Never Can Tell

Vessel Name: Never Can Tell
Vessel Make/Model: Southerly
Crew: Paul and Justin
About: Both recently retired
Extra: We over half way round the uk now!
Recent Blog Posts
03 September 2018 | The Beaulieu River

Last Post!

Our last day! Woke early to another beautiful sunrise over a mirror-like sea, but didn’t leave till around 10:00 in order to get the tide right past the needles , arriving home to the Beaulieu around 2:30pm ..... it was maybe our hottest day at sea of the entire trip, barely a breath of wind, blue [...]

02 September 2018 | Swanage

Penultimate Dawn

Quietly slipped our moorings at soon after 5:00am, still dark, mirror-like water and not a breath. Just after the most beautiful sunrise (see picture), Paul, feeling a little dozey due to our early start, was startled awake by a little porpoise jumping fully out of the water right next to the boat, [...]

01 September 2018 | Dartmouth

Fireworks in Dartmouth

Sailing in tandem with Truant, we set off for Dartmouth around 9:00am ( see photo of Truant leaving Salcombe river). Shortly after that photo was taken, I nearly ran over 3 fisherman in a small dinghy. I just didn’t see them and it was scary reminder of how easily accidents can happen when not concentrating [...]

31 August 2018 | Salcombe

Goodbye Browns, Hello Truant

The Browns left us around midday, claiming to have enjoyed their foray into the nautical world, despite the constant (but typical) abuse coming from Pauls direction and the fact that Milla called Angus “Justin” the entire time. The more I tried not to, the more it just happened.

30 August 2018 | Salcombe

At anchor in Sunny Salcombe

Yesterday’s wind had sadly left us, so we had a quiet motor sail round to Salcombe, accompanied by the odd lazy dolphin here and there. As always, Salcombe was a hive of nautical activity. We anchored just opposite the town, on the East side of the river and sat and had lunch, just watching it all [...]

29 August 2018 | The Yelm River

A Lively Sail with an expert helmsman

After a leisurely breakfast, we set sail for the Yelm River. It was a strong force 4 to 5, gusting 6 occasionally, with a relatively flat sea and the wind on our aft quarter. We zoomed along and got there so fast that Angus felt he had not had enough excitement for the day, so we turned around and sailed back in the opposite direction for a bit so that they could experience the difference between sailing with the wind on your nose and the wind behind you. A lovely sunny evening in the scenic beauty of the river Yelm.

Last Post!

03 September 2018 | The Beaulieu River
CP Very hot and sunny
Our last day! Woke early to another beautiful sunrise over a mirror-like sea, but didn’t leave till around 10:00 in order to get the tide right past the needles , arriving home to the Beaulieu around 2:30pm ..... it was maybe our hottest day at sea of the entire trip, barely a breath of wind, blue skies and hot sunshine. It was quite nostalgic being back in our familiar stretch of water. As soon as we docked,Milla jumped on the Brompton to cycle back to Brock to pick up the car, whilst Paul cleaned and tidied the boat.

So that’s it, last post. It’s been an amazing 4 months and we are so grateful to God for a wonderful experience, and for safety, overwhelmed again and again as we have been by the beauty and wonder of His creation.


Onward and upward ....... We are moving house tomorrow!

Penultimate Dawn

02 September 2018 | Swanage
CP Sunny
Quietly slipped our moorings at soon after 5:00am, still dark, mirror-like water and not a breath. Just after the most beautiful sunrise (see picture), Paul, feeling a little dozey due to our early start, was startled awake by a little porpoise jumping fully out of the water right next to the boat, almost landing in the cockpit. The wind gradually built to a pleasant force 4 and we zoomed around Portland Bill at nearly 8 knots helped along by the strong tide.

Then the wind dropped and the tide turned and we struggled slowly up to Pevril Point to pick up a mooring buoy in Swanage bay at around 6pm. Yet another beautiful sunny evening. Too tired to go ashore this time, but promising to come back soon.

Fireworks in Dartmouth

01 September 2018 | Dartmouth
CP Sunny again
Sailing in tandem with Truant, we set off for Dartmouth around 9:00am ( see photo of Truant leaving Salcombe river). Shortly after that photo was taken, I nearly ran over 3 fisherman in a small dinghy. I just didn’t see them and it was scary reminder of how easily accidents can happen when not concentrating on the job in hand ....... ie steering the boat.

Winds were again light and the pressure was on from the start due to the scheduled Liverpool kickoff at 12:30pm that it was, of course, imperative that we (?) not miss. A little cheating aside (ie putting the engine on while pretending to Truant we were still sailing), we managed to get him safely to the pub on time ..... we even went so far as to fly the cruising chute for a while.

We arrived in the river Dart on the final day of their regatta and it was ALL happening ..... sailing races, steam boat rallies, paddle board races, RNLI demonstrations, Newfoundland dog rescue demos, jet shoe demos, and a lovely river display of classic old boats, all topped off by an impressive firework display at 9pm. A real party atmosphere. We even managed to fit in a quick walk and a last swim of the trip. The water is really quite warm now.

It was also great to share a sundowner (or two) with Roland and Leontine, a Dutch couple who are also circumnavigating the U.K. and who Paul/we have met on and off several times over the past 3 months. They have promised to give us a call when they reach Lymington.

NB Disciplined Paul did not partake in the sundowners as he has decided to address our growing alcoholic tendencies by going cold turkey for September (today is 1st Sept). Undisciplined Milla has decided to think about it we get home!

Goodbye Browns, Hello Truant

31 August 2018 | Salcombe
CP still sunny!
The Browns left us around midday, claiming to have enjoyed their foray into the nautical world, despite the constant (but typical) abuse coming from Pauls direction and the fact that Milla called Angus “Justin” the entire time. The more I tried not to, the more it just happened.

We just had a couple of hours to get on with such jobs as filling up with water and fuel, food shopping (as one might expect, there is no Lidl in Salcombe) etc, before Milla’s brother Toby and son, Rory, arrived in their beautiful new Bowman 40, Truant. We rafted up on a buoy together and had a lovely evening catching up, talking boats, recounting past sailing adventures etc.

At anchor in Sunny Salcombe

30 August 2018 | Salcombe
CP
Yesterday’s wind had sadly left us, so we had a quiet motor sail round to Salcombe, accompanied by the odd lazy dolphin here and there. As always, Salcombe was a hive of nautical activity. We anchored just opposite the town, on the East side of the river and sat and had lunch, just watching it all happen around us. Beautiful sunny walk around the headland in the afternoon.

A Lively Sail with an expert helmsman

29 August 2018 | The Yelm River
CP
After a leisurely breakfast, we set sail for the Yelm River. It was a strong force 4 to 5, gusting 6 occasionally, with a relatively flat sea and the wind on our aft quarter. We zoomed along and got there so fast that Angus felt he had not had enough excitement for the day, so we turned around and sailed back in the opposite direction for a bit so that they could experience the difference between sailing with the wind on your nose and the wind behind you. A lovely sunny evening in the scenic beauty of the river Yelm.

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