Across the Channel - to Ostend. Fourth time this year. We've done it so many times now... We could sail it blindfold. Stopover en route to Antwerp.

Friday, straight after work/school we made our way to the boat. M25 was behaving itself for once, the A12 on the other hand. So, it was well past six when we arrived in Levington. Less than an hour of daylight left - no time to loose. All aboard, stow provisions, remove our pick-up line from the mooring buoy, get Brigitte back ashore, trip back to the boat, secure Guapi on the foredeck. Rush job, but we managed it just in time. Macaroni cheese dinner and off to bed - early day tomorrow.

I slept soundly for once. Alarm set for silly o'clock. No wind to speak of, so no need to raise the kids. Pitch dark and quite foggy - visibility down to less than half a mile. At least I was in familiar waters. By the container terminal the fog lifted a bit - just in time. Progress was painfully slow, fouled bottom and foul tide - four knots over the ground (less most of the time). Two and a half hours later and I was still short of Cork Sands. I texted Brigitte - we weren't going to be in Ostend any time soon.

At least I had some company now - Evita and I took turns at the helm. An hour each, then we swapped places. Routine - it works - don't mess with it. Very little wind and what there was sat firmly on the nose. Long, monotonous and boring are words that spring to mind. Flat seas, blue skies and sunshine - not all bad then. Even Yanni joined us by crack of lunch.

Once again - nothing happened, and it happened bloody slowly. The only excitement to be had - crossing the TSS. Quite busy for a Saturday. Still, nothing we haven't done lots of times before. Just when we were about to clear the TSS, a Dutch ocean going tug appeared on the horizon. Doing well in excess of 25kts, and what a wake! Three meters at least, if not more. Despite my urgings to hold on Evita was quite slow off the mark. Tidal wave swept the deck. One very wet and pissed off XO. Yanni and I nearly burst out laughing. That would not have gone down well.

We cleared the smaller Westhinder TSS by dusk. I decided to drop the main (it wasn't doing much for us anymore) and get warps and fenders in place in the last of the daylight. And then, quite suddenly - pitch dark. Stars were out 'en masse', phosphorous wake - it was beautiful. If it hadn't been for the constant and persistent drone of the engine I would have been in heaven. Played some guessing games with the kids to relieve the boredom. Quality family (minus 1) moment.

Finally, Ostend came into view. It had been a very long crossing - just short of 18 hours. Still, I had informed Robert that we were coming and he had promised to keep our berth free. Of course, by the time we got there, you guessed it, another boat in our berth. It'll be sorted in the morning. In the mean time, find another berth. The place was heaving; clearly amateur week-end as only one boat had picked up a mooring, all the others were moored alongside - three deep. Having assumed we would be alongside I hadn't prepared anything to go on a mooring buoy. There was what looked like just enough space alongside by the fish-market. Let's squeeze in there. And we did. Off to the all night chippy - another disappointment - closed for annual holiday. So we reheated leftover macaroni and cheese. Off to bed, everyone under strict orders to sleep in. It had been a long day. Maybe not that long for Yanni.

Next morning off to find Robert. Easily done - just head towards the noise. Very apologetic, friendly and helpful. Squatter had already been given his marching orders. Our one man shipyard proved more illusive - apparently because of a new girlfriend. Then I set off shopping for food. One of my favourite Ostend pastimes.

Brigitte arrived just before lunch. We tidied up and had a quick bite to eat. All secured we abandoned Guapa for a fortnight. I'll pick her up in 2 weeks and deliver her to Antwerp by way of Breskens. And that will be that for at least 6 months.

Ferry home. Not exactly the end of seasons as I had imagined it. Only two more days of - hopefully - sailing left. What will I do with myself in the mean time?