We slipped off our visitor buoy at 12.48PM Thursday the 31st of July and headed for Sand Acre Bay, Plymouth 50:23.70N 4:13.43W

We carefully cruised out over the bar and sailed our course for Plymouth harbor, the sea state had dropped off a lot but still a little rough however the wind was very unpredictable, it was gusting up to 30knt’s infrequent it may have been but it was quite harsh. We sailed much of our course on a dead run which made it all the more difficult to control the boat. (Dead Run = Wind from dead behind) Boat likes wind from the side to make it all the more comfy..

We only had 4 miles to make it into the safety of Plymouth breakwater but it was an absolute ride to remember. You know how it goes, one thing leads to another, the first thing to happen was the front sail starboard sheet pulled out of its block, so Fi had to go up to the bow and try and sort it out only for us to be hit by another gust just as we were in between all of the obsticles you could imagine. After a few heated moments we sailed through after releasing the main sheet to allow us a little more control only to be hit by another gust. So you know as the speed of the wind increases the force on the sails is squared so even a slight increase can cause havoc. So from 15knt’s to 30 in one go is a damn lot. I can only say control is the objective all of a sudden. It is sort of like driving a car that is aqua-planing, not that many of you would of done this, so just know it is bad. As we headed into the safe harbor it did nothing for our safety at all, we were struck again and this time the front sail got caught as Fiona furled it in causing both sheets to fly loose. A quick swap of helmsmen was meant to allow me to be able to go forward but as Fiona aligned Silky onto course the boom jibbed and the cracking rope really gave my back a work out. If my head had of been anywhere near the boom I would have been knocked 30 feet broadside. A lesson for us both is to never again sail with out preventers on the main. The thing is Fiona hates me going forward while we sail, so a preventer was not going to happen. Never again……. Preventers are another thing for safety.

Safety is a funny thing you know, over the last week both Fiona and I have been doing things just for safety sake that we have never done before, the first is not drinking while sailing and this is a first. The second is wearing our life jackets and even doing up the crouch straps, the third is proactively monitoring the radio. Lots more to mention but the point is that everything is different once you are away from you familiar stomping ground.

After we sorted the front sail out, we headed for our imaginary point in the bay, around the Naval frigate and past the big cargo ship steaming our way. Again with out our lovely aids to navigation and Fiona’s sharp eyesight we would of had no idea of where we were as the rain kept coming down. And kept coming down. And kept coming down some more. Amazing to think we were in 30 degrees weather 2 days prior and now I could not see 100 feet in front of me.  

The tide was with use and we made the most of it cruising up the harbor under the main at a rate of knots. We found a anchorage and stayed put. Yes an anchorage, we had decided it is time to try to get over our fear and sleep tonight. (Jason your leaving gift (Scotch is my fear buster)  

I would put on more pictures but once the wind picked up the camera is not aloud out, beside you would not of seen SHIT…..

Tomorrow we pick up our friend Craig North who fly’s in from Amsterdam to assist Fiona and I traversing across the bay of Biscay.

Day 012

Destination – Sand Acre Bay, Plymouth

Traveling Direction – West

Wind Direction – South East (Strong breeze F6(26Knt’s)gusting up to F7(33Knt’s))

Average Speed 5.2 Knots (Extremely Fast for such a short distance)

Top Speed 8.1 Knots Over Ground 

Total distance 11.0 Nautical Miles

Travel Time 2.11 Hours

Crew - Fiona (Not happy but fine now with a wine in her hand)

Missing Work - I do not think So

Expenses - £0.00 This it how it should be 

Next Destination – Tamar River, Plymouth