October Heatwave!

Thinking that we are soon to be transferring Mahaskah to Newhaven, we took advantage of the extraordinary mediterranean weather we are having to invite the whole family for bbq/picnic on East Head Sand using the boat as a base.
It was apparent from the moment we passed Worthing that the whole of Sussex was heading for the beach. By the time we reached the Chichester circular, traffic was crawling. Our normal one hour journey was doubled.

Kia, Tiffany and Mylo joined us at Dell Quay for the ride. First to Chichester Marina visitors pontoon for water where Tiffany filled the tank, then on to find a spot amongst the throng at the anchorage.

Once settled, bbq and beach toys were thrown into the tender and we managed to cook and eat sausages before the sun went down behind the dunes.


Children sleeping in the forward cabin, we watched the sky grow dark and identified stars and constellations using John's new smart phone app.At one moment nearby, two masthead lights seem to collide,and a distinct "clunk" was heard as the dropping tide lengthened everyone's moorings and swung the boats round.

"Good morning"

Dawn

I had slung the hammock in the shrouds and remembered how to get comfortable enough to sleep. The last time I slept in a hammock in this way was in the Caribbean about 30 years ago!

 Next morning, before breakfast, another play on the beach was in order.

This was before 10 o'clock. Mahaskah is just above and to the right of the girl digging in the sand.

 A cooked breakfast had been promised and was provided, then with the pink bunting flying, we went for a little sail up the Emsworth Channel.

John, in his "Heritage" shorts

 John was fine tuning the sail set according to his new book, and we tried for a more technical approach.

Summer, Steve and  Lotus were on their way, although we guessed they were meeting a lot of traffic. Using Google Latitude to see where they were, Kia tried to guide them to West Wittering Car Park. Eventually they got to West Wittering Sailing Club car park and felt they could go no further. Although leaving the car there risked clamping. So a plan was hatched that we would anchor near to the WWSC bay, John and I would go in with the tender and I would park the car, leaving them to either walk to the beach or come back  to the boat.
However the anchorage by now was absolutely chocca, and we felt that if there was a possibility of dragging the anchor, it wouldn't be right to leave Kia in charge, so I (bravely) took off into new waters with slight nervousness that the outboard would fail. I haven't mentioned that we had left the rowlocks behind, (there's always something). Aiming blindly at what looked as if it could be a sort of Clubhouse, I  spotted two pink and turquoise dots with a smaller blob beside them. It was the travel-worn, heat-exhausted,  Summer Steve and Lotus. Steve with a throbbing big toe, which meant he couldn't have walked anyway. After some discussion, I took the car keys and joined the queue for parking.
Some minutes later, we had loaded the tender, and pushed off. No, the outboard didn't start immediately, but eventually it did, and we joined the boat with a determination to make the best of what remained of the day.

Because the tide was now going down, we had to start back to Dell Quay. Steve got the hang of driving, and the children enjoyed the view from the hammock.

Water was running out as we came into DQ, we slid along the bottom for the last few metres.

West Wittering Car Park closes its gates at 8.30pm, so not knowing how long it would take to get back, John took Steve and I to shore so I could drive him back to fetch his car.
J returned to the boat and the girls, to finish off the end of weekend chores: bags and food to pack, heads to clean, seacocks to close, gas and batteries to turn off, sail cover to replace, fenders to stow.... etc.
The plan was that we would all meet up at The Crown and Anchor in Dell Quay to end the day with nice meal.
This simple plan proved to be  hugely optimistic .

Steve and I found that getting into the Car Park was like trying to get back into Glastonbury after it's finished, departing traffic was occupying both lanes of the road, so we had to face off every car in the left hand lane and wait till it had negotiated a space in the right hand lane. At the barrier, I gave S quick instructions about finding his car, (remember, I had parked it), I did a U turn and joined the crawling queue once more.
S, had no charge on his phone, didn't immediately find his car, had to hobble about asking for help.

Back in DQ, Summer and Lotus had already been delivered to the jetty, John and Kia hurried to get back with the last load and Tiffany and Mylo, when the bottom of the tender struck the mud about 15 metres out.
It was now about 7 o'clock, and dark, with no other alternative, they had to get out and carry the kids and gear through two feet of sticky slimy smelly mud, and then slide the tender over the top of it to tie it up on shore.

A hour and a half after I had set off with Steve,on a journey that shouldn't take more than 20 minutes, I got back to the pub and found them in rather downbeat mood, especially as there was no food on offer. Steve turned up 30 minutes later.
We all agreed it was time to go home.
I  have to finish this blog by saying that I'm proud of everyone, that even in those difficult conditions, there was no bickering or moaning or blaming.
I hope we will remember the good bits and laugh about the rest.