OMG today is the day we leave QAB
All that planning and preparation is done although we haven't quite done all the jobs we wanted to. Thanks to Andy who has spent the last 3 and a half days sorting all the electrics. We now have our solar panels wind generator and sat phone all connected and functioning. This is the state we were in the day before departure!
Woke to a lovely sunny morning and left QAB via the fuel barge.Dinner last night at Rockfish with skippers and crew of Firestorm, Seaborne and Brainwave after a frantic day of loading stowing and vitalling.
Gentle motor to Cawsand with bacon butties en route. Anchored by Firestorm and deployed the secret weapon ie furling cruising chute. Weighed anchor at 10.15 then motor sailing with our friends in the sunshine. Hopefully cruising chute will be utilised after Start Point.
Firestorm - Walter Douie, Tim Wheatley, Matthew Cramp and Julian.
Seaborne - Jonathan and Sarah Unsworth White and Chris Burrell
Brainwave - Peter and Juliette Whitfield, Mac Armstrong and Stuart Weatherby.
Hurrah cruising chute easily unfurled and sailing beautifully. Seaborne and Firestorm took advantage of light winds and went ahead and we just stayed ahead of Brainstorm and hurtled in towards the Dart.
Moored at Dittisham rafted to Firestorm. I took 2 attempts to get alongside as reversed too much on first attempt. Time for tea and socials as Seaborne crew arrived for a good nosy around and chat. Soon followed by Brainstorm as well. Quick brush up, roast lamb plus red currant jus and the a run ashore with Firestorm providing water taxi services.
Couple of pints in the pub with all assembled and in jolly good form. I think the trip back was uneventful!
Ready for France this morning. Sun shining and NW wind forecast so off we go. This time it really is goodbye and we were waved off by Firestorm and Seaborne.
Once out of the Dart we set a course towards the Chanel du Four and our first bit of excitement was a horrendous confused sea off Start Point. A bit different to yesterday. We battled thro that then continued with a good F 5 and quite a large sea swell. Too much for us to do bacon butties so waited till lunch of pate. I had a snooze after lunch and the afternoon and evening were a bit more manageable. Alex had concocted a pork and lentil casserole while I was sleeping which we had with baked potatoes. The wind was now a steady 3-4 so Alex went for his kip. We decided to go to L'Aberwrach as we would get to the Chanel du Four 2-3 hours too early and it was quite chilly.
We made excellent progress and averaged over 7 knots and soon saw the lights of France with the Ile de Vierge lighthouse. Alex emerged and we sailed towards the light of the Libenter and then followed the leading lights in past the Pot du Beurre. Visibility wasn't brilliant at the Marina so we hastily moored on the outside of the visitors pontoon and sorted out the lines despite the lack of proper cleats. So tucked up and we've made it to France after yet another interesting Channel crossing. I won't miss doing that for a while!
Day 5
L'Aberwrach
Too windy to go anywhere so cleaning tidying eating and drinking!
Not a bad life.
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