Dover to Ramsgate

Today was only around 15 miles, so a very short hop to the next marina. We were able to leave at 10am, a nice change from the 4.30am start from Eastbourne yesterday. 


As we slipped the ropes from Dover Marina, the fog had already started to roll in and visibilty was pretty poor. 


Leaving the Eastern Enterance was a rather scary experience, when you have to follow all instructions from Port Controll, whilst know there are 2 moving cross-channel ferries within a quarter of a mile of you. We couldnt see them through the fog, and apart from on AIS they couldn't see us either. 


Sometimes in fog you can just hear the long horns of ships and other vessels before they emerge, and this can make it quite eerie. 


The 'White Cliffs Of Dover' were quite disappointing, however by the time we had passed them, the fog had already begun to disappear.  We ended up sailing the whole way under jib alone, and with the tide with us, speed-over-ground was around 6 kts!


Me and Falanda also got invaded by wasps and fruite flies, which I must admit has been the scariest part of the whole trip so far! They sheltered from the rain on Falanda, reducing me to a ball of waterproofs, before jumping ship as we entered Ramsgate harbour. 


Coming into Ramsgate you have to call Port Controll, who grant you permission to enter, and once in the main harbour you must then call the Marina to ask for your berth number. All of this must be done within around 2 minutes, and untill you have spoken to the marina, you don't know which side to put out fenders/ropes. 


I ended up coming into my berth with a grand total of 1 fender out, and didn't even have time to leave the helm and put out the ropes. Luckily, some people we had met in Eastbourne were on the same pontoon, and kindly helped me moor up properly!  (from the pontoon!)


We then had all afternoon to walk around ramsgate, have a shower, stop in the pub, and have a meal out! I also planned our route across the Themes, and spoke to a few people about the passage, gaining some local knowlage - always very usefull!


Moored up in Ramsgate



Hiding from the rain, and wasps!


'White ' cliffs of Dover!

Cross-channel ferry crossing behind us


Seal on the slipway, as we left Dover




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