Now Back Home!
Thanks for the e-mails you have sent so far
colette@grandagewebdesign.co.uk
Site visits so far
£30 feeds a Leprosy Mission Hospital for 1 day!
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Graham's wife Annette is the Leprosy Mission
co-ordinator at West Mersea Parish Church and and she is very grateful to all who have most generously supported our appeal.
The Leprosy Mission was delighted with our fund raising and featured our Cruise in their Eastern Region Newsletter and on their website.
The total received from sponsors was
£818.00
Thank you! |
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| Thu 28 May |
West Mersea to Pyfleet
Gordon and Geoff joined us. We stowed our gear and vittles and set sail 1615 for a beautiful evening in the Pye Fleet.
Gin and tonic was followed by chicken casserole in the cockpit. An early night ready for our 0515 departure for Dover the following morning.
The forecast was ideal. Sunshine and Easterly breezes. Perfect! |
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Fri 29 May |
Pye Fleet to Dover
Up at the crack of dawn and off the mooring by
5 am. A beautiful day but quite chilly with a hint of sea mist. We motored down the Colne, then motor sailed into a light easterly. As we crossed the Sunk sands our course turned further south and we we were able to sail the rest of the leg. We passed a couple of wind farms under construction and as we came down the Kent coast, the change in direction allowed us to hoist the cruising spinnaker for the run down to Dover. We had to wait for a couple of ferries to leave before we could enter and then we motored to the Granville dock, and after a bit of neat manoeuvring, we tied up at 2.30 pm.
62 miles in about 9 hours of unbroken sunshine- not at all bad!
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We found some competition. Five young men were launching a boat which they are rowing round!
They are circumnavigating mainland Britain and while we are enjoying the Caledonian Canal, they are going round the Pentland Firth!
Their boat has previously crossed the Atlantic and they are attempting to break the record of 27 days, aiming to complete their unsupported trip in 25 days. Makes our 10 week plan look rather modest.
Why not visit their website:www.gbrow.com. They are seeking sponsorship for 'Orchid'. Fighting Male Cancer
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Sat 30 May |
Dover to Brighton
The overnight wind had moderated when we left Dover at 07.30 on Saturday on a brilliant sunny morning. We cleared the outer breakwater and set off on one of the best sailing days any of us can remember. Main hoisted; cruising chute set; engine off, not to be engaged again until we approached Brighton, our next overnight stop nearly 11 wonderful hours later. Ideal sailing conditions. The following wind was out of the east, force 4 to 5. At Dungeness Point the cruising chute was pulled out of its 'snuffer' and our already excellent speed over the ground increased to 10 to 11 knots. From then on the voyage became even more exciting and rewarding as we fought the choppy seas in a roller-coaster ride. From Hastings to Beachy Head, an impressive scene from the sea with its vertiginous near vertical chalk cliffs rising 100 metres. We had to fight wind over tide then, with the cruising chute snatching at its mountings. Due to the increasing erratic gusts, we snuffed the chute and goose-winged with the genoa poled out. Later, another adventure with the chute ended just outside Brighton marina. Clean the boat; up to the marina showers and a wonderful meal, courtesy Chappie. It doesn't get much better.
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| Sun 31 May |
Brighton to Cowes
Slipped mooring at 07.45 heading in a general westerly direction towards the Isle of Wight with Happy Snapper, Graham taking his usual photos. It wasn’t long before a yacht ahead was spotted and the order to hoist the cruising chute was given (RACE ON!). A great couple of hours went by until the wind dropped and the engine fired up to make way through the Looe channel into the Solent proper. The breeze increased; we switched the engine off and creamed into Cowes under sail for our evening ‘G&T’ and meal in the Anchor Inn. Another great day was had by all.
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