We are using the web address from our 2014/2015 year away so initially the maps may be quite confusing but once we head north into the Irish Sea, our routes will separate.

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After many months of planning, “Thursday’s Child” our Sadler 34 with three Minchins on board, Bol, Jojo and Harry, slipped her mooring at 0845 on Tuesday 14 April 2026. It felt great to be on the move finally.

Very many thanks to those who popped down to see us on Monday and then on Tuesday as we were leaving the harbour, it was really appreciated (I tried to upload photos but it crashed the system!)

As we nosed out of the harbour we could hear and see a gang of family and friends gathered at the end of Yarmouth Pier, what a fabulous sight. The wind from the south enabled us to raise the main in front of the RSYC, then we bore away and rolled out the jib, sailing past the Pier under full sail with the ebb under our keel, thank you to Stuart and Caroline for these photos. It was truly an incredible feeling planning to be away until August.

We waved until we could wave no more, then settled into sailing TC towards Weymouth. The Needles came and went and the wind and swell increased. Harry’s Rock and St Albans Head came and went, the wind and swell increased further. TC rode the 3m swell, 27 knots over her deck with 2 reefs, and the crew hunkered down, thrilled to see 10.8 knots on the GPS at one stage. We managed the entire leg in one tide, arriving in Weymouth at 1430. Quite an exhausting ride with a lot of bumps and bruises by the end, but very contented to have broken free from the Solent and to be underway at last. Harry put out his fishing rod, purchased last year from David Temple but TC was going too fast to be of interest to any fish!

Thank you again to the RSYC members for their extremely generous gift of a full set of Musto oilskins, it felt amazing to be dry and comfortable throughout the day, and topped with a Musto bobble hat ensured I was warm as well. 

It is a terrific boost to have our Harry (21) on board, such a strong sailor now and a really positive addition to the crew. He will remain on board for ten days before heading back to Warwick Uni.  It was however a difficult farewell to our Isabelle (19) who remains on the IOW, now teaching sailing at UKSA. Hopefully Isabelle will join us in Scotland.

A parting gift from the RSYC staff was a stunning Logbook which Bol christened that evening, such a thoughtful gift and one that will be used many times a day.

At least two nights in Weymouth, as the weather turns westerly for a few days, plus a bit of time to recover from an exhausting few weeks building up to this big moment.