Episode 5 Life on the MYC pontoon and beyond.

 Episode 5 Life on the MYC pontoon, and beyond to Brighton.

Saturday a big meeting in the club house for a big capital expense for the building. Cold sunny with showers, all good. The racing at the club is great fun to watch with multiple fleets. We were out of the way on the inside of the pontoon. Sunday we went to the Carvery at MYC and feasted with James and Vicki before they headed into work that evening. James had helped with getting the diesel jugs' filled on Saturday. We were trying to replace the primary fire extinguisher located beside the engine with a CO2 one. I almost paid 68 pounds when he found one on line for 25! Monday delivery. Monday Vicki pick me up for the last of the diesel and shopping back just as Rowland delivered the life raft re certified for another year. He brought some new inflating with harness life jackets for us to try. They are expensive and I was keen that they be comfortable for long wear times. Stiff shoulders and neck is not much fun so we think and hope we have gotten some comfortable ones with all the tech and lights. Vicky and James were back with the new CO2 extinguisher and some amazing fleece from their work - So cool!

 Stowing oil change gear

Could not yet fit.

James and Viki

 Then we were off to a garden party at Heather and Alans, wonderful fun. 

 Only photo, great party.

Tuesday came too soon. Sunday when some of the racers came in they invited us to join in the Tuesday cruise to Queensborough. This sounded too much fun, we were game. The tides were perfect we got carried down and then back up. This was the perfect shake down for us and we flew down under the head sail and tied up in Queensborough. The Harbour Master was miffed we had not called ahead, its a small place and blustery Tuesdays are busy when the tides are right. We paid the dues and got the gate codes and joined the others for a pre pub libation. The sea cadet training vessel TS Royalist was in port and drilling people through climbing to the yards and doing harbour stow of the square sails. We had last seen them on her predecessor by the same name when we were up in Inverness she was enroute to Amsterdam for the electronics and galley to be moved to the new vessel. The board of management figured it was cheaper and better to do this, Princess Anne is the lead supporter. We were then off up the high street and because the pub that was expecting us would not yet be open the one next to the port was so we waited in there out of the wind for everyone to "catch up". Then to the Rose for sandwiches and chips. What fun it was there were two boats single handing and one tri with his lovely dog and new members on older members boats and then new members on their own boats it was great to be part of.  What a great club the MYC is. 

TS Royalist 

Alwyn

Wednesday Noel was hammering away tiring to un cease the windlass and I was tucked in out of the wind sorting out the last blog posting. We then went up to the club. They like you to pre book to minimize waste with the food and keep things fresh well. We had not gotten to get that accomplished and they still fitted us in. We could have the last cod and then roast lamb. What a feast it was better then I would have figured out on board and we got to see Heather's pal Catherine and her husband. Thursday we were off, it was a beautiful day and the wind was light. We left a high water and had a lovely run out the estuary. 

Fair well to MYC

Pilot doing 19 Knots, against the Tide

Swarmed by wee flies

Thames Forts

Basking seals

Where the seals were

Round the corner to Ramsgate 

Harbour entrance

The wind died and we went past the gun forts and hopefully got some photos. Climbing the "rope" ladders to enter those forts would take some gumption and lots of strength. Strong tide would be motivating but still would not want to be doing that, probably why they are just sitting empty. When we turned the corner to round the headland to enter Ramsgate the whole mood changed. Wind against tied even the very light air that we were in was slow and wet. We went from 7 knots to 4 and hobby horsing in and along the range while the wind increased.

On the Pontoon

 We got tied up and walked to the harbour master's office. 1/2 price as the main shower block was out. Well that was welcome but apart from location, Ramsgate Harbour was not impressive. We showered and walked about. The next day we did find a Geocache and then managed to exchange our wee bottle of propane for a 18KG big bottle at Marteck Marine he sells mostly used stuff and had a lovely dog. He was helpful and drove out the end of the pier and brought us the propane on his wheels. That was very lucky as the small tank he figured may have had one cup of tea left in in. 

Empty wee tank 

Ramsgate feast

We figured out winds and tide's and were off and under way about 4 with a few other boats. We had a great run with the tied the whole way to Brighton with full main and motor sailing. 

Naviguessing

Departing 4:30 AM

Sunrise

Fish gear

 Beautiful passing Dover

 Beachy Head Light

 Same light

 Team Kalinka 1

Then to our frustration we had to wait 2 hrs. before we could enter the harbour due to silting. Could have been sailing more and motoring less if we had figured that out better. We did have a lovely show from a pod of dolphins and ate some food before heading in. The harbour is big, posh and lots of bling about it. Above the shower blocks are air B&B flats that are privately owned so its a bit like being in a fish bowl but lots of fun.