Haslar, Portsmouth

What a miserable day, grey and wet with the sea and sky merging into one soggy, windy, wet and rolling seascape. Anyway we're safely back at our temporary base.

Brighton

We couldn't get out of Dover until they opened the dock gates at 9:30. The wind started light and built gradually over the day until it was force 6 at Beachy Head. We sailed almost all the way arriving heer as the light faded. The rain held off and the wind was from behind. Who could ask for more?

Dover

Another 5:30 start but despite that all but 2 hours was motoring against the tide. No wind but clear and sunny. The light as we left early was wonderful. We had the usual dodging the ferries coming into port but are now showered and ready to hit the town. It's great having Mickey on board. We hope to do some sailing before the end of the journey.

Queenborough

We've returned to the mouth of the Thames at Queenborough. There was no wind so we had to motor all the way. It was a bit cold but there was some sunshine and no rain. We're now on a buoy for the night.

St Katherine's

We've had a great weekend here with lots of visitors. It's high tide about 1 pm and we'll start heading off back down the river.

Queenborough

This is a desolate, windswept place. We made an earl start from Ramsgate and had the tide with us and the wind behind until 10 am as we rounded North Foreland and headed west. As the tide turned the wind picked up and we surged down foamy waves. When we reached our anchorage at the mouth of the Medway the wind was gusting force 7. It is 42 miles from here to St Katherine's and we will have to leave at 5:30 to make it. Let's hope the weather improves.

Ramsgate

Another 60 miles done. A long day but much nicer than yesterday. Unfortunately had to sail against the tide for much of the day but the sun came out and the sea was calm. We're on target to get to London by Friday.

Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne

We'll we're finally off, Lucinda and me. With some trepidation we headed east into the forecast force 5 to 7. Fortunately it never got above a force 5 although it was cold and wet and miserable. We're very comfortable in the marina. I've just put 291 litres of diesel in the tank. Distance covered today was 60.2 miles.