My furling mainsail problem has been sorted and will get a full service when the standing rigging is replaced in the winter.
We have had a few day trips then an “escape regatta” trip.
Phil and Jas came to stay in Dartmouth and we headed out for a day sail. We dropped the anchor near Blackpool Sands and, trying to ignore the nudists on the nearby beach, had a relaxing lunch on board in the sunshine. Deb & Steve were next on board for a short trip out into Start Bay but cut short as there was a very sloppy and uncomfortable sea. Charlotte & Ash also visited. We motored up to Babbacombe and dropped the anchor for lunch and for Ash to brave the cold water for a swim. The wind picked up and we had a lovely sail, Charlotte and Ash doing well on the helm. The wind was, of course, on the nose so we motor-sailed part of the way back to Dartmouth after a lovely day out.
M&N decided to give Dartmouth Regatta a miss. We headed out to Salcombe and moored on the visitor’s pontoon in the Bag after a windy sail in big seas. Next day we left Salcombe with big waves over the Bar and entrance and had a really nice sail across Bigbury Bay to Plymouth Yacht Haven in Mountbatten. We stayed there a couple of nights while strong winds and some rain went through. M&N used the ferry to cross to the Plymouth Barbican.
Sunday was still quite windy but forecast to calm down overnight so we headed to Cawsand and anchored. Shortly after going to bed M&N heard a very strange whirring and clicking noise coming from somewhere in the boat. They checked everything including lifting the planks to the bilges but no sign of anything amiss. The noise stopped after a while. The next morning, just starting our passage back to Salcombe, we saw the culprit for the noise. A submarine was being escorted into Devonport dockyard and M&N realised that the noise had been the submarine pinging us with their sonar!
We arrived in Salcombe and picked up a mooring buoy off the town. M&N took a water taxi to the shore and had a pleasant surprise that the mooring rates drop by 25% in September. M&N had a nice walk then a lazy evening in the cockpit enjoying the sunshine. Next day we had a lovely morning tide and following wind for an excellent and fast trip back to Dartmouth. M&N hosed and cleaned me and left me ready for our next trip.
Katrina
xx