A trip to the beach - Ty Dewi style

After the previous day’s party, everyone was tired but we had resolved to spend some time afloat as July is full of other occasions that keep us from sailing, so each opportunity is precious. We had our friends Corinne and Edo, with their three kids, along too, so on a day of hot sunshine and light winds, the obvious plan was to motor to an anchorage, go to a beach for lunch and motor home.

But first there was that pesky nut and bolt to relocate somewhere in the engine bay. Having found it lying under the engine at the end of the last trip, this was a worrying unknown. It turned out to be thankfully simple, a fitting at the front of the engine had worked loose, shaking all four bolts of the holding nuts. It isn’t a critical part, so no damage done, and new nuts and bolts, with spring washers to prevent it happening again, and all was ready in an hour and a half.


That gave us 5 hours before we had to be back ashore, as Gesa had to be home for a baby-sitting commitment later. Funny how five whole hours can still be a short time, and things were a little more rushed than would have been ideal. But we got down to the Stour with lunch on the way, and a half hour of quiet 2 knot sailing in between.
Anchor down, dinghy launched and ashore to a stony but interesting beach. The kids loved the dinghy ride, whilst Corinne swam out to the boat and back, and Edo and I complained about the heat and wished for a shady tree.


Home up the river to find our berth occupied by another boat, so we got the marina to chase him away before we could get in. We clearly need more practice, as two attempts had to be made even in this calm weather, and we still struggled a bit to get things neatly lined up, but all OK in the end. That’s the last sailing trip for two weeks, as we’re off to a wedding next weekend.