All at Sea day 3

10am - sailing back up to Maldon gooselegged before the wind (look- you can actually see we're moving!), no longer being overtaken by swans, we are feeling like old hands and real sailors. The sea toilet holds no more terrors for us and we are as high on caffeine as the rest of the crew. We have all had a go on the wheel and I have learned to splice a rope, also to avoid being nearby when the anchor needs hauling up.
The wind and sun have brought all the little sailboats out again. We move through them like a whale through schools of fish, everyone gets out of our way, though the cheekier ones like to show off by passing just under our bow. One slightly hairy moment with a single handed yachtsman who appears completely oblivious to us. He is on course to connect his shiny red yacht with 65 tons of well preserved barge when he finally comes to and comes rapidly about.
SB Reminder comes up behind and slowly but surely overtakes us, sailing on towards Maldon. Skipper is unrfuffled. 'She'll get in early and still just have to sit and wait for the tide!'
We pass SB Hydrogen going the other way with a crowd of people on board. They all wave and we wave but feel very superior becuse Hydrogen is a charter - you just go on as a passenger - no hauling sails for them!
1pm Coming into Maldon. Wow! tourists are taking pictures of us! We are on a genuine bit of Essex coast history! And it feels great.
Long live the Thames Barge Sailing Trust - where else could ordinary people like us with no training and no experience be a part of crew like that.