Our day started with bending the Genoa back on and a quick check that the furling gear was happy to 'do the business'. Then the lock-keeper (our mate Andy) suggested turning the boat round 'wiv string' ready to go out. Well, he obviously hadn't spotted skip' giving the crew briefing for said operation! Andy helped us turn the boat on the spot without any trauma despite some lively gusts. Anyway, just as we left we spotted another lickle problem so we picked up o...

We decided to set off after all, bound for Islas de la Sheppey. We got fuel n went, with the wind a risin'. Got as far as Playa de Gravesend and gave up. The strong wind was bang on the nose, just like when we went the other way...... Went alongside the pontoon. Mistook, mega lumpy. We are now being tossed around on a buoy, Before being able to enter the marina at 22.10.....so glad we didn't use the free night we were due at St.Katherine's......... We actua...

So, yesterday's repair action for them that's interested...... Cyndy turned up at around 5 as promised.....complete with gas gun and impact screw driver. All to no avail, the screws wouldn't budge. So, plan B was to send Ali up the mast to disconnect the forestay, allowing it to be lowered to the pontoon. As Cyndy was in charge, Ali agreed. With the screws on the pontoon to be thumped, surely they'd give in. Nope. So, the only option was to attack the polypr...

Couldn't shift the screws either, so we had to drop the forestay. Gulp. It was 9.45 pm before we'd finished, and there's a lot of mess outside, so we'll be here yet another day. Yet to put sail on and try it........

Replacing the furling gear did not go well. Four screws refuse to budge. A walk to the shops and a large screw driver and lump hammer now supplement the tool kit. Boiling water poured over offending screws, JJ bravely holds bit of 4 x 4 whilst Rog taps screw avec new tools. No luck so we await Cindy the rigger, Wednesday evening...... Luckily for us, Malcolm was passing thru the metropolis today and looked us up. Due to seemingly sub zero temperatures we de-c...