After the Spirit visit our mood was much improved and warmed by some Pea and Ham soup and armed with new gloves from the chandlery in the wet dock we resolved to get out there and put the sails up.
We were rewarded by a fabulous reach the length of the Orwell. We had originally planned to tie up alongside the Penny Pier at Harwich but it was very exposed so decided Shotley Marina was the much safer option.
The following morning we locked out with Peter Duck. Built after the war for Arthur Ransome, she is looking every bit the loved and much used celebrity she is. Not for her concourse cosseting. Out the lock we turned and ran down the Stour. She hunched her shoulders and bustled her way out of Harwich harbour and the sea beyond.
The plan was to run down the Stour then turn back to time our arrival back in Felixstowe harbour for 2pm. WE wanted to get back to Pin Mill for 4 and somehow it always seems to take a couple of hours.
13.50 we rounded Shotley Spit Cardinal. 14.20 we were passing the Butt. Amazing what a difference 7.5 knots with the flood under you can make! | 