An English Summer 95

 

Next Wednesday, at twenty twenty British Summer Time, the hours of darkness match those of daylight. At the moment of the Autumn Equinox . From the twenty second of September, until next spring's equinox, on the twentieth of March, darkness will dominate the twenty four hour day.

The long twilight hours, of summer, are already gone. Ramsgate was almost deserted, of leisure craft, on arrival. The harbour staff relaxed and conversational. Together with the crew, of the only other visiting sailing boat, also returning from a summer in the West Country. And a team from the Border Force patrol vessel, Seeker. By the time that our discourses are done, and I have Stargazer's sails stowed, night has fully fallen.

On the sea wall the IPTS (Interntional Port Traffic Signals) lights glow a fiery four reds. 

The illuminated face, of the clock tower, surveys the harbour front, like the all seeing eye of Sauron.

Restaurants and bars beckon enticingly, with the warm glow of their lights, from the quayside.

Stargazer cleared Dover at fourteen thirty. A little later than planned, due to a flurry of ferry movements. Port Control requesting us to hold, inside the Eastern Entrance, whilst they found us a slot in which to leave. We follow the Irish Seas ferry out and tack in toward the cliffs, to clear the track of an inbound P&O ferry.

Outside, there is a steady eighteen knots of breeze, from the north east . Not atall as forecast, but a fine passage making breeze none the less. Stargazer short tacks up to the South Foreland lighthouse. Two reefs in her main.

Once 'round the corner,' and with two to three knots of tide now helping us along, one long starboard tack carries us to the foot of the Goodwin Sands. A short port tack into the Gull Stream. And a final starboard tack up to the Ramsgate Channel. With four meters rise of tide, Stargazer is able to save some distance, by sailing low of the marked Gull Stream. 

Three hours after she left Dover, Stargazer is alongside in Ramsgate. 

The timing, of our final leg home, will depend on seizing the opportunity, of a fair breeze, when it offers. The forecasts are agreed on only one matter. That, for the next few days, the wind will be changeable, in both direction and strength.