Julie Berry

Readied Tarka for lock, all fenders raised to allow for Tarkas safety rails clearance, entered lock at 11.50, Julie on bow while I held the stern, remember to clean fenders as lock sides covered them in slime & weed, departed lock at 12.00. uneventful voyage though the river Medina was extremely crowded with fast & slow ferries manoeuvring plus the floating bridge as well as a couple of old timers insisting on showing their sailing abilities by tacking their way down river creating havoc in their path. berthed at East Cowes marina at 13.30. footnote - security not hot as a gang of lads had got onto the pontoons ostensibly to fish but possibly also to be light fingered & also threatened a berth holder that told them to leave

Slipped at 7.30, quiet run down the river Orwell no other traffic even the container port at Felixstowe was silent. 10.30 - Whitaker buoy calm sea little wind 12.30 - Sir Richard Montgomery apparently having its mast removed in September 14.30 - free flow into Chatham Maritime marina, that's a rarity I'm seldom that lucky, even rarer the fuel berth was empty. no dramas sea trial & shakedown went well

Sunny, clear & dry, light winds. Skipper- Rob Howes Crew - Julie Berry & Kara (ships dog) new Garmin Radar & steadycast heading sensor fitted plus GPS map & speed through water will all need recalibrating 5.00 - lock. 6.10 - calibrated heading sensor 10.00 - Spitway, low water alarm sounded but had 6' under the keel so not concerned, even though a fishing boat appeared to be anchored across the deepest part of the channel. 12 - Harwich no container movements so a quiet run up the river Orwell. 13.05 - berthed at Woolvestone. footnote Jabasco toilet wouldn't pump water in. fitted new service kit to the top end of the pump.