10/29/2009

I'm back in Lagos now after a great time in the UK, first off in Plymouth with Frank for an extra night, then for a weekend at Sue and Dick's house in Devon, and then with Abby and family in London, and Anne and family in Sheffield. Add into that my 64th birthday and three evenings' celebrations in a row for that momentous event, and you have a recipe for a great break 'ashore'!

England was warmer than I expected, and Abby got me out riding a bike from Raynes Park to Chelsea and back! The children are developing really quickly now, so I'm glad I was able to spend such a long time with them, as I had booked the return flight to allow for late arrival on the boat. That was before we made landfall in record time - eight days' sailing in all.

The Sheffield branch of the family is also in good heart, and made us welcome for the weekend. Sheffield was celebrating Halloween in a big way, and we joined in the festivities to the extent of going for a ride on the big wheel in the city centre.

Now it's back to Little Else and the winter refit and layup. But not before we hopefully have a couple of visits, from Steph next month and hopefully Abby and Miyuki in December.

Off now to make soup......

Photo of Sheffield birthday party.

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10/20/2009

Jon duly arrived, and we set off on Sunday 11th around 10.30am for the big hop across Biscay. The plan was to head west until the 9th meridian then north until around latitude 38 west, then head north-east for Plymouth. The winds were ideal for this plan, and we made very good progress. The winds never got above 12 knots for about three days and nights, and kept on a steady beam or broad reach all the while. The confused swells of Biscay meant however that the motion of the boat was irregular and unpredictable, so no rock-a-by-baby effect when trying to get to sleep. Jon felt a bit seasick to start with so I dug out the Traveleze lozenges and he felt a bit better. Frank had prepared a super stew which lasted around three days! Shipping was slight to start with, then we found ourselves crossing a track between the two TSZs of Finisterre and Ushant. Ships were great though and altered course when they saw we were sailing.

Frank and Jon kept watch together at the start of the trip, as all this was new to Jon, who was finding this journey a life-changing experience. Their bete noire was always the fishing boats, which zoomed around the sea unpredictably, especially at night, exhibiting all sorts of lights and then suddenly no lights at all.

Once past our 38 degree marker we headed up towards Plymouth, finally sighting the Lizard light some time after the wind had died and we had put on the engine. We saw lots of dolphins on our trip, and Jon spotted a whale close by while Frank and I were both below, but we all spotted a broaching whale south of Flamouth on that last day motoring towards Plymouth!

We negotiated the Eddystone Light and fiound our way into Plymouth harbour, passing Sue and David's new flat on the way, and tied up safely in Mayflower Marina at 11pm on the 15th. What a trip, over 900 miles in 8 days of sailing! A tot of Lord Nelson's special rum to celebrate, and Jon headed off home! Safe in harbour, what a feeling!

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10/09/2009

Frank and I left Lagos at 6am Tuesday morning, and arrived here in La Corunna this morning at 11am, after three days and nights of sailing, plus five hours for luck! We had the best wind for the first half of the journey, and covered 250 miles under sail, then the engine went on and stayed on for 37 hours. 453 miles in all! We only had one dodgy moment, off Lisbon, when we were surrounded by loud wet and flashing thunderstorms. Frank reefed quickly while I helmed, and all was again under control!

We are taking a couple of days R and R here until John, the third crew member, addives tomorrow night. Then we are probably off early on Sunday morning, weather permitting, for the second hop top Plymouth.

My only comment is that this is a sharp reminder of how much colder the north is than the south, especially when sailing! Full thermals, oilies, fleece and fleece hat! Lovely!

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