Start Point was reached and passed in record time and with a good bam wind we caught the last of the tide round Portland Bill. Surging across towards the Needles at over 9 knots SOG forced the change of watch to decide that slowing down was required in order to go in past the Needles——shame! 

It was a very wet and cold night as some were on watch

and some slept

As a result we “lost" a couple of hours and reached the Fairway buoy, as planned, at exactly 0900 ——26 hours after we had left Flushing.

We went into Yarmouth for Thursday night where the surgery was opened and Dr Bell(s) prescribed whisky at Force 6——unfortunately there were too many repeat prescriptions

at increasing strength before a final hurricane force tot at the George Hotel ended the evening, but not before two crew members chatted up a very drunk barmaid—had they been at sea too long?

Fortunately steak and chips had been served as blotting paper by the chef who unbeknown to herself was now north of Flushing !