Pants

Less wind and no rain....things r on the up. It 'twas scorchio on deck this morning as the Marina came to life.

Sat and read my book in my pj's as a few boats left for pastures new. The wind may have dropped but sea state still rough so we hoping to take our chance tomorrow before the next low pressure bout kicks in.

For those of us staying put it's a day of boat chores and washing. Pants galore are lining people's yachts of all shapes and sizes....some quite disturbing. Ours shall remain in the tumble dryer until done.


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Location:Falmouth

Blowin' a hooley

Awoke to the most amazing rainbow across the back of the bow this am. Surprised the sun was about as the rain really lashed down overnight and the wind was howling as I was sat on deck drinking coffee @ 6am!

Das captain awoke a few hrs later to the greeting that he was irritable! On questioning it 'twas we should be in France with cruising Shute out instead of this b****y wind! And I thought I was the impatient one!

So we wait as does everyone else it seems in the Marina... we shall be in good company then as the mass departure begins when the wind dies down. Nothing has moved today. I was in stitches when I went to pay the another nights Marina,s fees when I met another lady who when I said good morning laughed and described herself as irrititable! Why's that I said....b****y wind.....I fell about laughing and suggested she have a hot date with das captain who was feeling the same way!

So another lazy day, took the ferry across to Flushing and mooched about...soon back to das bot where all us frustrated swailors will be comparing forecasts to see if tomorrow is a goer or not....happy days


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Location:Falmouth

Nautical showers

So we are in a windbound Falmouth with sunny spells and heavy blustery showers. Marina still full and not many have braved the high seas. Looks like we could be here for a few days.. with a Thursday start looking likely though the weather could improve at a drop of a hat.

So other than the talking about the weather what else gets yachties on their soapboxes....it's the variable state of the nations Marina showers. This is not just those in good old blighty but those across the water and beyond.

Why does this matter I hear you ask, well there is nothing worse than a pair of old sea salty shanties going ashore and to scrub themselves clean having to don either a pair of flip flops or worse a pair of Wellington boots!

Having paid our tax on being stupid aka Marina fees it shouldn't take much to have facilities that are semi decent but in some cases it would be safer to have a shower via the water hose on the pontoon than brave what is waiting for u in a filthy shower block!

So you may be hearing more about this on our travels I was hearing a soap box rant this am as I was showering of a recent excursion to a nameless Marina in France ( crossed off our visit list). So what of Falmouth Marina showers then.....passable and neither flip flops or Wellington boots 'twas required.







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What's in a boat name?

Awoken in Fowey this am by the church bells and a darned cockerel. How some fellow yachtsman hasn't strangled it and had it for supper by now is beyond me! Bleary eyed i did chortle to myself this morning.

Lots of boats had left by the time we got up (well me, sleepyhead aka das captain was still in deep slumber). Forecast was for high winds later but anyone heading our way would have had a big tidal push out to Dodman Point. We left around eleven in a f4 and flat sea but soon picked up. Motor on we made our way in good time, lots of boats in the horizon and not much else except a racing trimaran overtook us on the approach into Falmouth.

In Falmouth Marina, rafted up as chocca block with boats of all names and nations. It always intrigues me with boat names as to how, what, when, why they aquired their name.

Das captain when he bought das bot, never renamed her, she is and always will be Red Snapper and we both r really proud of her, there will never be another Red Snapper in our eyes.

Should we ever get another bot, what would we call her I,d get thrown overboard before calling her something like flirtini ( fav fizz cocktail), scrumpy jack.....(student drink) or pimms o,clock!!!! We are both agreed that should we get another bot it shall be called Red Snapper 2 or Waterfall (stone roses song).

So wind bound now in Falmouth (there are worse places to be!), we are surrounded by international boats that have racked up thousands of nautical miles between them with fantastic names...I wonder what and how and when they came up with those....Blue, Sherpa, Liona, Imagine, Lady Charlotte, Cygnet of Lymington, Tangaroa, Artemis and Ghost...to name a few.

Sat on deck watching the sun go down after supper aboard, scrumpy jack is going down a treat....great start to the hols.



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Location:Falmouth

Let the holiday begin

Left a very drizzly Plymouth just after lunch today. Swooper supper last night at Jolly Jacks with my in laws, so a leisurely start to the day today.

Not any wind at all, so main sail up and motor on. Loads of boats coming past us on their way home back to port, but we were the solitary boat heading our way.

Very peaceful motor, sea flat and bar a merlin helicopter swirling around for some time hunting for a submarine no noise at all. Saw some seagulls playing tug of war with a gift left by a passing fishing boat which amused me no end.

So we are in a packed Fowey, picked up the last buoy and are sat watching the world go by, waiting for the maritime forecast to bring us good news. Lady luck will shine i hope as I feel good fortune could be upon us we are on a buoy behind a fellow yacht called langkawi and next to a boating author called mark eden. So forecast, then ashore for some supper.



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Location:Fowey

Boat Stocked and Ready To Go!

Sat on das bot in the sunshine after a marathon packing and unpacking session. We thought we had packed leanly but it all adds up! Took us over an hr to stow everything way,but that's the great thing re das bot.....the cubbyholes.

Water tank topped up...check, engine checks....check. Steve due to French bureacracy has gone to fill the gerry cans with white diesel and then tomorrow it will be filling the fuel tank up and we.ll be ready to go. Passage plan at the mo is Fowey tomorrow, Falmouth Monday and then over to L'Aber Wrac'h from Falmouth on tuesday. I love Falmouth, it,ll be full of people either going or coming back from their grand voyage. Can't think of a better place to start ours.

As for the rest of the day....just chilling and winding down from work, with supper @ Jolly Jacks later with das captain and my lovely in- laws who will be waving us off tomorrow. Can't wait to set swail.

The weather waiting game

Well the prayers worked.....well almost! The sun is shining, weather warmed but shipping forecast is still a tad too gusty to set off on Saturday. So das captain and I took the executive decision today to not go hell for leather tonight and go down to das bot tomorrow night but head off Saturday and then wait......looks like Monday could be the day.

That's sailing for you, always dependent on the elements...but after a hectic wk at work we can finish the big pack up in a more relaxed fashion.

The excitement absolutely kicked in today.....can't quite believe we almost off. Das captain has had sleepless nights this wk dreaming about the Raz De Sein.....I say good on as that means a good swail!

So all being well we,ll be off....the sun will be shining in the Marina so won't make the wait too painful, as we do the last min boat chores. Fuel...check.....water.....check....fresh food shop check......last min toast to the gods for a smooth channel crossing and then......extra prayers for the Chenal de Four and Raz de Sein....check! Happy hols and swailing here we come....tgi Friday will have a whole new meaning tomorrow.


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Location:Home