Stargazer finds slack water, close in beneath the furrowed brow, and tumbled screes, of the noble South Foreland. On a monochrome spring day, brightened only by its green topknot.
Our speed over ground (SOG) rises to five point six knots. Now matching our speed through the water. We have set sail with the tide against us. Trusting in a fair breeze, at Stargazer's back, to make progress south.
Close in, over the shoals off Deal, Stargazer slipped. As the main force of the northbound tide funneled past, further to seaward. Rocketing along the Gull Stream channel, which its force has scoured through the Goodwin Sands.
Stargazer seeking out the pale blue (shallower) portions of the chart, with their slower moving waters, on departure.
Our plans changed, over breakfast, by reading the new day's forecast. Twenty five to thirty knots of north east wind now expected, from mid afternoon (when the tide turns fair). Persisting for forty eight hours, or more. Conditions in which a notorious, boat-bouncing, line-creaking, fender-popping, surge builds up within the walls of Ramsgate's Royal Harbour.
Dover's new-built marina too has suffered with this problem. However, a new wave screen has been constructed over the winter, to protect it . Stargazer's slippery, freshly antifouled, bottom and sharp sailing manners, provide the means to seek its shelter. By taking advantage of the morning's benign force four, to blithely sail over the tide.
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