Alright me luvvers!
After a month on the Dartmouth town quay I spent 6 months at Darthaven Marina on the other side of the river Dart. It is a nice marina with good facilities and friendly staff. I had a few jobs done over the winter including some new running rigging and, importantly, new sails. We went out into Start Bay for a brief trip with Jon, Linda and Ezzie (their border terrier) and were able to try out the new sails in gentle conditions. Fantastic having the furling mainsail running in and out smoothly and easily and not jamming!
There is a waiting list for a permanent berth at Darthaven. M&N didn’t want to pay the very high price for Dart Marina so I am now back in Brixham which is a nice marina and I am well looked after. We were there for part of the pirate festival which included the arrival of a Spanish galleon to shoot cannons at the Golden Hind replica which is resident in Brixham harbour.
We have done a little bit of local sailing. We were going for a quick trip to Salcombe but the wind really picked up and (of course) on the nose with a big sea so we went into the Dart instead and spent a lovely night off Dittisham. We had a porpoise to greet us as we left Brixham and several dolphins playing with us on the journey back. Lots of gannets and guillemots too as well as the usual hordes of incontinent gulls.
We also had a nice overnight on the anchor at Babbacombe Bay, a day trip to Babbacombe with Jon, Linda and Ezzie and another night in the Dart.
M&N are hoping that we can venture further afield soon, possibilities including across the Channel and coast-hopping west.
Fingers crossed (do sail boats have fingers other than on the pontoon?) for good weather and fair winds for the summer.
Katrina
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