A fine first day on the boat
Thursdays Child
Robin & Joanna Minchin
Fri 25 Jul 2014 22:20
050:35.2N 002:04.00W Harry M on the cliff above Chapman's Pool with TC in the middle An incredible feeling on Tuesday night 22nd July 2014, we'd said farewell to family and friends and the two of us sat in the cockpit at 1am just savouring the moment which had arrived at last. After over six years of planning, the departure day had finally arrived and we were off in the morning. The weather was good, the boat was full, everything was as ready as could be and nothing could stop us now. Wednesday 23rd July; after a fabulous send off by our shore party we sailed out through The Needles with wind and tide helping us, on past Poole as progress was so good but before long the wind died away as the seabreeze cancelled out the NE wind so on with the motor and Mr Bukh pushed us as we wallowed our way around St Albans head to Chapman's Pool. The boat is so full of stores that it was a relief she sailed as well as she did out of the Solent. Chapman's Pool was a delightful anchorage, we swam and ate lunch followed by a lazy afternoon on the boat. Isabelle rowed us all ashore in the dinghy to explore the beach which was covered with fossils then Harry and his dad climbed the path to the cliff. Supper was prepared by building a small fire on the beach and cooking sausages over it, then Harry rowed us back to TC to eat around the table in the cockpit. After a day of very little wind a steady NE wind built up and blew all through the night, we didn't get much sleep as there is always the worry of dragging our anchor, but our very heavy anchor and chain did their magic and we were in the same spot in the morning. |