Eye of the Wind

Stargazer runs out of the Blackwater with the ebb. Despite the placid conditions, in the river, we are under double reefed main and full jib - our preferred heavy weather rig.

We cross the bar, slip through the Swin spitway and turn to face the southwest breeze. We are bound for the Kent shoreline, thirty five nautical miles distant - as the crow flies. Into the eye of the wind. Stargazer puts her shoulder down, throws plumes of spray high over the deck and hauls us inexorably south and west. Tack by powerful tack. Through the twenty two knot, sun filled, lulls and the twenty eight knot, black rain filled, squalls. 

We cover just under fifty nautical miles, over the ground, to reach the shelter of Sharfleet Creek. I awake late. Stargazer’s solar panels already at work recharging her batteries. A day to restore my own energy, gather my thoughts and dry my gear. Before we head up the Medway to provision and set sail for the summer.