Day 87

Another early start at 04:50am to catch the tide through Hurst.  14 miles.  Arrived 08:40am.  

The IOW ferries decided to pass each other at the narrowest part of the Lymington entrance which made it a bit tight.  10+ knots through Hurst.  Wind was W then N then E then S,

Safely moored up on our home pontoon M30 after 87 days away (3 months).

Full travel statistics will be available when the skipper has had a sleep and shower!

Day 86

Day 86 Dartmouth to Studland

An early start, leaving Dartmouth at 5:05. Navigated using the leading lights out past the castle and then past the cardinals marking the Mew Stone and Shag Rock.

77 miles to cover which took 14 hrs.  We arrived with the tide and a brisk NW wind.  We had the Cruising Shute up for the first half of the journey, then a down wind stretch before a final blast along Swanage bay.  Anchored in Studland.  A quiet night after a long hot and sunny day.

Sunrise over the Mew Stone leaving Dartmouth

Paul on the helm

Passing Yacht

Day 85

Day 85 Day off in Dartmouth

Called the water taxi to take us ashore from Deep Water Pontoon 3 to the Double Steps on the town quay.  

Walked to Dartmouth Castle and along the SW coast path.  Took a pleasure boat up to Greenbank opposite Dittisham.  Showers courtesy of the Dartmouth sailing club £2 for 5 mins.  Paul found one for 20p behind the public conveniences.  He explored Kingwear, Dittisham and back to Dartmouth.

All restaurants closed on Mondays!

The chain ferry by our Pontoon

Tenacious leaving Dartmouth 

View of the entrance to Dartmouth with the Day Shape on the hill and the Mew Stone

Day 83 - 84

Day 83 

Was spent exploring Plymouth.  Paul ran of the South West Coast path from the yacht haven on Mont Batten to the River Yealm.  Chris and Nick caught the ferry and crossed to Cornwall and explored the Mount Edgcumbe estate gardens.  Cornish pasties were sampled.  The ferry called in at King William Yard and Drake island.

Day 84 Plymouth to Dartmouth, Sunday 24 July

A late start leaving Plymouth at 08:50 after a leisurely breakfast and shower.  The predicted SW wind turned out to be a Southerly so we had to tack out of Plymouth Sound, passing the Mew stone safely.  No pictures as the waves were high with breaking tops.

Ended up with a S backing SW F4 - 5.  Average speed over 42 miles was 5.9 knots through the water.  A lively sail taking 7 hours.  We did the last two hours with just the jib, arriving in Dartmouth at 4pm.  

Tenacious a 3 masted barque, used as a training ship, followed us in and a pod of dolphins escorted us.

The marina was full so we were fortunate to see someone about to leave one of the 3 mid river pontoons near the chain ferry.  We nipped in as they left.  No facilities but we are safely tied up.

Drakes Island Plymouth from the Mount Edgcumbe Estate Cornish side of the bay

King William Yard Plymouth

Plymouth Hoe from the ferry

Day 80 - 82

Day 81

Rest day.

Day 82

A sunny day, no wind at first so left Falmouth at 7:40 from a tight berth.  Passed traditional sailing boats and many moored boats on the way out.  Wind NNW F3 to 4.  Sailed a straight course on a beam reach.  Passed St Anthony’s Head and Dodmen Head.  Saw the Eddystone lighthouse as a tower out to sea.  41 nm with average speed of 5.7 knots.  Arrived 14.55 at Plymouth
as the PO ferry was heading out.  A large number of other sailing boats were out and about as well as the usual fishing boats.  A glorious day of sailing. 

Day 77 - 78 - 79

We departed Dublin at 5.50 am and set off for Falmouth.  Our navigation suggested the trip to be around 250 miles, taking 2 and a half days arriving around midday on day 3.  

Day 77. We travelled in good sailing winds down the East Coast of Ireland.  Unfortunately the wind direction was not too helpful, meaning we had to tack and motor a bit.  This adds to the mileage and time.

Day 78.  We crossed into the middle of St George’s channel and made good time with winds largely helpful and at some times exceeding 8 knots for sustained time.  Ended the day at the top of the Bristol Channel.

Day 79.  A good run across the Bristol Channel positioned us well in the early hours to get round Lands End.  Weather mixed with a strong wind warning of F6 Cyclonic (means it spins round quickly in an anti clockwise direction).  By the morning conditions had been tricky through the night and got worse as we approached The Lizard.  We witnessed the power of a Thunderstorm at sea with forked and sheet lightning and very loud thunder as it was directly overhead.  Wind got to gusting F8.  

We arrived in Falmouth at 1.00 pm having travelled 273 miles, pretty close to our original estimate.

The Scotsman left the boat to be replaced again by Chris to complete the cruise back to Lymington.

Leaving Dublin

Nick checks out the sunset over Southern Ireland

Arriving Falmouth

Day 76

Our last day in Dublin before a long two day sail to Falmouth.  So shopping, cleaning and washing clothes and the boat were the order of the day.  Andy also departed the boat to Dublin Airport to fly back to Stanstead.

Been very impressed with the way this marina is utilised for lots of activities.  There is a day summer sailing school for various ages.  The younger ones get towed past us regularly in Oppies learning how to steer by tiller.  Presumably they will get their sails soon and be dinghy racing by the end of their holidays.

The older kids are racing small dinghies around and various others are paddle boarding.  The marina is huge with loads of sheltered open water, so very safe and little risk of collision.

The Wetherspoons Bar is also worth a mention, the outside area is outstanding and the high bar wouldn’t look out of place in the Med.

Wetherspoons

Marina enterance

Bye Andy