Rye to Ramsgate

28th to 30th April, and 1st May

(Route at http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/102199 )

Up by 5am to catch morning high tide for leaving Rye, we were quickly out and passing Dungeness power station (probably less imposing and more useful than all those wind-turbines). On east, and, after seeing every Dover-Calais ferry a few times; that's what you do when facing adverse wind and tide, crawling eastbound off the White Cliffs, we reached Ramsgate.

My mother has often referred to childhood days on the beach at Walmer; we passed close-by and can imagine the cold winds she'll have experienced in the 1930's. It's much the same 80 years later.

After mooring at dusk in rain-soaked Ramsgate we wandered up to Asda. The young woman, sleepy and well made-up at the checkout, was happy to see us. In fact everyone in Ramsgate has been welcoming and happy to see us! It's quiet at the is time of year. We've eaten lots of stir fry on board.

Paul S (fresh and experienced crew) has planned what to do tomorrow; it includes another early start I gather. As is the norm, we've experienced the heavy rain that all hose-pipe-ban areas offer once we turn up. Photos to add another time, but gizmo-itis beats me tonight.

1st May. Day dawned dark grey, super-soggy, and with whistling wind, so 'back to bed', and plan a day in Ramsgate instead. The news tells us it's been the wettest April on record; agreed! We'll head north another day.

Brighton to Rye

26th, 27th April

Here's the route (press the left of three icons, after it opens) http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/101959

 After too long in Brighton marina, it was good to get away yesterday and enjoy an exhilarating sail about 40 miles to Rye (F6 and mod/rough). With crew having left, it was my first single-handed stretch and I'm reminded how important it is to have the sandwiches ready before leaving.

Rye is bursting with 'heritage', well scrubbed cobbled street, independent shops (here's a picture of one), and a pub called the Standard (which isn't remotely 'standard'). Not being from the south east, it's a long time since I've seen a Rolls Royce, an Aston Martin and a Morgan; here, I've seen all three in half an hour. The wealth of visitors must be the only way to maintain a small town of antiquity.

I'm moored up a drying muddy creek (The Strand), which is deserted at this time of year, right near the middle of Rye. The picture is of last night's sunset.

Today is not so bright, with more rain and gales. (Maybe I'll add more to this post another time, but the internet connection is a bit too 'heritage' to do it now!)

I

Littlehampton to Brighton

23nd to 25th April

We have entered the land of the hose-pipe ban: Sussex. It's very wet!

Here we are in the rain absorbing history and culture in Arundel! The ever-helpful Richard of Arun Yacht Club gave us a lift inland from Littlehampton as Monday was our first seriously wet, windy day. The church (St Nicholas) outside which we pose, is interesting in that it is apparently unique in housing both a Catholic chapel and a C of E church. There's a locked screen between the two; only opened a handful of times in half a century (Does that tell us something?). I may have got all this wrong, but anyway the wheelbarrows of flowers outside were exuberantly colourful despite the weather!

Today, Wednesday is another very wet windy day and we have an uncomfortable berth wallowing in Brighton marina, as the spray flies over the breakwater, and a swell from southerly gale finds its way into the entrance.

In an interlude between over-boisterous wind and rain, we sailed on Tuesday along the fine retirement coastline of Worthing, Hove etc to Brighton. And Brighton is as good a place as any for stormy shore-bound days.

Another bit of the route is here (click the left hand icon after the link opens)  http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/101751

Lymington to Chichester to Littlehampton

21st, 22nd April
Click here for the route

After a good sleep following exhausting rounds of poker lessons from George, we left Lymington on Saturday morning and drifted with the tide across serenely calm Solent to Cowes. There we managed to rendezvous with Paul H. and dodge the busy racing boats that bustled back and forth, and moor efficiently beneath the very experienced gaze of folk in the Island Cruising Club. Lots of canons and hooters for yacht races, too; plus special canon effects for HM's birthday, I'm told.

Increasing wind took us briskly on to anchor at dusk, off East Head in Chichester Harbour.

Today, Sunday, we have enjoyed another comfortable sail to Littlehampton; cruising chute was a colourful splash against a fine blue sky. The amazingly friendly and welcoming Arun Yacht Club has provided a pontoon mooring and showers; and we enjoyed the beer and happy family lunchtime atmosphere. (Thank you A.Y.C.!)

The forecast is less rosy for tomorrow but Littlehampton seems a comfortable and interesting place, and the signposting insistently points us to the museum!

Starcross to Studland to Lymington

19th to 20th April

We're on our way and have enjoyed two fine breezy days, sailing with just the genoa, running before strong westerlies, quickly past Portland Bill and on to Studland Bay for our first night. Despite bright sun, April in Britain can be very chilly, so five layers of chilly protection are needed!

Anna and George have adjusted well to waves and wind and waking at 6am.

Now, our second night away, we're tied up alongside Lymington Town Quay. Lymington High Street seems polished, charmed and recession-proof. The chandleries have bits we need, and there's a shower nearby.

(Blogging takes ages so I'll keep this brief, and try to save it!)

Here's the route http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/101412

Thursday 12th April, Totnes to Starcross

Tom (no.2 son) and I sailed Misty from her overwintering site in Totnes to her new home, a swinging mooring on the Exe estuary near Starcross. She had been launched the day before. It's such a thrill to find no leaks, not major ones anyway! And the new stern gland packing has stopped the trickle that found its way aboard at the end of 2011.


What a lot we forget during the winter! We were lucky to have a beautiful day and gentle breeze to ease us along the Devon coast, and allow us to find our way for the first time into the Exe; though another time I'll try to avoid the near-spring tide ebb past Exmouth.

This link is meant to show you the passage http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/100856 ,but I'm struggling with the gadgets and this blog business! (When the link opens, assuming it does, click the left of three icons in the middle of the page; then wait a bit)