WE ARE OFF AT LAST
					EXTRACT FROM LOG OF JEMIMA II
			FRIDAY 8 MARCH 2002 Leave the Marina for the Erewash Canal - between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire We are off at last! After settling up with the Marina and arranging to leave our car in their car park for the time being, we filled up with water and diesel, had a pump out (although the pump was not working properly and we doubted we had in fact pumped out fully) and were then ready to leave at 12.55pm. We went through Sawley lock and out on to the River Trent. As we moved into the centre of the quite large river, the wind picked up to a greater force in roughly the same direction as the flow of water so we proceeded at a fast rate of knots. As we went round a bend the wind started to blow us sideways and we had to rev the engine as fast as possible to stop being turned right round or on to the opposite shore. If that was not bad enough, we now had to execute a sharp left hand bend to get into the Erewash Canal. In fact it was impossible from the direction we had come from, as the wind and current took us onto the bank as the engine had insufficient power to beat against both. We ended up with Alan pulling the boat round the corner like the old workhorse! Eventually we made it into the calmer waters in front of the entry lock to the canal. We went through the lock.............. SATURDAY 9 MARCH The wind is still strong and there is sunshine and showers. March and April rolled into one. We got moving at about 11am and as we progressed, so did the wind - increasing in velocity causing difficulty in all the locks as it was funnelling in and making progress rather slow. We were caught up by Alan and Jean Perry in their boat "Sans Souca" which was towing Jim's new boat (with no ballast in it yet) to the end of the canal for fitting out We stopped for lunch and they overtook us. Unfortunately it was at the wind's strongest point in the day, and the wind blew the boat "Sans Souca" was towing straight into Jemima's side at the rear and into the rear seat. The steel seat bent to such an extent that we could no longer close the rear doors. By now it was very cold and raining on and off making it more unpleasant. I was most concerned that we would have to stop for the night unable to shut the door, therefore no security apart from the cold and rain. I suggested Alan speak to Alan Perry to see what he intended to do about it as it was his fault, although also a freak accident. Meanwhile Alan gave it a lot of thought and decided he knew what was neaded. However we had to continue to find a suitable place where Alan would be able to rectify the rear seat so we can close the door. At the next lock we caught up with Alan Perry and Alan told him of the damage and he agreed to assist. After a few locks, Alan Perry remained behind to help Alan and we took the boat into the lock and moored her diagonally across. Alan then fixed a heavy duty mooring rope around the steel seat and secured it onto a bollard. He then applied a mooring pin between the ropes as a Spanish windlass and Alan Perry who is over six feet tall and looks quite strong twisted the pin until the seat was forced upright and back into its original position, thus allowing the door to close. (Almost uprooting the Bollard in the process.) It was quite a relief when this was accomplished. We then continued on our way .............
						WE HAD GALE FORCE WINDS AND ICY COLD RAIN
						ANOTHER BOAT CRASHED INTO JEMIMA, BLOWN OUT OF CONTROL BY THE WINDS