Talora Chasing Tides

Vessel Name: Talora
Vessel Make/Model: Sadler 29 Deluxe!
Hailing Port: Shotley Marina England
Crew: Ray and Mary Nash
01 September 2017
31 August 2017 | Shotley, Ipswich
28 August 2017 | Eastbourne
28 August 2017 | Brighton Marina
28 August 2017 | Haslar Marina, Portsmouth
23 August 2017 | Cowes, Isle of Wight
22 August 2017 | Weymouth
14 August 2017 | Padstow
14 August 2017 | Padstow
08 August 2017 | Dale a Bay, Milford Haven
28 July 2017 | Ardglass
28 July 2017 | Ardglass
28 July 2017 | Bangor
28 July 2017 | Bangor
27 July 2017 | Ballycastle
27 July 2017 | Ballycastle, Northern Ireland
Recent Blog Posts
01 September 2017

Home and Together again

It's been a long three months and we missed the dogs dreadfully. Robyn, Ethan and Josh, between them, did a marvellous job of looking after the house and dogs which meant we did not need to worry about them......thanks guys!

31 August 2017 | Shotley, Ipswich

Coming home

We were so excited to get into the lock at Shotley, our home port. Our adventure almost over. This photo was taken by Dad.

30 August 2017 | Shotley

Leg 38 Ramsgate to Shotley, finally home!

So, at 1430 yesterday afternoon we make it into the lock at Shotley to a very noisy reception as the lock keeper let off the siren to signal our arrival, fantastic! My Mum and Dad surprised us by being at the lock to greet us, perfect, as did Brian, our Day Skipper Instructor, and his wife Ann. I had [...]

28 August 2017 | Ramsgate

Leg 37 Eastbourne to Dover which turned out to be Ramsgate!

Sunday 27th August and yet another glorious day. Steve and Hailey had left at 6am to go south back to Cowes. We left the berth at 7.30am to enter the Eastbourne lock at 8am. It was busy. We were in the lock with 9 other boat!

28 August 2017 | Eastbourne

Leg 36 Brighton to Eastbourne

Got up early leaving the boys in bed to nip to the supermarket to stock up on provisions. After a bacon butty breakfast, we said goodbye to Josh at the bus stop; he was heading back to Norwich on the train. We would have loved to have him with us for longer but we're grateful he had made the effort [...]

28 August 2017 | Brighton Marina

Leg 35 Portsmouth to Brighton

We woke up at 5.30am to the most beautiful sunshine over Portsmouth. It was going to be a lovely day. With Josh on board, it was lovely to have his company and with a very slight sea it was the perfect trip. Before we left the harbour we took one last trip past the Queen Elizabeth. Leaving the harbour, [...]

Leg 38 Ramsgate to Shotley, finally home!

30 August 2017 | Shotley
So, at 1430 yesterday afternoon we make it into the lock at Shotley to a very noisy reception as the lock keeper let off the siren to signal our arrival, fantastic! My Mum and Dad surprised us by being at the lock to greet us, perfect, as did Brian, our Day Skipper Instructor, and his wife Ann. I had carried a small bottle of champagne all the way round with the intention of letting it off in the lock. How disappointed was I to find a screw cap rather than a cork when I peeled back the foil, no victory pop for Us! On seeing my disappointment with the champagne, Brian produced a big bottle of the proper stuff and handed it over to us in the lock, brilliant! Last night as we sat having a congratulatory meal with Mum and Dad, Ray took a suspicious phone call from Robyn. He turned to me and said "That was a weird call from Robyn, I think there might turn up here" and with that Robyn, Josh and Ethan walked into the restaurant, the perfect end to a perfect day!
Our final leg from Ramsgate had started at 6am with the most amazing sunrise of the whole trip. We had sailed through a wind farm and over the sand banks across the Thames estuary dodging the large ships. At times the visability had reduced and through the hazy sunshine we struggled to see Felixstowe and, when we did, it seemed to take hours to reach it. As we approached Felixstowe we discussed our feelings of excitement at coming home, our relief at having made it in one piece, and some sadness that our adventure was coming to an end.
Although this blog has been a pain at times because of the lack of internet in many of the locations we visited, it has been a fabulous way to update you all on our progress, thoughts and feelings on the way, and as a record of each leg. Thank you to all of you for watching our blog and sticking with us. Your comments and support have been there when we needed it most. You have been truly amazing!!
Ray, me and Talora have certainly been a formidable team. Talora has taken the trip in her stride and kept us safe in some big and dangerous seas. Ray is my hero! He has, in my opinion, saved my life on at least 4 occasions on this trip; firstly when he put out the fire off Amble and had no choice but to call the lifeboat; secondly when the engine would not start off Eyemouth and had the knowledge to get it started whilst at sea; thirdly in the big seas off Padstow when I was utterly terrified; and finally in the big following sea between Plymouth and Dartmouth when, incidentally I forgot to mention earlier that the sea was so rough the cooker came off its gimble!
So, after 90 days away from home, 38 legs, 10 islands and 5 countries visited, 8 nights spent at anchor, 1 fire and a flood, 1 leaky engine pipe, a new alternator and starter motor, 1 brush with a lifeboat, 1 big Canal, amazing scenery, sun rises and sun sets, 2 night sails, sailing with lots of dolphins, having crossed all the major shipping lanes around the country, sailing the deepest waters in the U.K., meeting some wonderful people and travelling 1600 miles, our adventure has come to an end......... for now!
Photo is our final sun rise off Ramsgate.
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