The plan was to sail down the south coast of the UK and along the way pick Charlie to cross the Bay of Biscay, staying as far out the bay as possible on the much deeper ocean.

However, as it usually goes with sailing plans, things change on the way. The wind was supposed to veer from south west to the north, but it didn’t. It also was supposed to decrease instead of increasing to 35kts.

So after 36 hrs. on a choppy North Sea we decided to make a stopover at Shotley Marina, Dover. We weren’t in the routine of watches yet so we all could use a good night sleep.