20th July 2009  -  Lowestoft to Ramsgate  
I'd like to say we were all refreshed after some sleep but clearly we didn't have enough!  Still, better than none at all so the plan was to re-fuel and depart Lowestoft at the top of the tide at 1445hrs and head for Ramsgate.  We slipped our mooring in Hamilton Dock at 1330hrs to proceed over the Yacht Club to re-fuel.    Lowestoft harbour had booked a rather large dredger for the day and although we had waited for him to clear Hamilton Dock he was now blocking the entrance to the Yacht Club! So back to Hamilton dock for us to wait for a small slot (during bridge opening times) to nip in, re-fuel and get back out again before the entrance was blocked once more.  First bit of luck for us here, after much confusion on the radio between many yachts, and the fact that I had Sanity positioned in the way of the dredger, I manage to convince Harbour Control to let us into the Yacht Club first so off we went.  Lots of fuel and then out to sea - we left as Lowestoft Harbour Control were trying to manage all the yachts and cruisers in and out of the Harbour while the dredger waited to return to work :-)

 Good progress was made at first in a rather lumpy see but we were off, destination Ramsgate.
 
Lovely ! Didn't improve - if anything it got worse!     
I hate the north Sea!!!

Not going to write too much about this trip at the moment, but lots of breakages, leaks and the interior was a turned upside down forward to aft -  argh!!!

I thought last year we had it bad, turns out that was quite tame!
Concentration! Suppose I had to be in picture sooner or later.            
We arrived at Ramsgate Royal Harbour at 2200hrs,  the next challenge was to find a berth (harbour was chocker block, many boats rafted up!) but luckily the dock radioed and once we confirmed our length a berth was suggested.

It was a squeeze as shown below but we were secure alongside by 2215hrs - just enough time to pop out and fetch some fish & chips (well just chips actually as they were closing) and then retire for the night.
Evening approach to Ramsgate  
Ramsgate harbour entrance Our cosy berth for the night.