I am back in my home berth in Brixham again after a week holed up at QAB marina in Plymouth while storms Helene, Ali and Bronagh blew through.
After the noisy and bumpy first night at QAB with Helene blowing, M&N did jobs including deflating, cleaning and stowing Annie (the dinghy). They had a nice but windy walk around the shore to the Barbican and Plymouth Hoe. The next day M&N walked to Saltram House, a National Trust property, enjoying the lovely house and grounds (and the lunch at the café was pretty good too).
It was clear that the storms were continuing for several more days so M&N decided to go home for a few days and leave me in the very capable hands of the QAB marina staff. Mike F picked them up and took them back to Dartmouth where they were able to catch up on jobs at home. Sarah brought them back on Sunday. It was still blowing and drizzly but the forecast was good. M&N went to the cinema to see King of Thieves, based on the true story of the “oldies” who robbed a diamond vault in Hatton Gardens.
On Monday morning the sun was shining and the wind had dropped. The timing of the tides wasn’t great but we decided to go anyway as the timings were not getting any better over the next couple of days to head east. The wind had (of course!) moved easterly around onto the nose but we had a very pleasant motor sail with lovely light on the cliffs and beaches of the South Devon coast. As the sea was slight we took the inside passage around Start Point. It was lumpy but ok and the tide turned earlier in our favour than if we had stayed out wide. We arrived in Brixham around 17:45 and M&N tidied me up before a late gin o’clock and dinner.
On Tuesday M&N cleaned me and took off a lot of clothes and other kit that had been on board for the summer. The season isn’t over yet (hopefully) but longer distance cruising has finished for this year and we will just stay local.
Another update to come before the season finishes.
Katrina
xx