Archive For July, 2012

20 July Weymouth to Dartmouth – we have finished

By | July 21, 2012

It is the last day of the trip and the weather is perfect to actually sail, rather than bash to windward motor-sailing, as we have done for the past week. It will still be a beat to windward but not into big seas and strong wind as we have had to do recently. After testing […]

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July 19 – Yarmouth to Weymouth

By | July 19, 2012

The wind had dropped (Thursday mid morning), down to 15 knots from 20 knots in the night, but with a decreasing forecast it meant we could leave for Weymouth. The sun came out and all of yesterday's still undried washing could be hung back on the rail to dry. The mooring lines were slipped at […]

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July 18 – Yarmouth Stormbound

By | July 18, 2012

Wednesday has been a very windy and rainy day (again) after yesterday's wind and sunshine. The harbour is much emptier though as most of the boats here are from sea-schools based around the eastern and central part of the Solent. Even in this wind it is an easy downwind sail for them to return home. […]

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July 17 – Yarmouth, Isle of Wight

By | July 17, 2012

A leisurely start today saw us under way to try and make for Poole which is outside of the Solent and some 30 NM west. We are 100 NM from Dartmouth and two days sail away. Todays plan was to go Poole. That would leave one more day to Dartmouth.   After refuling, which involved […]

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July16 – Cowes Stormbound

By | July 16, 2012

Well we already knew it would be windy today, but not this windy! It is gusting over 30 knots in the marina and out in the Solent, the Bramblemet weather recording site is showing 45 knot gusts. All of the classic yacht racing has been cancelled, the gear shops are packed and the local pubs […]

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July 15 – Brighton to Cowes

By | July 15, 2012

Brighton marina was deserted at 07:00 when we left. It was strange to see such a vast expanse of boats and no people. It was Sunday morning though. Our departure from the marina was far less dramatic than our arrival. The day before there had been a big swell off the harbour entrance and we […]

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July 14 – Eastbourne to Brighton

By | July 14, 2012

The plan was to lock out of Eastbourne at 08:30 bound for Brighton. It all started well until the boat refused to leave the pontoon. A quick check by David found that we still had a bow line attached! Things went from bad to worse as David tried to get ashore and found himself spread […]

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July 13 – Eastbourne Stormbound

By | July 13, 2012

A day off in Eastbourne due to windy SW weather. A good chance to rest and do the usual boat jobs and buy essential supplies. The engine has been checked after it started making a strange whining noise yesterday every time we went up a big wave! We checked it over, no problems, just topped […]

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July 12 – Dover to Eastbourne

By | July 12, 2012

We made it to Eastbourne somewhat battered after a 10 hour motor-sail beat against wind and tide and are 50 NM nearer to Dartmouth. Arrived at 17:00 after leving Dover at 07:00. Thursday morning started fine, sunny and with a light SW wind. Our weather window was open, just was we had hoped. Permission to […]

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July 11 – Dover – Stormbound

By | July 11, 2012

It's blowing F6/7 outside today so we are off to visit Dover Castle. The castle stands on the top of the chalk hills behind the town of Dover and getting up to it provided us with some much needed exercise. Dover Castle was built by Henry II in the 12th century and is the largest […]

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