Ti Gitu sailed down to the
Colne river and we went up the river to the free pontoon at Wivenhoe but Ti
Gitu is just too big and there we met Graham who lives in Rowhedge and helped
us go there where we dried out alongside the quay and spent a couple of days
looking round Colchester.
It was then across the Thames estuary in fog with torrential downpours and
incredible thunder and lightning to Queensborough for a couple of nights so
that we could visit family.
Queensborough is expensive
for what you get mooring wise so after that we went through the Swale and
anchored at the Western end for a few days waiting for the fog to clear and the
wind to turn. From there it was straight round to Dover avoiding Ramsgate which we really do
not like.
A few nights in Dover and then across to Boulogne where we visited the old city. We
were amazed at the yachts that simply visit for one night without visiting the
old city which is spectacular.
Along the coast is Le Treport
which has a difficult, tidal, entry and a lock to enter the marina which is
very full with just a few places for visiting yachts. It is a very 'kiss me
quick' sea side town with just a few proper attractions and we have no idea how
they work out the marina prices, suffice to say that the prices are 50% more
than the published ones making it a very expensive place to stay.
Ti Gitu is now in Dieppe and as the wind has gone fresh Westerly we are
waiting here for a few days when it should give us a fair slant to get further
along and hopefully reach the Channel Islands
by next weekend.
Sailing West along this coast
is not the best direction, as to take the up to 2 knot tide with you means
leaving at high water. That means that you arrive at some of the harbours at
low tide when the entrance is dried out. In general this means that the harbours
that don't dry are favoured and some interesting ports are missed.
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