Easter at Dell Quay

On Good Friday Sarah, Max and I went for a long walk around Emsworth, Prinsted and Thornham Marina. Poor old Max was totally shattered and whilst I insist on marching and Max has to keep up, Sarah takes a different approach and slows down to Max’s pace which means she will probably be back onboard by about Tuesday.

Yesterday (Easter Saturday), we went into town for some supplies, filled the tanks with water and once there was enough water over the sill we left Emsworth bound for Dell Quay. It was one of those seemingly rare occasions when the engine was only on for about ten minutes and then switched off in favour of sails for the next two hours all the way to Dell Quay. I completely get the popularity of this place; it is stunning. I have never seen so many people out and about enjoying their boats whether motor boats, sailing boats – modern or classic, kayak or stand up paddle boards. This place has it all and is beautiful. We had a gentle sail round to Chichester Marina and then headed beyond the deep channel up to our anchorage opposite the Crown & Anchor pub which we visited as soon as we got the dinghy launched. We kept a close eye on the state of the tide because Fiesta was going to be high and dry once the tide went out and although I think it is possible to walk across the mud back to the boat, Sarah informed me in no uncertain terms that neither she nor her purple trainers would be prepared to do that!
We made it back in good time with about two feet of water around Fiesta, settled down for a BBQ and watched the sun go down. Fiesta took the ground on a perfectly flat bit of mud, the stars came out and once I had bound and gagged Sarah all was still and the silence was golden. What a beautiful little anchorage this is.

It is now 8am on Easter Sunday and the tide has been in, gone out again and once again we are high and dry although this time Fiesta has found a hard bit of sand at one end and a soft bit of mud at the other so we sitting a little down hill but the sky is blue and the sun is out so all is good in this little world…. Once the tide returns Max will need a comfort break ashore and the plan to is head to Bosham where I think we might get a spot alongside the quay but if not, we will anchor again for the night.
First job today is breakfast, second is to walk Max and third or fourth, untie the Canadian.

One of them looks happy

Going from Emsworth to Dell Quay

The tide going, going and gone

The Crown & Anchor