
If it were a boat it would be made of wood and probably commissioned by Sir Thomas Lipton, if it were a car it would probably have been driven by Inspector Morse.
It is of course that old favourite wind against tide, in this case the out-going tide battling against an easterly wind.
It is no excuse for not going on the water, as this brave dinghy sailor shows:

However tempting it might look I'm not going to be joining him.