Annie, Will and family arrived full of beans after a savagely early start from Gatwick.  It was fantastic to see them.  After coffee and croissants and a bit of a sort out we moved the boat round to the fuel pontoon to fill up with diesel.  The boys were delighted to get this close to the Disney Magic cruise ship although Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck didn’t seem to be around.

The children each have a lifejacket and a harness which they wore very happily while we sailed and they quickly got the hang of moving around the boat while being tethered to it on a webbing strap.

We did a fairly short sail on the first day and then anchored so that everyone could get swimming.  Josh and Dan assist with the anchor pushing various buttons, reporting back to the helm how much chain is in the water and checking to see how much weed we have picked up.  And asking lots and lots of questions so, watching both of them as well as the anchor, trying to think of sensible answers because they are all sensible questions, giving instructions, checking the anchor digs in, keeping an eye on how much chain has gone down and that it is running freely puts multi-tasking in a new light. 

Then time for a swim and trying out new armbands with Will.

We moved on the following day and then stayed put, close to a fabulous long beach that is perfect for small people to play on and run around further than they can on board.

Guess who was very, very keen to go up the mast.

The launch.....

It is difficult with little legs to steer yourself but he kept going a good long way before wanting to come down. 

We had bought, and then carefully hidden, two ‘Super Soaker’ water pistols to be brought out after a couple of days.  The boys found them within an hour of being on the boat and didn’t seem to think it in any way strange that Papa and Carol would have such things hidden away.  So much for our hiding skills.

After much careful thinking and looking at charts and forecasts the decision was to stay here for another 24 hours to let the sea settle.  We’ll try again tomorrow.