Hamford Water

No need for expensive foreign holidays - we have come to Essex for a few days well deserved break!  Bonita (D and me) are sailing in company with Pretty Penny (Allan, Toby and Alastair). We left the Swale at 7am today with a southerly wind that was brisk at times and enlivened by showers that sometimes blotted out the visibility. We were off the entrance to the Backwaters when one of these rain squalls arrived so we hove to for half an hour  rather than trying to enter in difficult conditions. We are now anchored in the lovely Walton Backwaters, immortalised by Arthur Ransome as 'Secret Water'. This is a fine dinghy sailing area and we were towing Eel, our lug rigged GRP dinghy. Its always a worry towing a dinghy in boistrous weather in case it fills with water and gets lost, but Eel only accumulated about a bucketful of rain and spray. We sailed Eel around a bit and then all had supper on Bonita. Bonita has been here often, but its a first visit for Toby and Alistair. We hope to do a bit more exploring tomorrow.