Happy Birthday Guy and Andy. CJ back to school.

   Well that was an eventful night! I have never seen pontoons bouncing around so wildly, looking like rope snakes being whipped up and down along the ground. Si was up all night constantly checking out the crashing noises and moving fenders. I confess to only helping out a few times although sleep was pretty impossible with the rubbing strake grating on the pontoon as Brindabella heeled over, waves crashed into her quarter and the wind howled loudly. We wedged a flat fender between the squashed ones and wondered what damage may have been done to her sides looking at the damage to the pontoon. The waves resembled open water not what should be a sheltered marina. Another breakwater is needed to the west. We will try and move to another more sheltered berth if the winds ease. Another day in port then!

   The train station is convenient here for Si to get home Saturday for CJ’s birthday party, so we think we may stay here until Sunday. Si checked out train times. A group of boats heading south for the ARC are waiting in Falmouth for a weather window to cross the Bay of Biscay. They will be off on Friday when an area of high pressure moves in. Hopefully this will also give us a chance to get to Falmouth on Sunday where spare locker catches are waiting for us from Sweden. If it lasts we may also be able to get across the English Channel to Brest to await another window. The highs further south are being pushed out by a series of lows coming along. At least we have the advantage of time on our hands at this stage so needn’t take unnecessary risks. Fingers crossed for a break in these autumn gales. In the mean time I suggested getting the bikes out again so we can get some exercise and use our time here enjoyably. Hopefully the winds will drop later this afternoon so we’ll feel comfortable leaving the boat…………………….                                                                    

   Well that didn’t happen. Si went back to bed having no sleep last night, had lunch then slept again. I spent most of the day at my laptop sorting files and updating the website. All who read my waffling journal will be praying we have good weather with more sailing and less writing! Si will be praying that wifi connections in other marinas work better than here: He wasn’t happy!

   With the remote possibility of a sail tomorrow I had a tidy up and made bolognaise with the last meat from Si’s freezer. I wedged half in the icebox and made lasagne with salad for dinner. The wind showed no sign of abating as we retired.      ---Lini---