23rd August 2010 - Anchored in the Ore, Havergate Island

[Jeff]

Winds over gale force were forecast for "later" which meant anything after 12 hours in the future, so we had 12 hours grace to make our short hop from the Deben to the Ore - but just knowing they're coming does make you nervous. They were forecast to be southerly ones, a prediction which I can currently testify to as I'm sat here on anchor watch, listening to them bash us about outside.

We've anchored to the north of Havergate Island in the river Ore, just south of Orford (we know a boat called 'Patience of Orford' from back in Plymouth so it was nice to put a face to the name) because it offers good protection from southerlies. It's working well in that there's not a lot of swell, but there's a heck of a lot of wind trying to push us into the mud behind us - which as usual isn't all that far away.

We're going to have to move somewhere else later because the net here isn't brilliant and I've got to get on with some work. Not looking forward to pulling up the anchor in this really. Has to be done.

Some updated stats for you...

Motored: 54 hours 10 minutes
Sailed: 72 hours 49 minutes
Total: 127 hours
Anchored: 36 nights
Other: 45 nights (swing mooring or alongside berth)
Marina: 46 nights (aaagh, must avoid the temptation in future)
Total: 127 nights (same num of nights as hours travelled! an hour a day!)
Berthing Fees: £1,422.00
Average: £11.20 per night (my aim is to average less than £10 a night as that's cheaper than an annual marina berth)
Logged: 565 nautical miles (over the ground)
Speed: 4.45 knots (nautical miles per hour, based on above numbers)
BBQ: 20 (= 1 bbq every 6.35 nights average - more than one per week - good, could do better)
Fish: 5 caught (definitely could do better!)

Some new movies...

Lunar doesn't like swings...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZ_Wsi5CPbM

A boring note that the weather is getting worse, while setting off from the Deben...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Nz0j20zz4

Technical details about our individual cockpit climate control system (that's actually the auto-helm)...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR5cH33RXso

Mud punting...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXrGffVbJCI