Jeanette

McLARENS BLOG 28^TH JUNE 2013.

We are in Wells-next-the-sea, we have been here three nights. We arrived in the evening of Tuesday 25^th.  After a long day, we had left Great Yarmouth at 5.30am, arriving here at Wells at about six o’clock. Our arrival was fraught because Nelson had had a restless traumatic trip, despite the sea being calm for most of the day. Because we had to wait till the tide had gone into the harbour, (The buoys leading boats in were sitting on the sand.) we put the anchor down. The tide was coming in and the boat was moving and lurching.

Because Nelson was panicking, we put him into the boat, I was on the tiller trying to hold Pilgrim steady, Chris was lowering the anchor manually. It was then that Nelson tried to run up the ladder to get to us, and got stuck half way up, he couldn’t go down, and if he attempted to go up he was liable to break one or some of his bones. It was at this point we decided that he would have to return home, a decision we had been thinking about for some days, always hoping that he would eventually be able to cope with life on board.

Wednesday he returned home to Biggin Hill, we both miss him but know it was the best thing for him.

Most of the time I have enjoyed the trip, but there have been challenges along the way. In the first couple of weeks we were hampered by winds, and most of the other sailors we met, were reluctant to go out of harbour. Another aspect of sailing I find frustrating is one can’t choose when you will leave a port, that is down to the sea, and the time of the tide. (You would think this is obvious to someone who is always waxing lyrical about Times and seasons, ebb and flow……..but I am finding reality can be frustrating. )

Now that Nelson has returned home we intend over the next week to make up for lost time. We leave Wells tomorrow about 10.00am, and then we will, in the evening be anchoring near Grimsby. Sunday we will be in Bridlington. ( Although that’s another frustration, when sailing you can’t always say where you will be, if the weather changes our plans change.)

I am aware that we haven’t written a blog since the 19^th of June. E-mails depend on if we have electricity where we moor, not all harbours or quays have electricity. We have only done it once so far, but we will sometimes be choosing to moor up on buoys, again no electric hook up.

Whenever we stop for a few days the captain takes the opportunity, to work on the boat, and the boat is becoming more comfortable.

Because we’re all feeling a bit flat, since Nelsons departure I am the only one to write the blog. But I’m going to finish with a scenario that occurred when we were leaving. Great Yarmouth Harbour.

……………………………………………………

Great Yarmouth 5.30AM, Chris and Jeanette bleary eyed, preparing to leave. Nelson miserable giving up the will to live.

Jeanette: Right, what do you want me to do.

Chris:  Go to the front and pull the front rope in………do try not to drop it into the 

            water.

Jeanette: Right (starts to pull in rope.) Oops p’raps he won’t notice.

Chris:  One of these days you will pull in a rope without dropping it into the water.

Jeanette: (Thinks) One of these days I may wrap it round your neck……..but after

               this trip.

Chris. You go on the tiller, I’ll contact the Harbour master . “ Great Yarmouth, this is vessel Pilgrim, requesting permission to leave harbour over.”

Coastguard: “Vessel Pilgrim permission to leave, proceed to the Lifeboat station and then make contact over.”

Chris: “Thank you. Over.” Right Jeanette, you take the tiller, motor down to the Lifeboat station I’ll get some rope ready in case we need to moor up down there.

Jeanette takes tiller motors Pilgrim, down the harbour, to the lifeboat station.

Chris: “ Great Yarmouth, this is Pilgrim, requesting permission to proceed. Over.

Coastguard: Proceed Pilgrim, cautiously another vessel, Dez Rez is about to enter harbour.

Chris: Ok Jeanette go carefully another vessel is about to enter the harbour on your portside.

Jeanette proceeds with caution. Yawns, wipes bleary eyes…..yawns again, drinks tea. yawns……thinks vessel Dez Res is taking her time……yawns looks at watch yawns.

Vessel comes into view.

Jeanette. OH MY GOD………….ITS A SHIP……..CHRIS TAKE OVER, CHRIS GET BACK HER NOW……..OH MY GOD……I DO NOT WANT TO BE HERE….YOU GET BACK HERE NOW.

Chris: Don’t panic, just take it slow, and stay on the starboard bank.

Jeanette: Oh, dear, oh no the damn thing is getting closer…….Oh God, Oh God.

Chris: your doing fine.

Jeanette: I can see the wash behind that thing, I won’t be able to hold Pilgrim steady.

She’s huge……..Oh God……..that was brilliant! I knew I could do it.

VESSELS BRING ‘EM’ ON!