Crabbing

Brightlingsea this morning was dank and unpromising, after a night of rain. We took a water taxi from the pontoons on the river over to the harbour jetty for a wander and a coffee with free Wifi. There was a fisherman in yellow oilies selling fresh fish from his van on the jetty, so we bought dressed crab for our lunch.

We couldn't leave Brightlingsea until there was at least a metre of water under our keel as it's pretty shallow getting out of the channel there and into the main River Colne. The tide times meant we couldn't depart until one-thirty and by twelve, the day suddenly transformed. Sun broke through the low cloud and all was dry and warm. Sitting in SIRENA's cockpit we had a fantastic view of this busy harbour on a summer Saturday, with children sailing Topper dinghies, a bunch of venerable smacks and gaffers racing, and any number of yachts and motorboats cruising past. All that, and a delicious crab feast in the fresh air. 

The journey to Burnham-on-Crouch, when it came, also involved crabbing - across strong tides. You point the boat's nose in what looks like the wrong direction in order to compensate for the tide pushing you. There was little wind, so it was a day of motoring from buoy to buoy, in a zigzag route around potentially dangerous sandbanks - hard sand that can break boats. The shallowest bit is the Swin Spitway, and today the least depth under our keel was 3.3m in calm conditions. The first time we crossed it, several years ago in our previous boat, was another matter. Half the depth, in big winds and waves; a very scary initiation.

 After a very straightforward journey we arrived at Burnham, which is a handsome town and another yachtie's paradise.  We efficiently moored up in the enormous yacht harbour, completed the normal arrival tasks, helped a Dutch man with his route plan to Ramsgate, and devoured an excellent bean salad.  Unfortunately the harbour restaurant was having a Grease Tribute night, so no drinks for us - fortunately our mooring is far enough away that we can't hear it.