Part 1 STARTING OUT

                                      

                                                  Independence day 2016 

The day began with the knowledge that the domestic battery alternator was not charging the batteries, and we needed to leave the marina our new home was moored in. The RCR (incidentally a truly great company)  they came to the boat but said they couldn't look into the cause as their service was not domestic related. But a fellow boater who was having a few problems himself suggested the man helping him maybe able to assist us.

To be honest we were desperate to sail and the whole scenario was looking like we scuppered before untying the mooring ropes. The RCR mechanic got someone to help but it wasn't going to be for a week. However Gary came across from the other boat, looked at our problem, diagnosed the fault and with the aid of an electrical spare corrected it. With enormous relief and the batteries charging we set forth from Shardlow and on to the rather wide current of the mighty Trent river.

Our Leap of Faith had begun with just one of many random acts of kindness we have so far encountered. It wasn't to be long before the next one. Now how is that for creating suspense?

Sailing over the river it was a short trip to the Erewash canal. Easy enough but then the turn onto the canal is made more difficult because as you turn it is at a 45 degree angle behind you and the current wants to push the boat away. We made this big turn and realising much to my wife's horror that greater power was required, I revved the engine up and aimed for the canal bank. Marian waved madly for me to slow down convinced that I was not only now running at ramming speed but I was most definitely going to ram the concrete bank. Boat half in sedate canal waters, wide arc on the tiller, hard reverse and who would have thought any panic was registered in the bow section.

tbc