An English Summer

 

In a majestic silence, the Thames sailing barge, Edith May, glides away from the bank. No word is exchanged between her crew, of two. Her engine is not started. Instead they cast off, at the bow, with the last of the flood still making. Once the tide has eased her head out, from the jetty, the jib is hoisted and the stern line let go. 

She slips, noiselessly, out into the deep water channel. There she spreads her tan mainsail, to the following breeze. Her speed builds, as the tide turns fair beneath her. Upnor Castle dwindles astern.

Soon it will be Stargazer's turn to set sail. She has her provisions and water aboard. My dental repairs are complete and, this evening, I receive my second vaccination. Our ticket to wander the summer seas.

May's stormy weather seem to have subsided. The forecast for June promises a week, or more, of unseasonable, but moderate, easterly and north easterly winds. Fair winds in which to sail south and west, once any post jab side effects have abated.

European, including Irish, borders are once more closed, to UK citizens. Even if this were not so, France, the Netherlands and Belgium are not on the UK government's green travel list. So it will be an English summer. Beyond that, the shape of our cruise has yet to reveal itself. We will discover it as we go, guided by wind, tide and serendipity. That is the magic of cruising under sail.