Notwithstanding the onset of the serious health problems associated with the Corvid 19 (Corona virus) that has spread from China to virtually every country around the world since being ‘admitted to’ during December 2019, the weather has conspired to limit the opportunities for sailing too.

Our Government (British) is systematically closing down ‘life’ as we have all known it. People over 70 years of age are advised to self-isolate. Ill people have to isolate for seven days and if another person or persons live in household, this is 14 days for them. Everyone else to quote, ‘maintain a level of social distancing…’ which is at least two metres – which I call the spittle distance – essentially avoid all contact…

This does not seem yet to limit activities around the waterfront, provided care is taken … so, as planned, Whimbrel should be lifted from the water this weekend for a bottom paint clean off ready for my good mate and the boat’s keen bottom manager to get at it.

I have the top sides to deal with…

Since Christobel and I enjoyed a sail on a lovely February day, I have enjoyed little sailing indeed. But, with my youngest brother crewing as temporary mate I enjoyed a magical window of opportunity when the wind died to a force 5 and less for two complete days.

We departed early on a Friday (two weeks ago now) and returned on the Saturday lunchtime tide. We enjoyed a sublime sail acroiss the river after departing a few minutes before high water. being ‘late’ I swung further east round the Grain Flats, but the wind was sufficient for a close reach deep into Blakstakes area along the shore of Deadman’s Island and just making Strangate.

Inside the River Medway, we encountered a pretty ferocious ebb even though the tides were neaps. As our overnight stop was planned for Queenborough we ended up enjoying a spin up Stangate and a tack back out – all helpful in keeping warm!

Thereafter we made ‘passage’ for Kingsferry Bridge approaches before working back to Queenborough. The temporary mate was soon away in Twitch for a spin round the harbour … would you believe it the wind died to such a low level he had to ship his oars and row home!

The bird-life both in Stangate and around the Swale were stupendous, a wonder. We also saw a seal basking along the Greenborough Marsh mud shore.

We had a fabulous thirty hours! And, in an opposite to Emma’s infamous act of stupidity in the clever Jane Austin novel, it was a trip well done, well done indeed … it was an amazing couple of days.

Over the last month or two, I have been collecting together the necessary paints and preparatory equipment such as sanding papers in readiness. The pile on our ‘shed’ floor has grown … new centre plate lifting wire pin is ready, wire is aboard and the ‘blast man’ is booked.

Roll on the weekend … hopefully I’ll get just a little sail before, but time is running out.

Let’s hope we’re not ultimately trapped ashore…

Hey ho!