Up Channel 6

 

Stargazer treads a cinnabar dawn. Tiptoeing across seas lightly ruffled by a somnolent breeze.

Headed for the North Foreland. Its chalk cliffs are blanketing the wind. But its Longnose reef compensates, by diverting the last of the southbound tide to seaward. 

Allowing Stargazer to inch her way along, tight inshore. Close beneath the lighthouse.

Into the mouth of the London river. Where the breeze clears.

In Margate road, anchored merchantmen slowly swing, to face the new stream. For the tide is on the turn.

Those outermost are now facing east. The flood has begun. Granting Stargazer a fair tide, for the Medway. 

Stargazer stands, stately as a Spanish treasure galleon, into the Thames estuary. In ten knots of breeze with a making tide beneath her.

Shaping a course for the ancient stone towers, at Reculver. Which stand proud above the rolling, green, tree studded countryside. Daymarks for the entrance to the 'overland route,' across the shoals of the north Kent shore.

I break out the last of the 'Channel' fruit cake, Bart at the helm. Eating whilst watching the depth guage. As the tide adds, not only speed, but much needed depth, beneath Stargazer's keel.

To seaward, the wind turbines, off Whitstable, spin ever faster. Beyond, a stream of shipping steams purposefully along the Knock John Channel.

Down to leeward, the Darjeeling tinged, waters of the Swale. Rich but ‘thin.’ With the low cliffs, of the Isle of Sheppey, rising from them. Crumbly as my lunchtime fruitcake.

Stargazer has the spiky skyline clutter, of Sheerness docks, in her sights now. Gusts roll across Sheppey. We hang on to full sail, making better than seven knots. Waiting to see how the wind settles, once around Garrison Point.

I tuck a reef in, as Stargazer thunders up the Medway. The wind funneling, at twenty one knots, between its banks. She tacks her way upriver, in long, tide assisted boards. Sweeping past two, motoring, Westerly's in the Darnet narrows. Their crews turn, to wave Stargazer a hearty welcome home.

Stargazer is in from the sea. Seven months after she left, for her shake down cruise. Six, since departing for Spanish shores. On her grandest adventure yet.