboard in the fridge for 5 days. Winner!

The evening was spent on a Zoom beer and chat video conference with friends around the UK.

Friday 15th May

With final fixing of the solar panel completed it was time to head off on a sail. Up river on the River Deben first just to ensure everything was working as it should. Sailing past Waldringfield, I gybed around before sailing back to Ramsholt where I picked up a mooring for the night. Just one of 4 boats out of potentially 150 out on the water that night.

Cottage Pie tonight, plus a beer or two.

Saturday 16th May

After a late start it was back to the home mooring at Felixstowe Ferry for the afternoon, to await the flood tide to get over the Deben Bar and out to sea.

Andromeda left her mooring just after 1715hrs - HW-2.5hrs to head out over the Bar. The wind was light, but enough to sail. First time out over the Bar this year for Andromeda, and probably one of the first sailing boats since lockdown. There was a minimum of 1.6m of water under the keel, so a depth of water of 3m or there abouts.

The destination was Hamford Water - the setting of Arthur Ransomes Secret Waters for a night on anchor. An ideal spot. Quiet, scenic, well protected and a sea bed of sticky clay and sand. Once the anchor has grabbed, there is no going anywhere. The Pye End Channel leads to Hamford Water, it’s shallow and has hard drying sands either side, but is well marked. Coming in at HW there were no issues with depths, unlike last year when on two occasions the depth sound showed less than 0.1m under the keel at several points. It was LW Springs on those occasions.

Images of sunset are shown on the Google Maps page and in the accompanying image Gallery.

Pizza and Cheesy Nacho’s for Tea.

Sunday 17th May

A day of rest, not that it had been stressful. The weather was cracking 20+°C, there were a few boats coming and going on day sails as well as the inquisitive seal population. Who perhaps had wondered where all the humans had gone for the last few months.

The evening was spent sailing back along the Pye End channel and in to Pennyhole Bay before heading back along the Pye End once again, and past Stone Point to the Walton Channel.

Evening Meal - Chilli con Carne and Rice

Monday 18th May

A big day- up early and out against the last of the flood tide, past Stone Point with the plan to reach Harwich at HW and push the first of the ebb up to the Orwell Bridge for lunch.

Available moorings were not hard to come by, and I picked up one just below the Orwell Bridge, by lunch it was hot. Ideal to crisp up a little, prior to heading back down river and pick up a mooring opposite Levington Creek. Late afternoon the breeze picked up gusting to around 15-20knts, so made for a great sail.

Evening meal - Cottage Pie

Tuesday 19th May

It was back to the Deben- leaving the mooring at 0700hrs under sail to arrive at the Deben Bar just prior to HW. A fickle wind, not quite enough to race the Stena Hollandica out past the channel off of Felixstowe. So a little engine assistance was required both here to safely cross the deep water channel and also to get over the bar.

Lunchtime was spent ashore assisting other local boaters in final prep works prior to launching i.e. popping up the mast to fit lines, and bend on sails- all keeping social distancing in mind.

The plan for the afternoon was to meet with two other boats who’d already launched to test out the theory of a socially distanced BBQ. There was a slight delay in firing up the BBQs at 2m separation as one of them had gone aground returning from Woodbridge and had an enforced social isolation of 5 hours before then could meet us. The theory of the socially distanced BBQ works by the way. You just need to talk a little louder.

Wednesday 20th May

Ramsholt bound.

With other boats now launching and being fully conversed in the art of social distancing , 4 boats agreed to meet at Ramsholt for a walk up to the famous church in order to stretch the legs. Again the weather was spot on 25+°C with just a light cooling sea breeze. The wander up to the church was undertaken in pairs walking either side of the country lanes. Simples.

Back aboard the boats for a mid afternoon snooze prior to an early evening motor back to the home mooring at Felixstowe Ferry.

Last night evening meal- rump steak, coleslaw and salad. Plus a beer or two.

Thursday 21st May

Last day aboard. A bit windier first thing, with the threat of thunderstorms forecast, though it all availed to nothing. The wind soon dropped. The morning was spent faffing around cleaning the boat down, refilling the dinghy outboard with fuel etc. Departing the boat was strategically left until high water to negate the need to heave the dinghy up the steep beach.

And that was that. A successful and enjoyable few days milling around the local area, whilst maintaining social distancing.

Looking forward to heading back soon, for another trip out. Hopefully having crew aboard will not be frowned upon next time.

April 2020 -Covid-19 times

Well that has scuppered plans for the Spring! Everyone in lockdown and very few possibilities to escape the confines of the living room.

However, as the boat is on it's mooring in the middle of the River Deben, I managed to justify to myself that it would be prudent and within the spirit of the new social distancing guidance to make a visit to the boat. Primarily to check that it's not taking on water, not chafing through mooring lines etc. Insurance cover for an unattended boat is all a little ambiguous. A risk assessment completed and a planned route to access the boat completed I was aboard by 0800hrs on the 23rd April 2020. The bilge had a bucketful of water in there - from the traditional stern gland, so that got a good greasing and tightening up. This is usual for the beginning of the sailing season so wasn't of great concern. Batteries were all good and solar controller checked. Chafe protection was added to the mooring strop. All seacocks were checked over and the boat aired out.

Wanderng around the decks I was a little surprised to find everything covered in a red dust. I blamed it on the docks over the way at Felixstowe. However, I later found the #1 suspect!

I'd already planned that it was worth spending the night aboard, no point driving back the same day, and very much socially distanced. A quiet night it was. Up until 8pm, when the country once again took to clapping and banging saucepans in support of the NHS. The ships at Felixstowe also took to blasting their horns, which was quite eerie. All in a great cause.

I'm sure all recreational sailors are in a similar situation, not knowing when the sailing season will start, we'll have to see how things play out. More important things are happening in the world at present.

14th February 2020 Introduction Video to the Sailing Andromeda Youtube Channel

Don't get too excited, it's only a presentation video of images from last year (2019).

Further videos will be uploaded during 2020. Hopefully!

Spring 2020 Creating a website for Andromeda Westerly Discus 33

First things first then, a website for the old ship.

I've had a few days spare to experiment playing with Wordpress sites, Blogger sites and Google sites; seeing which would be the most effective running a small website. Initially I was thinking of hosting the site on a Raspberry Pi 4 running with Google Domains DNS pointing to the Pi server. Mainly to keep my hand in playing around with network settings and a spot of coding. Whilst I got it set-up and running; it was a faff.

I used to have a Blog running on Blogger for one of the first boats I had - the site still exists! Click here to see the first effort from years ago. But I figure I could do with a bit more content control and flexibility than Blogger could offer.

So did you know you can run a website for free on Google? Nope nor did I 🤔

'Teaching somebody how to suck eggs'

Pretty simple really, set-up a new Google account i.e. an new Gmail address. Whilst logged in to Chrome with your new account, type in sites:google.com and follow the prompts. Set yourself up a new site and have a play. The site is stored in Google Drive so you have 15GB of storage to play with for free.

Now, if you don't like the domain address provided by Google Sites for people to be able to access the site via search engines, then for £10 a year you can buy one from Google Domains, and using the simple DNS settings point it to your Google Sites website. There are online instructions and Youtube videos on how to do this. Whilst Google Sites is a little bit limited in it's functionality, for the sort of site I wanted it seems to work pretty well. Plus it's fully responsive. One hint if embedding calendars, forms, slides etc in to the site ensure you set those files to public! Then test in your Chrome browser using the incognito window (top right three dots in the brower).

We'll see how the site does in Google search rankings, not that I'm bothered as the viewer/readership is likely to be niche.

I've linked a couple of Youtube videos below which should make the whole process clear.