Not long til our grand voyage

What a rubbish couple of swailing weeks since Easter. Weather not grand and no nautical miles undertaken but its given das captain the opportunity to fine tune das bot. I cant believe our grand trip is almost upon us. The AIS finally arrvied and has been fitted............das captain looked like the cat that had the cream last night as he was playing around with his new gizzmondo. Today was spent chilling well for me anyway, das capatain contiuned to plot the way pints into the chart plotter, GPS and charts. I was knackered, our neighbours two boats up did not return quietly last night from their grand voyage and had been awake from their noisy arrival at 0300.........a snooze for me this afternoon after a quick trip out into town.

So two weeks to go and counting.............list city now........check, tick , check, tick.  I am so excited but also have aprehension, you never no what the sea and elements will throw at you but thats what lifes great adventures are all about.

Halyards are clinking around us

What a difference a week makes.....last wk glorious sunshine...this weekend gale force winds and lashings of rain. We were gutted as my aunt and uncle were coming down for a much longed trip...postponement happened thursday night as we knew there would be no swailing this weekend.

Came down yesterday to lashings of rain....too wet initially to make the run down the pontoon with all the gear so had a late lunch in Jolly Jacks. A mildly uncomfortable night as the wind picked up....clink clink...was glad of morning and went of the showers in wind that was still blowing.

Have spent the day...well das captain has fitting the new arid for the AIS which we hope will arrive ASAP....the world is short at the mo but it would be the icing on the cake for our grand voyage as would give some additional comfort in addition to the radar as too who is actually who and how far away they r from das bot as I am on watch overnight when we do the initial long haul element of our grand voyage.

Tomorrow is spent doing more boat chores......down the stern locker I go to give it a spring clean....das captain will be fine tuning the rigging as for tonight after a swooper quorn chilli con carne cooked by the good galley wife that I am we went for a few drinks @ jolly jacks where they were celebrating a yr of being open..missed the great event das captain and his parents saw a seal pop up to say hello in the Marina.......he had been chasing the large bass that I had seen moments earlier.

So the forecast tonight at least an eight.....our halyards are tight and fastened.....not the same all around us......
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Location:Mayflower Marina

The stars of the Yealm

Sat out on deck after a fab day, das captain is in bed as is Eleanor. Piers aka captain barbossa is telling a night time story to George......full pirates of the carribean style... I can hear them giggling.

As for me.....just watching the stars...they r just amazing tonight and shining so brightly..it doesn't get better than this x



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Location:River Yealm

Stunning Day

What a fabulous day we have had and it's not over yet. Set off from Fowey this morning in a force 5/6,chilly across the water and the main reefed. Not long and the water flattened out, sun came out and wind dropped to a favourable 3/4. It was stunning, kids donned their swim suits and requested a bow seat, so up we went. Legs dangling and singing our call to the dolphins we had a blast at the front of das bot. Not a dolphin in sight, to be fair I think we scared them with our screeching, but the water was twinkling so brightly we didn't have a care in the world.

Time flew by, lunch aboard assisted by by my niece, the Yealm came upon us, both kids took the helm without causing a mutiny and steered us in. The bluebells are out now so the entrance looks truly stunning. We r moored up on the visitors pontoon, where the kids have spent the afternoon crabbing for England. A total of sixteen caught.....good old m and s bacon. Bring it on tomorrow they are saying the fishing chart competition is well and truly on!

We are now sat at the Dolphin, lovely walk along the path to Newton Ferrers playing cards, still in glorious sunshine. Looking forward to supper and the dingy ride back @ sunset....and looking forward to spending the day at the beach tomorrow. Bliss.....

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Location:River Yealm

Early Mornings

I love waking up on das bot! There is something always quite magical about it no matter where u r. Today is no exception.....it's so quiet, the sunrise was beautiful and I have been watching the fog lift across the sound. A few odd boats have gone by sending a gentle swell across the Marina and over the last hr the world around me is beginning to stir.

Das captain is still snoozing and I am about to go and get ship shaped and ready to go as in the next few hrs the peace and tranquility will be shattered as our crew for the weekend arrive, my gorgeous niece aka Eleanor, George and Piers. We shall have a swooper time.

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Location:Mayflower Marina

Testing out the cruising shute

What a fab sail yesterday, in glorious weather, wind a tad chilly but the sky was blue and boats galore out on the water.

Not long now until our grand voyage and das captain is in full planning mode. Came back from the showers yesterday and the list (one of many) was being added to and checked making sure we have all the right boat spares for any eventuality. My father in law was sent up the mast last weekend to fit a new wind vane which was calibrated yesterday by turning two full boat circles and a simple press of the button as we left the Marina yesterday. With das captain happy we wendered our way out into the sound to test out our cruising shute.

We bought it last year, especially designed by my niece and is fondly called the pucas pidley cruising shute. We only used it once last season and as it will be in use a fair amount in our French adventures, a good practice session was required.

Loads of boats out in the sound yesterday racing, so beyond the breakwater we headed to avoid any mishaps. Hms Torbay ( submarine) was anchored on d buoy awaiting a lift back in later in the day, we gave her any extra wide berth.

We had a good sail, six and half knots with the genoa out, das captain set the ropes ready for the cruising shute, whilst I anchored myself on the bow, ready to release the snuffer. It's a big sail, and I was chuckling away to myself that I might end up the mast as the sail is released. I wasn't.......and out she went with no real problems which was great given we hadn't used her for some time.

There is nothing better than seeing boats in the distance with their colourful spinnakers or cruising shutes out. Red Snapper looked majestic, we weren't so graceful on a tack later with tangled ropes, but practice makes perfect and after a great swail we headed towards Jenny Cliff to drop the pick for a spot of lunch. Perfect.

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Location:Plymouth Sound

Fogbound

Well at long last the sun has come out and the fog has gone! Can't complain as we had a cracking first wk of weather. The fog really came in with a vengeance and just heavy drizzle, so we headed off via rd to Falmouth, found a fab b and b and had a whale of a time. I love Falmouth and can't wait to get back down there by das bot.

So we ate, drank and shopped, the sun did come out there for the afternoon as we watched the world go by at the Chain Locker, it's the most fab pub and inside is a treasure trove of mariner memorabilia of days gone by.

Came back to Plymouth yesterday to more........fog, made for great listening on the VHF radio for the Thursday war, even HMS Dauntless had lost their sense of humour. Just missed HMS Campbeltown come in under her decommissioning pendant for the last time, she won't be the last over the next few wks. Got a last peek of her stern as she turned into Devonport and the dockyard for the last time her official ceremony next wk.

As for today we headed to Salcombe.....deserted....a first, wait for a few wks and the place will be packed and the waters humming with an assortment of boats and the usual Salcombe madness.

So the sky is blue.....here,s hoping for a last swail this weekend before back to work on Monday.....great hols though as it's only march!

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Location:Mayflower Marina Plymouth