Friends and family were very supportive and encouraging - I think they all had more faith in my ability than me. 

You've heard about the last-minute rigging problems, I was convinced our departure would be delayed but despite all the anxiety and emotional moments saying goodbye to the family, I just wanted to get going which luckily, we did. Sally's parents waving madly from the Round Tower was a lovely moment. 

So the trip began. Night watches proved difficult; I struggled with broken sleep, erratic eating, tedium of little to do when we were motoring for hours and in the first few weeks, the weather being chilly. Moving around the boat is much harder with several layers of clothes, foul weather kit and lifejacket on.

In those early weeks, I kept wondering what I was doing here, and why. I wasn't enjoying it but kind words and support from friends and family encouraged me to keep going. Feeling seasick didn't help but that improved after a couple of weeks. Being close enough to shore to have almost daily contact with the family and friends also helped. 

I had to adjust to life onboard, this was not a holiday, so jobs needed doing daily, living in a confined space means we must keep everywhere tidy. Add the complication of do we have enough water, is it hot? Can we use the electric kettle or gas? And washing up in a sink less than half the size of a kitchen sink, tricky. Laundry - a bucket when at sea, trips to launderette ashore. Showers, very short, in a tiny space and not everyday when at sea. 

In the first month we endured bad weather, thunderstorms (all electronics in the cooker!) little sailing, too much motoring, the anchor problem, insurance issues, hassle with berthing, gas bottle ran out. I dropped and broke my tablet. What else could go wrong? 

After much thought (see earlier blog) I decided I was not giving up. We had been unlucky, especially with the weather, which as my good friend, Clare, said, is the one thing we cannot control. 

The weather improved which always helps me. The programme was amended to give us more shore time. We had some very good visits, an excellent lunch in Figueira da Vaz, several Portuguese custard tarts, a delicious breakfast in Cascais, all enjoyable. Amazing scenery down the coastline, dolphins and luckily, no orcas. I felt more settled.

The sea is incredible, varies day to day, often hour by hour. It can be glassy calm with a sharp horizon, gentle swell that rocks you, huge swell several feet higher than the boat and then the worst, crashing waves. The stars, clouds, all an amazing sight. It's hard to describe,  despite our 50ft length, we are a very small boat in a huge ocean. When we sail in the Solent, there are loads of vessels from small dinghies to the large cross channel ferries. Out here, the occasional ferry, tanker, and fishing boat - if we are lucky, with lights at night. 

I have learnt a lot; sailing is still not instinctive but I feel more knowledgeable. I still don't like the long passages with overnight sails, but we have managed to work a routine we can all cope with. I miss family and friends more than I expected and I am looking forward to a few weeks at home before I fly out to Barbados in December. I will try not to moan about the cold!! 

It's a shame the better sailing weather came late in the trip. I think if we had good winds earlier, I would have settled and enjoyed the trip sooner. Would I do it again - with some provisos, possibly. As we've said, Biscay was horrendous but a week earlier or later, it would have been a completely different sail. 

I enjoy visiting the different places, meeting fellow sailors who never cease to amaze me with their adventures and plans. Is long term live aboard for me, probably not. But hopping from place to place, visiting different areas, I can do that. This trip has shown me I am stronger, braver and more resilient than I thought. 

I'll be home in a week and look forward to seeing family and friends.

Thanks again for all your kind messages of support and encouragement. Thanks also to Simon, Sally and Nigel - Team Cassini! 

Catherine