Why is it that the weather forecast is always right when they predict light/heavy rain?!! The day started with a succession of phonecalls to the furling gear manufacturers and after much successful negotiation and rendezvous arrangements, at Manningtree railway station, resulted in one brand new, shiny "do-da" and fitting instructions on board awaiting fitting by Roger, a.k.a. the Chief Engineer and his deck hands tomorrow when lighter rain is forecast. Wish us...

Up early(-ish) to look further into the problem with the genoa furling gear.. Diagnosis is that the ball bearing race at the top of the sail is not turning freely when under tension. Skipper's previous conversations with the manufacturers told him that it was feasible to fit a replacement masthead unit. It comes down to deck level with the sail, but today is Sunday so the project is on hold until the morrow. Hopefully, a new unit can be despatched pdq, cos we c...

As they say, time and tide wait for nobody and so we were up at oh 4:30 again to escape the clutches of Gravesend Marina and were greeted on deck by Andy (Mr do-it-all!) with a very cheery 'morning!' As we let ourselves drift away from the wall and prepared to go out of the lock and into the Thames on the morning high (tide). A short trip to the Riva Pontoon and, after tying up and a refreshing cuppa and obligatory biscuit we all crashed out for an hour or so. U...

The day started quietly on board - well, except for the squeaky fenders being squashed into submission by vewwy, vewwy strong winds. One by one the crew awoke with JJ being too late for the initial tea round of the day. Still half asleep he stumbled into the cockpit and dressed then sat down to tighten some fastenings on the 'country cottage' (that's the luxury cockpit tent, to the uninitiated). During said proceedings it appears he sat in a puddle - well that wa...

We locked into Gravesend "marina" before the threatened strong winds, but not before the downpour. Four sets of very wet sailing gear are now dripping inside the cockpit tent, with the heater going full blast. We removed the genoa while underway off Leigh-on-sea and found that the furling gear appeared to work as it should. So we re-hoisted the sail and found that it didn't. Lots more scratching of heads and another drop/rehoist of the genoa, as Canvey Island p...