Boal Quay at Kings Lynn
Boal Quay at Kings Lynn

We escaped without harm from our grounding and then retraced our course to exit Blakeney and then cruised around to The Wash with the tide behind us and with a slight sea and good visibility. a little way up the Lynn Channel at Cork Hole and within sight of the tide gauge, we anchored and waited for the tide and then cruised up to the Boal Quay at Kings Lynn for the night, doing some servicing.  

A leaked parliamentary report over the Rover sale sparked controversy as the full details of a £38million package of "sweeteners" for new owner British Aerospace emerged against EU rules. Lebanon continues to be in turmoil, thousands of students are rioting in Seoul in protest at the ruling South Korean Democratic Liberal government, Employment Secretary, Michael Howard, has had to call a safety meeting with the contractors after a "stop" notice has been issued by safety inspectors for the Channel Tunnel as the sixth workman dies in 18 months

I slept well The Paxton Princess was afloat again in the morning with no obvious damage in evidence. After making our preparations to leave, we raised our anchor and cruised in and around the other boats, establishing that there was more water (up to four metres) to the West, amongst the other boats in general, and close to a large catamaran in particular. We then cruised off, retracing our entrance course and this time leaving the black can buoys to our Port before rounding the green entrance buoy and heading west. The seal colony seemed even larger than usual with some bobbing in the channel with their heads sticking out, but most were hauled up on the sand banks. We cruised around to The Wash with the tide behind us and with a slight sea and good visibility. Tom sighted a Dolphin on his watch. Once a little way up the Lynn Channel at Cork Hole and within sight of the tide gauge, we anchored and I made us a cooked lunch (which we appreciated after our recent sandwich snacks) whilst we waited for the tide to come in to enable us to make the rest of the journey up to Kings Lynn.

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As we waited, a fishing boat trawled backwards and forwards making good use of the time as he waited for the tide. Tom had doubts as to the channel onwards as the buoys there were high and dry on the sandbanks but, as the tide came in, the channel appeared as if by magic and off we went, although we were quite early with a depth of only two metres. The strong tide was behind us and we called ahead to Lynn Port Radio and the harbour-master arranged for somebody to service us for fuel at the Boal Quay at 5.00pm. He was late and I took the opportunity to get ashore and get some provisions at a shop that opened until late. It was a bit of a business at the Quay amongst the commercial boats but we got our fuel and then went on to pick up one of the new GOBA mooring buoys below the first bridge where we had a good depth of six metres. I then got Tom's help and serviced the boat after our voyage. The water inlet filters were blocked and muddy from ticking over by Boal Quay, the shafts and gearbox lubricants were checked and found OK, but the engine oil levels did need topping up after the long run at high revs.

Overall, the boat had run very well on its maiden voyage under my control and I had not felt the least bit sea-sick. I think the secret is to keep in view land, ships and other reference points so as not to get too disoriented. A leaked parliamentary report over the Rover sale sparked controversy as the full details of a £38million package of "sweeteners" for new owner British Aerospace emerged. It seems the European Commission had not been advised and they are very much against governments supporting domestic motor industries in view of the unfair competition it provides for others.

Lithuania has announced that it will be in economic crisis within a fortnight if the Soviet blockade of oil and other materials continued unabated. Lebanon continues to be in turmoil. Fires broke out after fierce fighting had greeted the announcement by General Michel Aoun forbidding any local or international maritime agencies from serving any port in Lebanon's Christian enclave. Thousands of students are rioting in Seoul in protest at the ruling South Korean Democratic Liberal government. At home, banks may have to face write-downs of £175m after the British and Caledonian financial services group collapse. More trouble for the Channel Tunnel as the sixth workman dies in 18 months on the English side from a construction accident. A "stop" notice has been issued by safety inspectors for two of the five marine channels and Employment Secretary, Michael Howard, has had to call a safety meeting with the contractors. There has been only one death on the French side. The weather had been nice and fine today; dull but quite mild and calm.