Once back in her berth, it was time to bend on the sails and the sun had started to shine at last! With help from Rick, Steve got the mainsail on, checked out the reefing lines and we consulted the weather forecasts and tide tables.

Sunday 28 July, with high water at 1820, meant we could get out of the Marina at 1700. Steve had decided to leave the berth with the bowsprit fully extended . . . a most stressful start to our evening. Once out of the Marina we had an enjoyable motor down to Waldringfield to pick up a buoy at the sheltered start of the moorings. We spent a lovely day there checking out the sails, lounging on deck and enjoying the sunshine, sailing back to the Tidemill in light winds. We motored past Troublesome Reach to retract the bowsprit using the new pulley system, making the return to her berth much less stressful than our departure.

On Wednesday 31 July, high water was at 0920 and we left the Tidemill with 2m over the bar at 0915. Rick and Gus took ‘Dolce Vita’ down to Waldringfield where Andy had allocated us two Boatyard Visitor buoys. With ‘Dolce Vita’ left on one, we brought ‘Cachalot’ alongside for Rick and Gus to come aboard. There was plenty of wind for a good ‘shakedown’ sail down to Felixstowe Ferry where we picked up a buoy and Bev made lunch. The sun came out as we sailed off the buoy at low water for a sail back to Waldringfield. The Visitor buoys have a courtesy tender, which got into a bit of a tangle as we picked up the buoy. Once secured Bev decided to practise rowing the rather tippy boat in preparation for going ashore for supper, she didn’t really enjoy it. She persevered and managed to get ashore to meet up with Rick and Gus to watch the racing from the Maybush terrace. After supper, we popped into the Sailing Club for a drink. Steve rowed us back to ‘Cachalot’ much more skilfully.

After another day pottering about out on the river, we returned to the Tidemill on Friday, 2 August at 1100. In preparation for going on the cruise, we needed a replacement outboard (after the mishap at Southwold). Looking for something small, we decided on an e-Propulsion and took it for a test run up to Honolulu Beach and back to check the range. It seems to be OK and is certainly very small and easy to stow.