The 6 am shipping forecast is not encouraging, with some stronger winds forecast, some north easterly predicted (that’s where we’re heading!) and a moderate to rough sea. We decide that plugging close hauled grimly into a roughish sea is not the stuff of enjoyment for our first sail of the season…and we’ve got plenty of time.

We’ve got a railway bridge opening booked for 10.45 so we decide to make use of that and head to a marina just down stream. This will give us more flexibility for leaving hopefully on Friday…and a change of scenery.

Even just for a short trip down river, it’s good to get water flowing under her keels once more…

After a whole mile of motoring we’re once again moored up. Oh well, perhaps tomorrow…