All at Sea

9pm Maldon - Centaur is sitting comfortably on the mud moored alongside Reminder, we have to clamber over her to get on board. Reminder is owned by a charter company and there seems to be some rivalry but all very friendly. Pleasantly surprised to be given our own cabin and Leo another and to find electric lights and a perfectly ordinary gas stove in the galley. Not sure what I expected - seen too many Trafalgar reconstructions I suppose!
9.30pm - vital lesson on how to operate the sea toilet,'foot down - pump. Foot up- pump'. Hmmm ok. 10pm The tide has been coming quietly in, all of a sudden there's a subtle movement barely felt- she's afloat! Anchor up, moorings off, engine on - and we're nosing out down the Blackwater. The full moon comes out shining across the water - just magic!
11pm - amazed at how low tech it is. We're finding our way by the bouys - red on our right, green on our left - only some aren't flashing so Terry the skipper sends a couple of the crew forward to hang over the bow with a torch and shout when they see one!
Midnight - Moored up by Osea Island, we try out the sea toilet and turn into our bunks.