Saturday strollers soak up the strong spring sun. The gentlest of breezes ruffles emerald green waters, in the inner harbour.
Warmth radiates off ornate kiln fired red Victorian brick.
A keen northerly wind cuts across the outer harbour. Stargazer's ensign snaps and cracks. Her sprayhood is turned up, like a coat collar, to ward off the chill. The breeze has outwitted us.
Our plan, in sailing east to Ramsgate, was to gain a favourable slant (in the forecast north easterly airflow) to make for the Suffolk Rivers. Now the wind has backed north (thus heading us) and strengthened. The Border Force cutter Valiant has put into port. A sign that wind and seas are expected to run high enough to curtail migrant crossings, for a day or two.
Forecasts are, once more, equivocal. Some indicate a northerly breeze tomorrow. Some a favourable easterly. Some twenty five knots others eighteen. Snug below, in Stargazer's sun warmed cabin, listening to the whistle of the wind overhead, I have prepared our passage plan. Let us see what tomorrow's dawn brings, by way of breeze. There is no great hurry to be on our way. We are cruising under sail.
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