Following the previous evening’s send-off gathering, we slipped lines, filled with fuel and crept out of Northney marina at 1030 BST with half a metre of water beneath the keel.  We pottered slowly out of the Chichester Harbour conservancy, past West Pole buoy and set for a broad reach south of the Isle of Wight.  The weather was too good to be true: Bright sunshine, a fresh easterly breeze and the promise of a sustained high over Biscay.

We (Nigel, John, Mie, Richard) settled quickly into relaxed conversation in the cockpit and this lasted well into the afternoon.  The watch pattern was agreed, the sails were goose-winged and reefed for the night, dinner of cold roast chicken and salad was consumed and all but Richard took to their beds.

It is hard to believe that the adventure has at last begun, after months of detailed planning and preparation – and only three minor problems to add to the snagging list!

Nigel