Diesel

After emptying an elsan cassette the main task today was to make the short trip to the fuel dock in the marina. We were quite low and wanted to be sure that there was plenty in the tank by the time we go back home on Friday. The morning was much windier than the forecast suggested but the general picture was for it to get stronger from lunchtime and for the next couple of days. Hence we needed to do it this morning. We prepared to leave our pontoon with a bit of apprehension but with a detailed plan in our minds of bow to cope with the wind in it present direction. 

The marina comprises three separate areas, the original, quite wide section (where the fuel dock is located), a central basin and then the newest part I(Swan Basin) where we are moored. Going to the fuel dock means going into the middle section via a short cut which has a foot swing bridge that has to be opened, and from there out onto the Oxford Canal. The entrance to the main section is about a 100m down the canal and the dock is straight ahead on the far side.

As we have to moor bow first in this marina, we first had to reverse out with the wind side on. Then we needed to turn to be at right angle to direction of the pontoon in order to go through the short cut. We were fortunate that another boater offered to Christine to swing the bridge open and back again for us. An immediate left turn, side on to the wind took us to the exit onto the canal, followed by a right turn into the south entrance!

The fuel dock was straight ahead but we needed to allow for the cross wind which can quickly take the boat sideways, especially at low speed. We lined up just up-wind of the mooring and allowed for the wind to move us sideways onto the wharf as we went into strong reverse to stop before we hit the bank!

All of this is much easier to follow if you look at Google Maps Aerial View. Blue is the route out and red the extra bit on the way back. (Hope Google allow us to include this image!)

Staff filled our tank and Christine went to the office to pay. At that point, with the wind ever strengthening, we had no option but to make our way back to our pontoon.

We are located almost immediately after the final cut and swing bridge (again someone kindly opened up for us) and we discovered when we arrived here that there is not enough room to turn immediately left. Instead it is better to continue down into the centre of the basin and turn, coming back head into the wind. This basin is a lot narrower but we made the turn - just - without being blown either into the far end or colliding with the boats moored either side.

The final turn onto the pontoon - at this time of year almost all berths are occupied so there was just a single boat space to head into. The manoeuvre entails going a bit up wind of the space at a narrow angle to the pontoon and waiting until the wind lines the boat up - then it is full steam to get the bow of the boat 'trapped' in the gap. At least our pontoon is down wind which means that the pontoon keeps us in place whilst we tied up. Phew!

After lunch we went to visit Cropredy Church - Mike to look at surveying the gravestones and Christine to look around inside. It was soon time, with light fading fast, to return to the boat and a piece of fruit cake.