TripSailor.com® Sailing Blogs

We’d completed over 1300 nm. 

The wind was on the nose around 75% of the time we were on the way.

We were weather bound at least 60% of the time.

Highlights / memorable moments in no particular order:

Isles of Scilly – each island, arriving in pitch black night, leaving in fog, and being swamped in the dinghy (St Agnes).

The dolphins on the way to Milford Haven.

Skomer Island.

Making it around Landsend.

Needles, Isle of Wight – magical.

Being weather bound in Neyland, Brighton & Mylor – not much to do.

Tescos in Plymouth – stressful

Picking up the bouys in the Scilly’s – very difficult.

The beautiful clear sky when we stayed on the river Fal.

Sailing at 0.5 knots off Anvil point – probably backwards as the tide was against us.

SAILING!!!

Spend yesterday roaming around Dover – a very interesting town – the museum is well worth a visit as is the Roman Painted House.

Left Dover before 7:00am – a lovely morning, a good wind so sailed as soon as we could.  Had a brilliant run wind and tide in our favour – typical on our last day, anyway.  

Passed the sands at low tide so saw the crouch seals – magic.

Our journey was completed at 17:30 – a bit sad but we did it.

Left Eastbourne really early trying to make it to Ramsgate. Wind and tide against us so motored the whole way.

HM Customs Valiant spotted us near Dungeoness.  They didn’t want to come on board but asked lots of questions.

Wind picked up significantly around Dover and the seas turned rough.  Whilst passing through the shipping lane the boat nose dived into a very steep wave and the water came through the gap between the spray hood and wind screen and through the holes through which the ropes come through.  Got soaked and so did the blackberry again.

Decided not to continue through to Ramsgate so turned around and went into Dover.

It was great to get to Brighton when we did – got to spend a bit of time with Scot and his family.  Wont be back for quite a while so in some ways it was farewell.

Left Brighton midday and headed for Eastbourne – sailed just about the whole way which was great.

Had some problems in the lock and as what has happened to us in previous times the wind picked up just as we were coming along the pontoon, so blown off again.

Got a bit of sailing in on the way to Brighton, but just after Selsy Bill the wind dropped off, so again had to motor.  Tried to sail again but only managed 1.5 knots – so the sails were down again after 15 minutes.  We’re not in a hurray but at that speed we’d get to Brighton after midnight.

Visited Emsworth, another lovely town and then anchored outside of Itchenor.

Left Bembridge at near high water (photos show difference to low water – see yesterdays entry) and sailed near abouts all the way to Chichester Harbour.

Stayed overnight in Sparks Marina – not much there but a very impressive Sailing Club.  Had a seafood platter for two in the resturant – brought most of it home as it was huge.

Tried to explore Wootton Creek but there wasn’t enough water even at high tide to accommodate us – so decided to leisurely sail to our next destination, Bembridge.  It was good practice for us – tacking and avoiding huge ships, racing yachts and motor cruisers.

Photos show Bembridge at low tide – we were rafted off another boat so we could be in deeper water.  We calculated we probably had 5cm under the keel at low water.

Took the dinghy as far as we could up the river.  Hit the mud about a half mile from the town.  Stopped off at Butlers Hard for a pint.

We’ve always wanted to see Beaulieu from the water. A lovely river with great wild life.