A great channel crossing with very good visibility so that we could see ships over 12 miles away and we could still see the loom of the French coast lighthouse when we picked up St Catherine’s point light on the corner of the Isle of Wight.

Lots of shipping to avoid which certainly kept us alert all night dodging tankers !

We made good time and rounded the needles just as the sun was rising, a beautiful morning.

Katie woke to lots of presents and familiar waters with lots of sailing action off Cowes to watch so a good start to her birthday.

The day deteriorated as we got closer to home and we dropped Tom & Annie off at Hythe in pouring rain, exactly the same weather as when we picked them up from Hythe three weeks earlier.

After lunch a wet walk to West Quay for some retail therapy for Katie and me and some football therapy on the TV for Mark !

We paddled our way over to Banana Wharf in the evening to join Adam & Kirsty for dinner. Katie couldn’t wait to sleep on dry land (a mattress on the floor since her bed has been e-bayed) and so Adam & Kirsty dropped her home.

It was nice to spend a final night on the boat by ourselves and we enjoyed eggs and bacon and Sunday papers before packing up and heading home.

We have covered a total of 1380 miles – nearly an atlantic crossing but ending up back in rainy England – doh !

Photos to follow……….