Day Eight - The channel

Tripled
Thu 16 Jun 2011 00:14
Really I have completely lost track of days because I think the last blog was 'day six' but the ship's log seems to suggest we finished day 8 at 10am this morning. I'm very confused, the days have run together much more on this trip than they usually do!

Anyway. At 0110 BRITISH TIME!! (0010UTC) our position is 49:58.1N 004:26.8W. We have 7 knots of wind from dead behind so are motoring through the channel. Salcombe is 29 miles in front. We have had quite a bit of tide against us for the last few hours but it is lessening now and we are still hoping to get into harbour early this morning.
The crepes are still on the cards... however a combined force of Rob and Gerry informed us that there are gale force winds coming through the channel in the next few days, and that we would be unable to get out of Salcome safely if there were strong winds and a swell. Armed with this information, we have spent today searching the weather from every angle, grib files, shipping forecast etc. At last check it was looking fine to leave Salcombe tomorrow afternoon, and provided we didn't mess around, we would be safely in Emsworth before the heavy winds hit. Mum and Andy are going to check the weather one last time as we approach Salcombe, before we make the final decision. But I am very much hoping that by the time I wake up tomorrow, we will be swinging gently on a mooring in Salcombe. Lovely!

A great day today, not so much sailing-wise as we were motoring all day, but it was sunny and warm (bikini on - James trying to get rid of his tan-socks) for most of the day. We have seen more ships today than since we left Turks and Caicos, if not longer ago than that, and for the 6 or so hours there has constantly been at least one ship on the radar.

Despite the allure of fish and chips and a chocolate crepe, I have never been less keen to get into land. Normally the last few days are spent counting the miles and hours - for this trip I have been steadfastly ignoring that and not registering the numbers when I write them in the log. Perhaps why I have no idea what day we are on! Mum also agreed that there is not the same feeling of relief we have normally had in coming into land - because this is our last sail, our trip is so very almost over and we soon have to become 'landlubbers' again. How will we cope?!!!