Difran 2 Baltic Cruise 2014

It is now july 2018. The last two years have been difficult for my own physical being also the sailing of Difran 2.
2017 we set out for France and the channel isles made it Cherbourg and down the isles to Jersey very hot and I found the stay in Jersey not to my comfort following the distress of a knee operation failure. Three hospitals have now refused on the basis of an ECG which seems to give me a flutering Heart.
So returned to Guersey on To Alderney and homke to the beaulieu River.
The winter proved better when we had dinner is the Coast and sang Monday's in the Cowes Ale house, taking berth at Shepards warf.
The new wood dinghy proved to be a total disaster very Unstable so returned home was cut to pieces and rebuilt. My First Disaster!!! in Boat building????
We are now at home rebuilding but Temperature at 30Deg is not good for Epoxy work.

We have ventured out in Difran down to Brixham in May. Poole in June but the winds have been F2/F3 in June/ july.
Sunday 29th July we Try again if all else fails we will sing in the Cowes Ale House.
At Beaulieu Wendy our New Harbour Master has set up Pop Up Restaurents in July with Live music this was great. So please Wendy some more.

An old boat builder Difran 2
Ketch yawl lighter
Bryan T Difran 2

Hi,
Following 2016 disaterous season Difran 2's engine has been rebuilt major work carried out through the winter to put the boat back in good order.

I wish I could say the same for the skipper. I was to have a knee replacement in November 2016 until the anethetist had a panic on seeing my ECG sent to a cardiologist who has vanished. The report not forthcomming, I complained eventually to see my doctor 2 months later to start the process again.

But other's are worse off than me, Difran 2 serviced, painted. much admired is back in the Beaulieu River has been out on shake down cruise few points sorted and Planned First cruise To Honfleur 7th May.

Original Crew Mars and Josh have signed on and our Mates on Boudica from the Baltic 2014 trip are up and running, So we look forward to 2017 to be a great year. more later

It all started so well Sailed out from the Solent Tuesday 17th May. Into Brighton VHF reply have you read Notice to Mariners 'we have 1.5 m silt what draft are you? managed to get in and find the berth. Wednesday poored with rain Thursday went to go silt caused late departure late at Dungness, late into Dover. day of rest departed for Ramsgate nice day sail Sunny weather.
Set out to cross the Thames sands up through Fishermans Gat engine started its old problems thought I had cured.Eventually arrived at Medusa Channel to Anchor. Rest and depart 0100 sailed into light NE for 6 hours anchor again at Minsmere.
Set out for final leg NE wind increased wind over tide very rough struggle into Lowestoft. I was knackered Paul fed up and ready to depart as the struggle to get North up the east Coast was more than a summer cruise. Into RN&SYC Mars joined us for dinner ashore when Decisions were for Paul to Depart Mars and I to Abandon and head South. A combination Of My Knee, Engine and weather. Said Goodby to Paul on the train, went to Oulton Broad for some gasket material as lift pump was leaking oil.Returned Cut new Gasket solved one problem. Waited three dayshad discussion with Ken and Mary Endean about what else 'Weather'. A bit of sun we headed south. passing the Ore entrance on a suitable tide over the bar we had a nice sail to Orford picked up a buoy. Next day other side of havergate Isle slow cruise to cross the Bar on a rising tide to enter the Orwell up to Pin Mill and a stop in Levington Marina. South going tide set out for Chatham through the Thames Sands, Delayed at Thames No 1 Buoy Crossing big ships late into the Medway Struggled for 8/10 miles with engine on low revs. Finally locked in.
Day of rest planned. visit Royal Dockyard.
Great my knee finally gave out great pain difficult to walk. Rest the next day Mars had a look at chatham town 'not Impressed' forecast days of 5-7 gale 8 so took train home, One to Abingdon me to the new Forest. And hear we stayed for a week. Returned on Thursday. Locked out 0500 Friday only made it to Tanquerton Bay to Anchor. Sailed Slow and Cold to Ramsgate, day or two of rest Sailed Slow and cold to Dover. Here we met with a bit of luck when Dover Control asked us to Enter East Entry under control Advised No Engine we were nursed in to sail to the inner Harbour a little engine 8 minutes was all we could get before 120 Deg's and cut. Straight in I think Dover Mariner had been listening to our plight. On a reasonably fine day Wind wrong Direction we set out, Struggled to round Dungness eased away on Port tack to Run foul of the range firing. Acompanied south to clear slowly west, At royal Soveriegn in the early morning great sunrise soon to cloud and go cold again struggle with no wind and a drift with the tide. Soon to make better progress untill Selsey Bill tide against Anchored at Bognor Rocks very Rolly. Next day no wind Fog wet and cold but we managed to drift South ish then west saw an opertunity so Engine on reached Pullar. Down came the heavens but steady progress to West Pole then on to the gap inside Horse Sand fort, could not make it so headed for St Helens rounded to north and cleared No Mans Fort held course for City of Chichester incomming went to Starboard tack it was obvious we would not make Osborne Bay that evening. I went below for a rest Mars had sailed North to Hill head and suddenly we had wind to storm across to Osborne Bay to Anchor at 22.00. Next morning some wind so up anchor headed north across the east going tide but on tacking founf we only made it back to where we had departed. Mars say we have to head west I suggested he take the helm after a few moments he say's let head up the north channel so we tacked up to Hill Head and suprise suprise the tide was more favourable and we made steady progress to Lepe Spit Buoy. I primed the engine more Salt water as we had run out of fresh stuff, a little engine and a prayer we made it to turn and run along to the Beaulieu Moorings further Priming with salt water and we made it to pick up my mooring. The most Stressfull month of my Sailing years If My crew said never again in Difran 2 I would not be surprised But I believe they are made of tuffer stuff. I now have to Sort the engine My experience tells me a Cracked head/Block or Gasket blown. But on reflection the east coast rivers having watched Dylan Winter's Keepturningleft are absolutely delightfull. So would I go again? Yes but the weather needs sorting plus my Engine it is now possibly 60 years old and I do not consider myself the best Engineer. But we sailed a heavy displacement boat 600 miles as the sailors of old, without engine.

Regards to all who read
Bryan T Difran 2

Departed Beaulieu Tuesday morning around 09.00. great day pleasant sail cleared Selsey heading for Brighton, on entry had discussion with HM about silting and depth. All ok, next day wind and rain so stayed put. early departure prevented by low water got out then struggled with tides at Dungness rough sea and wind made it late into Dover. These long late runs are putting paul off so we did a short run to Ramsgate nice day. NE wind now set in so took a break. Set out into light wing going lighter still till at Fishermans Gat tide against and the engine problem show once again who is boss.
Could not get to Harwich so anchored at Medusa for four hours. Up anchor at 0100 headed North anchor again at Minsmere. Then Wind over tide engine overheating struggled on Monday to Get into Lowestoft.
Finally made it and met up with Mars.
Somwhere along the roar I have re-agravated an old Knee problem and was finding great dfficulty also a great deal of pain through the nights.
Paul had had enough so we saw him off on the train and Mars and I sat out a few day with two other boats heading North. After 2/3 days I had had enough forcast F5-7 gale 8 so decieded to abandon always another day sort the engine and my knee. Then had a pleasant sail south to the ore tide was just right so crossed the bar and sailed uo to Orford to pick up a buoy. Down again next day and up to Pin mill. Stop in Sufolk Marina overnight, sailed south to Chatham. Once again 3 days F5-7 gale 8 so took train Home. One week later knee has improved with rest and treatment so will depart Chatham 05.00 Friday for Home.

So here we are May 14th all is nearly ready Mars joins me to shift Difran 2 onto the pontoon at Bucklers, Paul joins on Monday and we are off Tuesday 17th May, Brighton, Dover, Chatham, Shotley, Lowestoft.
Mars Joins for the long trip to Whitby or Scarborough. Paul will have had enough of old men by then. So we sail on to be in Inverness by the 14th June.
Somwhere along the way we may catch up with Sweetsurrender a beautiful wood build boat from a very nice man on the river Crouch.
Inverness on the 14th June my daughter Fran joins for the trip down the Caledonian canal Mars has gone home but comes back for what we hope will be a great summer in the Scottish Isles.

As I get older the winters seem of late to be cold wet and very windy. On the Beaulieu river we had three yachts blown ashore seemingly missing all other moored craft, Difran 2 had a few problems damage to Boom tent and Spray hood, all mended now. There have been two or three days when one i#was able to work on board but cold in the wind.
We had a good meet in Yarmouth end of December only to I had Shorted the Batteries so sailed up to Bucklers for a night on the pontoon Ferry to Yarmouth sail for two days. Sail again Easter Tuesday, Yarmouth, Poole. Great sail Back Looe Channel and North Buoy to Hurst Narrows. Mars and Josh With me.
So the Planning is more or less complete for 2016 Cruise Round UK, Paul will join me for the South and East Coast Mars possibly Sam on the east Coast. Then great Joy For me My daughter Fran has elected to sail down the Caledonian Canal from Inverness. I'm personally looking forward to some time in The Clyde, then it will be onto Ireland the Scilly Isles and home sometime in August, all being well?