Whoo Hoo.....at long last a swail

Yep..........us and countless others today have made the most of fair blighty weather and hit the sound in the hundreds.

I haven't seen so many boats out for such a long time. We arrived about ten thirty to a Marina full of life and some new temporary neighbours opposite. The America,s Cup series hits Plymouth in two weeks time and whilst Millbay has the main attraction, Mayflower has the support vessels and they have started to arrive.

Das bot despite our neglect of her in recent weeks looks swooper, clean and bright topside and the antifouling still looking good. A quick chat with my in-laws over a cup of tea on board and then we were off......taking no chances today we were desperate to get out on the water.

The Mount Edgecombe channel was awash with boats.....makes your soul sing and quick as you know it, the main was up and we were off. It wasn't long before das captain had the genoa out and engine off and we were cruising along at a gentle 4 knots.....we didn't care, it's just nice to hear the water lapping around and the wind (what there was of it) in your hair.

So around the sound we went and then over to Cawsounds for some lunch.....it was packed but spotted a quiet spot on the other side where no-one was about...heaven. Well that was we thought until a 26ft boat decided to drop his pick 10 metres from us!

Das captain and I sat and began to eat our lunch being overlooked.....what is it with some people, then there was retribution.....their anchor was dragging so had to make a hasty retreat. We had our peace and tranquility and privacy back and enjoyed watching the world go by in the afternoon sunshine.

As for now we are wending our way back across the sound and heading up the river past the dockyard, giving the engine a good run out....then homeward bound we shall be.


Lovely day and worth the wait, let's hope we get a few more days like this when we start our hols the week after next.



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Location:Plymouth Sound

Nearly a swail

After weekends of rock n pop concerts, family events, being on call at weekends and just plain old awful Blighty weekend weather we have ventured back down to das bot today. Das captain has popped down over the last few weeks for checks, so despite being neglected she looked in pretty good shape. I was surprised she didn't have the hump after bing under utilised over the last six weeks.

True to form as we neared Plymouth the heavens opened.......so no swailing for us today. It has just been nice to chill aboard. The Marina is sooo quiet and has been for weeks everyone rueing the worst season in a long time. We expect some wind and rain but not what we have had this yr.....and worst of all the best days for swailing have been whilst we,ve been at work!

So the sun is shining now and skies blue, let's hope it stays that way so next weekend we can get some wind into those swails and give das bot and her motley crew a well deserved run out!

Desperate for A Swail

Interesting week as a landlubber..............have missed das bot tremendously.  You soon get back into the groove of work and I know we made absolutely the right decision to come home as we certainly wouldn't have moved far this week and the whole point of taking a month off was to do a grand voyage.

Lots of people have asked why we didnt just jump on a plane and head for somewhere hot for the remaining two weeks.........we'll do that later in the yr  I hope, but we,re sailors and the whole point was a month on RedSnapper. 

Right now though I am desperate for a decent sail and the freedom and exhilaration that brings, so have everything crossed that we might get down to Plymouth tomorrow so we get the sails out and let rip around good old Plymouth Sound.

Packing Up & Homeward Bound

It's a much quieter wind and sea state than what Neptune threw at us yesterday! It got
progressively worse as the day went on and was well and truly rough as rats at one stage, to the point where we had to use the winch to get us nearer the pontoon to get us on and off RedSnapper.....a first for us!

Decision made to abandon das bot for this holiday, we went for lunch at Jolly Jacks and drowned our sorrows. Das kept even joked that das bot would not go in the water next yr...I think not. Great company up there as always.

We then spent early doors aboard Parson Jack a 46ft bot that has just returned from the Caribbean after completing their grand voyage the Arc Rally. Over a few glasses of vino we heard of their adventures and the boys ruminated over boat gizzmondos ie AIS. Whilst not used to it's full potential this hols, it's been a great new toy.....despite it's screeching noise that warns us of nearing ships..just doing it's job!

So back to das bot it was, to listen to the last hooley of this trip....restless night as it didn't really blow itself out until about 4am.

Now the grand pack up can begin..HOW much stuff did we bring?! Well a months worth, lots can stay including the dry store provisions and be used up over the rest of the swailing season. Oncoming motleys crews to RedSnapper look out, lots of tinned M&S curry,s to eat!

An afternoon of boat domestic slavery awaits then, to get her all shipshape for the next swail.

The Flag of Surrender to the Elements

With heavy hearts we have admitted defeat! Yep.....after another battering overnight and das captain looking at the long range forecast we are throwing in the towel.

The low pressure is going to continue until at least thurs with similar wind conditions so it is unlikely we shall be moving anywhere.

So back to work on Monday it is, at least then we can hope for a another swailing week this season.

Am very philosophical about what's been, that's sailing for you and am consoled that hundreds of bots alongside the southwest have met with a similar experience to ours. Those unlucky ones that did make it are holed up in France in similar conditions to here...not fun.

So have had a blast, made some new yachtie friends both English and foreign. Read copious books for blighty, read some amazing blogs from those cruising the Caribbean and Pacific and generally chilled from the throws of work life. I am sure it will be back with a vengeance next week.

I am still in my shorts and remain adverse to hanging ones knickers out to dry in public view!

Hey ho and c,est la vie....we still have the charts and kit...there is always another yr to follow the dream.
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Location:Plymouth

The photo says it all

Even the warships gave up playing today in the sound! As for us we went to the cinema and saw Senna. Great film and beat being in 28 knots of wind.



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Location:Plymouth

Mackerel & Bass r Jumping

Keep on jumpin......a good old nineties dance tune....well the mackerel n bass r certainly doing that tonight.

More Roffe misfortune is my canon lens had cracked not on the lens but on the side so das camera will not take photos. Good news is that as the f 8 is coming in tonight and tomorrow I shall go and look in Plymouth for a replacement.

Anyway photo opportunity lost I have a sad substitute taken on iPhone tonight. We r so fortunate in the Marina with phishing ..... yes fishing, an hr or so after high water this time of yr they flood in their shoals chasing the elvers and jump for England.
Place ur rod in.......with a bare silver hook and u r guaranteed a bite every time...... a tasty mackerel or if the right size ( father in law is always the luckiest ) a swooper duper bass.

Have seen them jumping a bit but not like they were on our way back from Jolly Jacks this evening after a swooper super early doors drinks and supper, with das captain catching up on his doom bar rations being back in Devon.

The Marina was full of fish racing about and of course ...jumping.
U can catch them not with feathers.....well u can but the best way to catch them is with a bare silver hook and they bite every single time.

Our rods r set in French mode and not with bare line so will reset one of the kids rods tomorrow as am sure they will be back in abundance... tis that time of year. It's fab to watch as the shoal just keep just the water.

As for us we r back on das bot and bracing for the gale again that is coming,waves are breaking big time over the Plymouth breakwaters as I write this, a Swedish submarine passed us on our way out for supper tonight.

So we r battening down the hatches again.....yawn.....and will sort out the rods for fishing tomorrow, mackerel or even better bass would be absolutely marvellous!



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Location:Mayflower Marina