Solstice Sojourn

Cat’s paws, of ripples, pad across the still waters of The Swale. The forecast southerly breeze is filling in.

Today is the longest day of the year - the Summer Solstice. Stargazer’s solar array harvests the sustaining energy for her batteries. Astern, I watch as Ironsides’ bluff bows swing slowly head to wind - announcing the turn of the tide.

It is Stargazer’s signal to make sail. She slips silently from her mooring, gathering way with a delighted chuckle from her building bow wave. Out across the London River, where the lumbering leviathans of seaborne commerce ply their trade.

Stargazer broad reaches north. Loping along at an easy six knots. I try to coax a recalcitrant port  genoa winch ratchet to engage - unsuccessfully. And settle for cross winching the port sheet to the starboard winch, for now.

We have made good time. There should be over a metre of under keel clearance at The Swin. Unnoticed, until we harden up to shoot the gut way, the wind has built. Stargazer creams through, at seven knots, on her ear.

It’s a dead run up the Colne. I furl the jib. Stargazer sweeps along the channel under main alone. We round up on into Pyefleet Creek, under the lee of Mersea Island, to drop anchor.

As I stow Stargazer’s sails, Ironsides rounds Stone Point, under full sail, and follows suit. Stargazer and Ironsides lie companionably side by side in the evening sun. Relaxing after their midsummer solstice sojourn.