Severe storm lashes coast

I’m glad I wasn’t at sea!

The north coast of Estonia was hit by gales last night and I thanked my lucky stars I was tucked up in harbour.  Except ‘tucked up’ is not really the way to describe it since the outer harbour in Tallinn, where I’ve been berthed for the past 14 days, is totally exposed to westerly winds and we had westerly winds with a vengeance last night.  I was woken at about 3 am by 40-45 mph winds howling in the rigging and torrential rain doing its best to beat in the coach roof.  The bow of the boat, held to the harbour wall by two bow lines, was pitching all over the place and coming up abruptly to the end of their scope felt like I was hitting the jetty every few seconds.  I lay there praying that the lines would hold and that Toytown would not break adrift and go charging off across the harbour.  I really didn’t fancy leaping out of bed and rushing on deck dressed in my birthday suit.  Besides I’d had one shower yesterday morning at the tennis club.

I lay there for ages whilst the boat was tossed around and eventually got out of bed, threw on some clothes and my wet weather gear, and went on deck.  Both bow lines had held thankfully but I doubled them up to be sure.  The stern line to the buoy seemed OK as well so I adjusted fenders before going back down below and putting the kettle on.  But the electricity was off, thanks to the driving rain I guess, so I had another trip back on deck to turn on the gas.  Tea and bickies have never tasted so good.

It was all over by 4.45 am and I sat in the cabin drinking tea and dunking bickies.  Unfortunately the forecast promises more of the same for the next few days so I won’t be going anywhere for a while.  To think I used to race in conditions like this 35 years ago and think nothing of it.  There’s a big regatta taking place in two day’s time and a host of Finnish yachts are expected from across t’other side of the Baltic.  I was hoping to be long gone before they, and their partying crews, arrive but I guess I’m in for a few sleepless nights listening to loud music and drunken crews returning to their boats at all hours.  It will bring back memories of Cowes Weeks from all those years ago.

It’s now 8.00 am and the wind is back. The boat is lurching around again and I’m in for another uncomfortable day.  One of the problems of being stuck in a harbour like Tallinn is that it costs money – quite a hefty amount.  If the weather were better and the sun was out I’d be at anchor somewhere in the islands – enjoying my time – rather than cursing Aeoleus, the God of Wind, again.  Surely it must be time for him to have a break soon!