A New Boat

After a few years and many adventures while sailing Misty, she was sold. Her successor is called "Henrietta". A new blogsite is being set up for her. If you click here you may get there. If it doesn't work here's a picture of Henrietta.....

Totnes to Milford Haven

22nd-25th April 2015
Totnes-Dartmouth-Falmouth-Milford Haven
Route

Misty has been sold! I'd agreed to deliver her to new owners in South Wales and, after lots of delays, weeping and gnashing of teeth (soul-searching, rebirth, sleeplessness, bittersweet relief and the rest) sailed her from Devon to a new home in Milford Haven.

After late evening departure from Totnes I motored downriver to reach Dartmouth on a dark and silent night.

Waiting to leave Totnes

Leaving Dartmouth soon after 4am next morning when it was very chilly, dark and peaceful, I sailed comfortably (albeit in thermals etc) straight to Falmouth. Eddystone lighthouse is a convenient waypoint when visibility is not good.

Running briskly under genoa....

...passing Eddystone lighthouse

Then a good night's sleep (always pleasant to sleep on a boat in a secure spot), before leaving Falmouth next morning after breakfast. Oh dear! The fine spring weather has come to an end. It drizzled and rained as I approached the Lizard. I don't take many photos in rain! But, on the bright side, pods of playful dolphins, a couple of puffins and bobbing guillemots were heartening company.

Towards the Lizard....and....

With strong wind and two reefs and helpful tide, Misty touched nearly nine knots rounding the Lizard. Full of excitement and optimism (and the prospect of forecasted adverse winds if I stopped) and despite the drizzle, I decided to go straight to South Wales. Rounding Land's End with sloppy swell echoed off the cliffs, the sea felt very empty and unfriendly and, unusually for me, I was distinctly queasy (cheese sandwich cured it!)

....passed Land's End

The Bristol Channel seems especially wide when the night is cold and there is not a soul in sight. Just the occasional fishing vessel reminds you of man, and leaves you admiring the hard life led by fishing folk. Single-handed nights are long and icy, and dawn comes with uplifting brightness. By 11 o'clock, and into Milford Haven, I'd covered nearly 150 miles in 26 hours. The sun came out too.

Entering Misty's new home

After handing her over to friendly new owners, 'Misty' is out of my life. Time to find a successor.

Thank you to everyone who has sailed with me on Misty over the past four years. You have taught me a lot and, although sailors are always learning or trying to learn, I probably make fewer mistakes nowadays - and I hope you can believe that!

Starcross to Totnes

Starcross-Dartmouth-Totnes
14th to 16th October

The last sail of the season was gentle with a warm and light breeze, and calm sea; a mellow day with mellow end-of-season feelings. Then, a night moored in the beautiful river Dart, before motoring upriver to Totnes next morning.

Approaching Dartmouth

Upriver to Totnes

There are dreams and plans for 2015 of course. But now 'Misty' is for sale (now sold). If you want a beautiful yacht that has proved she's capable, comfortable and wonderfully reliable, here she is click for details.

Hamble to Starcross

11th to 20th September
Hamble-Cowes-Chichester Hbr-Totland Bay-Poole-Studland-Cherbourg-Starcross
Click for route
With new rigging and new Furlex for genoa, plus Anna aboard, we had a leisurely few days in beautiful late summer warmth, visiting some old favourites in the Solent and Poole. Then, a quick sail to Cherbourg for plonk and smelly cheese, before returning home. I cut short plans for Channel Isles as forecast was for light winds - better I reckon to take advantage of remaining F.4/5 rather than travel 90 miles with engine. Perhaps there'll be another chance between shore-bound commitments, but as evenings draw in, it is sad to realise there are only a few weeks till the end of another wonderful sailing season.

Mast comes off for re-rig

Beached for a clean at East Head, Chichester

Tranquil anchorage at Totland Bay, IoW

Past the Needles en route to Poole....

and busy squirrels on Brownsea Island

Fine Swedish vessel in Cherbourg

Oriana (I think) came in as we left Cherbourg

Perfect sailing broad reach back to the Exe

Nearly home..

Starcross to Hamble

3rd to 8th September
Starcross-Lyme Regis-Poole-Hurst-Newport-Newtown-Hamble
Click for route (left icon to view)

A few days ashore were fun. Bryony and Alex’s wedding was wonderful and a memorably happy event.

Bryony and Alex

But, as it suggests in a local pub, land was only created so we’d have somewhere to sail to, so a week ashore was plenty and I was happy to get back aboard. I’ve enjoyed a trip of childhood nostalgia via Lyme Regis, Poole and Isle of Wight. Seaside gems are as beautiful as ever, especially in warm gentle late-summer sunshine, but the Solent seems very crowded. Now, in the river Hamble I see more boats every day than in the rest of the year together.

Passing Old Harry Rocks

Tranquility in Blood Alley, Poole

Nervous red squirrel, Brownsea Is.

One of many packed marinas on the Hamble

Misty’s mast is down and new rigging is being fitted, and new Furlex reefing too. It’s the sort of work that severely dents a sailing budget. But Misty will, I trust, be fit for many years to come. Tomorrow, Anna joins me and I hope we can sail away, as mooring charges in these places are pretty eye-watering!

Misty's mast being lifted off

Lundy to Starcross

18th to 23rd August
Lundy-Mousehole-Falmouth-Cawsand-Dartmouth-Starcross
Route

Getting near home I feel both excited and sad. There are friends to see (and practical niceties like mains electricity, regular shower and clean sheets!) but it’s also the end of the main cruise of the year (and I’m always happier afloat than on land).

A brisk sail from Lundy...

....with playful company...

From Lundy, leaving before dawn, it was an exhilerating sail south-west around Land’s End and in to anchor outside Mousehole Harbour after dark (not something you want to do in the dark, unless you’ve first seen it in daylight). I'd have stopped on the way but north Cornish coast is uncomfortable with strong onshore winds. A late start next day to await tide at the Lizard, then comfortable sail to Falmouth, where there were more sailing boats than I’ve seen all the rest of the summer together! No peace at all, as you forever peer under genoa, alert and watchful for approaching boats. But anchorage off Trelissick House was exquisite and peaceful, and next day it was easy to view the fine National Trust gardens there and to catch a bus to Truro.

Heading for home, around Land's End

Early morning outside Mousehole Harbour

View from anchorage off Trelissick House, Falmouth Harbour

...day trip to Truro...

From Falmouth, the coastline is pleasantly familiar, with convenient overnight stops off Cawsand and in Dartmouth. It was a treat to meet up with old friends for a night in Dartmouth and wonderful to have friends who are happy to share simple food and drink, and chilly nights aboard ‘Misty’.

Meal aboard in Dartmouth with Richard and Jill....

 As Dartmouth filled up for its annual regatta, I sailed home, spending a night at my mooring on a calm and peaceful Exe Estuary, before tidy up and row ashore - just over four months and nearly 3,000 miles after leaving Totnes. I have an interlude of a few days before later summer cruise – somewhere south - probably!
Route So Far Summer 2014 (Click the lefthand icon, if the link opens)
or click here

...Peacefully back on her mooring

...off Starcross

Isle of Man to Lundy

13th to 15th August
Peel-Skomer-Lundy
Route (click left icon if link opens)

Turning a long ship in Peel Harbour

After a week, yes a whole week, on the Isle of Man, I felt I knew it well enough. All that time the winds were too strong and the wrong way (relics of that hurricane beginning with a ‘B’-name forgotten).

Peel Harbour was full. My neighbours, on a little Beneteau which they’d just bought in Ireland, were a colourful and enterprising young German couple with their two-year old daughter. We shared meals and European opinions, and they tell me they’re going to the Mediterranean for the winter – or until their money runs out. Time passed quickly, even though it’s the longest time in four months’ sailing that I’ve been stuck in one place.

Manx Agricultural Show

...judging feather and fur..

...a very pretty feathered foul...

...herding ducks with dog...

Peel Harbour

There was the Manx Agricultural Show (best I’ve ever been to), some memorable long cliff-top walks, and bus trips all over the place.

As soon as wind was down to about F5, and Peel Harbour bridge swung open, I left (along with two other boats – though they went north while I turned south). Refreshed from so much time in harbour, I sailed for the next 31 hours. And felt a lot less refreshed when I reached the little island of Skomer, S. Wales, next evening. Even the Irish Sea seems to have ships and boats sailing through the night, so with them to keep an eye on, and lots of reefing and de-reefing there was little chance to rest!

Next morning, really keen to see Skomer, I rowed across to a little beach and slipway. Alas! I’d just secured the dinghy and got five yards on land, as far as a sign saying “£10 to land”, and being hailed from the cliff-top…”it’ll be £10 for any more than five minutes”. I didn’t have my wallet, and could not face the windy return row to Misty. After landing on almost every other island in Britain without a charge, I was disappointed. Is Skomer really that special?

Company in the Irish Sea

Brief landing at Skomer..

Once tide slackened in nearby swirly-whirly Jack Sound, I left Skomer and sailed quickly past Milford Haven and over to Lundy – a beautiful warm sunny run under genoa – to reach Lundy as the sun set. Now there’s more days of strong wind forecast so I’ll stay awhile, ceaselessly rolling in persistent swell

Fine sunset sailing into Lundy………

......it was windy and rolly for three days and nights (“….unseasonably cool and breezy”, as the forecaster says). Walks and talks, and beer, on Lundy are therapeutic. Chloe, a seasonal warden with the National Trust, has been an informative guide; and one day, when the Oldenburgh ferry came over from Ilfracombe, there were more than 260 visitors. Lundy can feel very busy and is a charming place!

...a guided tour..

..a pretty and rolly anchorage

...I think its name is Boris