Christopher Gosling - Sailing Away

Suffolk 30/03/00

I'm delighted to tell you that Pamela Jane is happily afloat, and has been reclining in the luxury of Levington Marina - the Suffolk Yacht Harbour, that is - near the mouth of the River Orwell. She went into the water on 9th March and since then has had quite a few sail and motor sessions - around the local rivers and backwaters. Very enjoyable, I must say - and the little boat really does sail nicely. She made a very comfortable 4 knots with a beam wind heading out of Harwich Harbour, and held off a very racey-looking 30 footer while meandering back goose winged for a surprisingly long time. A few days and nights on board; the first one was completely icy, and it hasn't been so bad since.

This week is yet another major turning point. I quit the job on the 30th March, and on the 28th April, I return the keys of the flat to my landlords. It seems to be a slightly daunting prospect - although I am not quite as daunted as I might be! On Thursday or Friday night, when I slip into my sleeping bag on board, I'll have cut my main link with the shore life for at least a few months, maybe for longer - wow . . .

I'll be in the vicinity, however, for about another two or three weeks, this time because I have promised to go to a Golden Wedding celebration on May 20th. I don't honestly know if I'm just making excuses, or if I really want to go. Emotionally, I guess it may be the last time I see quite a few people, all of whom are creeping gradually into old age. During this time, I plan to go up to Norfolk for a few days and maybe down to the Thames and London, who knows?

I intend to be spending three or four nights a week on moorings and two or three nights in marinas, which will keep the mooring costs down to a reasonable amount. At this time of the year, there are plenty of spare moorings about, and I wouldn't expect to have problems until may be mid-June, when I want to be some way south of here in any event!

As a general remark, it is amazing how quickly you slide into this not-working routine. I don't seem to watch TV for extraordinary amounts of time, nor do I sleep for much longer than I used to, although I suspect that my sleeping routine is much more natural and refreshing.

So when do I vamoose?

Well, I've also given notice on my rented flat at the end of April. That means I can sail off as soon as the weather warms up a little, and my landlord can send on the security deposit - just enough to keep me in red wine for a few months!

The sailing plan is gradually getting refined and hopefully improved. I hope to sail up the mighty Thames to St Katherine's Dock, for a couple of days in the city, and then ramble down to Ramsgate and Dover - then that major step to Calais.

After that, with the aid of the Almanac and various charts, I've planned a slow and comfortable progress down the Channel, mainly on the French side, but with a fairly serious diversion into the Channel Islands. Having been there for a few days last June, I really fancy a week's break in St Peter Port this year.

At present, I'm discussing with myself the prospect of going through the Brittany canals - thereby avoiding that nasty corner towards Ushant, and getting a touch of wonderful (I hope) village life and produce. There is no fee payable, apparently, for travelling these canals, and I can get from St Malo to Azral on the north coast of the Bay of Biscay in four or five days. However, I don't have to decide until get there, do I? Isn't that some thought, eh?

23/04/00
By the time you read this, I'll have spent my first night aboard Pamela Jane - somewhere as far away as Walton Backwaters (about 5 miles!) or maybe Brightlingsea - about 15 miles, I guess. I'll pedal down on the famous bike to get there at about nine or ten a.m., unless I get up extra early, which gives me another four or five hours of south-going tide. If I get the chance, in the next week or two, I might have a little jaunt northwards towards Southwold, which is a place I've only sailed into once, and never in my own boat.

Here's hoping that my 3-seasons sleeping bag does it's job and keeps me nice and warm . . .

Finally, I give up my "proper" online connection this week, so comms from my end will probably become a bit more intermittent - but I'll try to keep you up to speed with what's happening!

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