Above: Phoenician, Edme, Marjorie and Wivenhoe head eastward off Whitstable

      

Above: Bowsprit barge Gladys approaches the wind farm before the turn 

      

 

Above: Staysail barges approach the Spaniard Buoy - assisted by a west-south west wind.
By now the vessels are becoming quite dispersed. Decima and Lady of the Lea lead the 
'flotilla' on the left. Meanwhile, Greta and Wyvenhoe are taking a more northerly
approach on the right.

    

      

 

 

Left: The Spaniard Buoy. This is situated between 
Tankerton  and the Kentish
Flats Wind Farm.  Out of shot
on the horizon are the Shivering Sands wartime forts.

Despite it's insignificant appearance the buoy is considerably more
 sophisticated than buoys of old as includes such devices as a 
radar reflector. The proximity of the buoy to the wind farm site
meant that it could be used in tests to assess the impact of
 offshore windmills on ships radar systems.

    

Above: Repertor (left) and Lady of the Lea (Right) turn at the Spaniard Buoy.
 The Shivering Sands fort can be seen on the horizon to the left.
   

      

 

 

     

     

     

Left: Orinoco turns for home with
 Greta and Wivenhoe in close pursuit. 
The Shivering Sands Forts  guard the
 distant horizon.

 

 

    

    

   

   

 

 

Right: Bowsprits Edme and Marjorie at the turn

 

 

    



 

 

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