Plymouth and home for a while

18th August
We finally managed to get out of Salcombe. As we crossed the bar we headed into a big swell which rolled in from the South. A wet mist created a circle round the boat of a few hundred metres at best. From time to time a ghostly yacht slipped in and then out of our circle. We could see the white of waves crashing on the shore and sinister dark rocks were imagined on the edge of our vision. We clutched our emergency beacons, checked our safety equipment and held on tight to handholds and each other. As we neared Plymouth the mist dissolved, boats become defined and the horizon reappeared. The sun came out and suddenly it was a glorious day for sailing.

Sadly we had to get the train back to London. Sophie, David and Hester are arriving back from France. Sophie has a really bad back and yachting has been put on hold until we can sort her out. We were going to Plymouth to take part in the Eddystone pursuit race and the Millbrook Mulithull weekend. It was one of our major goals of the summer. We've learnt when sailing be flexible and don't expect plans to work out. We will be back.

Stormbound in Salcombe

10th August
We're nothing if not persistent. Off to the Channel Islands again. We had an early start and an easy passage to Alderney where we took the last free buoy in the harbour. We were secure but a bit uncomfortable as the harbour was unprotected from the swell kicked up by the North Easterly wind. Some shopping, a walk and lunch ashore then off again.

11th August
A late afternoon departure through the Swinge. No sign of the formidable overalls on the 23 mile hop to Guernsey. The wind was behind us but we needed every combination of sail as wind strength went through the whole spectrum. We rafted up in the inner harbour and were eventually allowed into the inner harbour at 1 am. The following day we has lunch with Joss and Mike followed by dinner with Nola and Andy getting back to the boat in time to watch the Olympic closing ceremony.

13th August
The forecast for the rest of the week is appalling. We thought we'd better get back to the UK. So we dragged ourselves out of bed outrageously early and headed back across the Channel. It was pretty miserable with a lumpy sea superimposed on a big swell. However, it was a swift passage and we were safely on a pontoon in Salcombe by 5 pm. We went ashore yesterday, did some shopping and had a long walk. We made it back in board shortly before the rain came. This morning (Wed 15th) it's windy and he rain is bucketing down. The forecast is for force 7/8, perhaps 9!

Still in the Solent

Today the weather was glorious. Should we have chanced the fog and headed to Alderney? Never mind we motored up the Beaulieu river to Buckler's Hard and had lunch in the pub overlooking the river. We're now moored to a buoy for the night outside Yarmouth. If the forecast is ok we'll be off tomorrow for the Channel Islands.

Back on board

We came back to the boat last night. Today our cockpit enclosure has been fitted so as the weather improves we're finally ready for anything. We were intending to head for Alderney tomorrow but have put our plans on hold because fog is forecast. We'll go somewhere in the Solent and see if the forecast improves.