Followers of my blog (are there any?) will know about our wonderful celebration of my 70th birthday last summer. I sailed single handed from Plymouth to Lisbon where Emily joined me. Then we continued south to the Algarve and came ashore for a special holiday with our two wonderful sons, daughters in law and four grandchildren. later we headed across to Madeira to join the Irish Cruising Club celebrations of the centenary of Conor O Brien's circumnavigation.

Pemandia spent the winter ashore in Madeira, literally under the airport runway. There is a small yard under the massive piles supporting the runway that really exists for airport safety boats etc.

On Thursday I will fly out to Madeira. launch Pemandia and return to Quinta do Lorde marina at the E end of the island. Huon Gray will join me and once all preparations are complete we will set out for the passage home to Plymouth.  We hope to do this in one hop although at the moment the weather gods are showing a slightly perverse sense of humour... .

I couldn't have a better crew mate than Huon - we have been friends for over 50 years. So our priorities are, in order, first safety of crew and people second, lots of fun and third a speedy passage.