Getting ready to go: August 2014

So here we are finally at the start line and ready to go. It has been an absolutely manic couple of weeks. Gemma and Duncan were married in Lake Bled, Slovenia on the 16^th August.

What a wonderful wedding I am sincerely grateful that they accepted not a single one of my ideas and so had one of the best organised and beautiful weddings you could imagine, (see pics).

Norma, Myself my son Tony and Grand Daughter Lily managed to get back to Ramsgate very late on Tuesday the 19^th catching the ferry with 5 mins to spare after a 14 hour drive!!

The next morning we were up bright and early in order to take Spectra out with a group of corporate guests for the Royal Temple Ramsgate week. Thursday and Friday was our last sail as a team on Magnum and on Friday the old crew formed up with Stu on the wheel, Steve on Main, Tommy on foredeck and my good self navigator, tactitician and general gobby bloke in the middle. A real end of an era day, and what a shame that Martin and Jo could not be with us hale, hearty and full of joy like the old days. Our thoughts were with them as we parked Magnum up for the last time and how generous they have been over the years letting us sail their yacht while Jo is so ill.

Saturday night we had a great meal at Tommy and Sue’s, good food and the drinks certainly flowed. Thanks to Andrew and Paula for the 30 year old Port which was so good that I completely missed the Pavlova so Paula will have to bring one out to Grenada for me at the new years party. The rest of the week passed with handing over my work at O2 and buying all those last minute things for Spectra.

                                                                            Finally we get behind the bar at the yacht club!!!

Thursday night started with another excellent meal at Steve’s house followed by final drinks at the yacht club. We wked in to find balloons and banners up and 30-40 people gathered to see us off. Honestly we have met such a nice bunch of people through our association with the RTYC. Finally late on Friday we managed to cram the last tin of beans into a corner and settle down to the worst nights sleep I have ever had bouncing about on the outer breakwater pontoon.

Ramsgate to Calais 30^th August.

Six O’clock and we were up and about getting ready to go. Steve had spent the night aboard getting settled into his cabin and by 7:30 Andy, Sarah, Tommy and Sue had arrived. After Final goodbyes on the pontoon from Andy Ketteringham and Mark we left 15 minutes late which is nothing short of a miracle. As we turned around the breakwater Andrew, Paula, Bob and Bibi were waving from the harbour wall. The wind was fresh which explained the tear in my eye.

We had a fairly incident free passage over to Calais 5 hours with the wind gusting up to 28Kts for most of the way.

Saturday night and the Calais Yacht club opened it’s doors to 7 yacht crews who had cruised or raced over to see us off or perhaps to make sure that we did actually leave this time. It was also nice to see Frank Martin the RTYC Commodore make the journey over with Steph and Stan to say good bye (in fluent French by Frank the dark horse). Calais was hosting a band tournament with the main square hosting the big stage while the yacht club also had different bands on up to 2AM! Needless to say after a huge meal out three RTYC flag officers burnt off excess energy by running through the street fountains in Calais centre much to the amusement of the locals who joined in with the crazy English.

                                                                             Showing of the new Team T Shirts in Calais Yacht Club prior to

                                                                                                    a meal out and some fountain dancing.

Sunday morning and nursing huge hangovers we decided on a lazy day re-packing and maintaining the boat. After saying good bye to Tommy and Sue who will be rejoining us in Madeira Tony Smythe came down and gave Norma a lesson in sewing sutures on a piece of Pork Belly before heading off back to the UK. Neville and Stan also called around to say good bye and firm up timings for when they are joining us again, Stan in Lisbon and Neville and Elizabeth in Dominica.

That left us with Norma and Myself, Steve King, Andy and Sarah B-H for the Biscay crossing sometime next week. Up early doors tomorrow for the trip down to St-Valery-sur-Somme and what feels like the real start of the journey..