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The engine started but there was an oil leak round the new filter. This was tightened and the oil was cleaned up. We decided to keep the engine running to give the batteries a real fill. At this point I could not find the large scale chart of the Yarmouth area so we had to rely on the small scale one. As the evening passed our confidence rose and at 0200 we ran aground – 3 miles off Gt. Yarmouth. The tide was rising but it was frustrating. Eventually we floated eastward at 0327. By 0340 we were in deep water again and back on course. We had a grand day crossing the mouth of the Thames. As we were alongside the white cliffs of Dover we passed a French yacht with a Q flag up and we were doing well on the engine at 7 knots with a little help from the dying wind.
2030 Clearing Dover harbour the prop fell off. The tab washer, which should have been behind the prop holding the nut from unscrewing, was still on the prop shaft. The ‘Marine Engineers’ who serviced the drive leg had put it on in front of the prop. We called Dover control, said we would sail in and they told us to use the west entrance.
2400 Entered Dover harbour under sail, anchored, engine off 0130. The next morning, Sunday, the customs came by as did the harbour launch. We went ashore to the Royal Cinq Ports Yacht Club and had pints, showers and phoned the Clifton. Alan decided he would go back to Lossie as his leave was soon over.
On Monday morning we were able to phone Silette and as they had a prop in Morden Surrey. We all went there to collect it in a hired car. Arthur and John fitted the prop while I went to the supermarket then took the car back. The forecast was for local force 8 so we put off our departure till Tuesday. I don’t know why we didn’t test the drive but on Tuesday morning we found that the prop was left hand screw. A phone call to Silette and we re-linked the clutch cable and replaced the reversing lock spring. At 1444 we left Dover harbour in a 40 knot squall. As there were three of us we changed to 4 hour watches though we were all on deck till we passed Dungeness and turned off the engine at 1735 heading 145M to cross the shipping lanes.
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