Day 5 - Dartmouth
Silk Sheets
Ben Shute & Fiona Kennelly
Thu 24 Jul 2008 18:18
headed for Dittisham in Dartmouth 50:22.83N 3:35.52W
We spent the day doing last minute emailing and administrative crap such as
a stupid VAT return, filled the boat with water and did some washing to once
again make the most of the tide at 4:00PM for our short hop.
As we sailed out into the bay from our safe haven we were hit with strong
westerly swell and wind and had to beat the whole way around however the
tide, our best friend helped us get there is a fantastically quick time.
Fiona and I are getting a lot better at sailing in bad weather managing the
boat as she cuts her path through the sea. No way a fishing lure was going
out today.
As we rounded the last head and made our way in to Dartmouth it was like
sailing into another country with 2 medieval castles on either side of the
rocky cliff's. We sailed up the river for about 2 miles and found ourselves
a lovely anchorage.
We both loved Dartmouth so much we decided to say a few nights and the
weather was fantastic. We also decided that we would anchor which is fine
being free however we moved on the third day and dropped the big bit of
steel on a steep ledge. We worked on the boat in the morning and enjoyed the
sun while we waited for the tide to turn before we could happily leave to go
to town. Luckily we waited because while Fiona was lying in the dingy she
watched the anchor buoy disappear under water and the next thing you know we
were drifting down the river straight for another boat. We pulled anchor and
tried again, and again and again until we thought we were fine. But we were
not so lucky as the engine stopped with the anchor ball rope now wrapped
around the prop. SHIT!!!!! So now we had no anchor to hold us, no engine to
motor use away and we were stuck in a river with not a lot of room to sail
out of. I put on a pair of goggles on dived over the side and unwrapped the
rope, this got the motor going again then we pulled up the anchor, swore at
the place a few times and left for safer ground, rattled as we were we
called our friends to ask were abouts they were and we agreed there and then
to meet in Salcombe. Well what do you do???
Day 005
Destination - Dartmouth
Traveling Direction - West
Wind Direction - East (Strong breeze about F5(20Knt’s))
Average Speed 4.8 Knots (Fast)
Top Speed 8.6 Knots Over Ground (Thank you tide again and a dead run)
Total distance 12.3 Nautical Miles
Travel Time 2.52 Hours
Crew - Fiona (Loving it)
Missing Work - I do not think So
Expenses - £2.94 (Milk & Bread) + £1.30 Devon Ice cream + £18.56 Chandlery +
£33.97 (Wine, Slime Lime Tonic and Diet Coke) + £13.90 Mooring fees....
Next Destination - Salcombe
