050:20.936 N

004:07.435 W

Jenny Cliff Bay, Plymouth             

We heard the best sound in the world today ~ the fizz that sea water makes when you are sailing gently down wind.

We ghosted out of Dartmouth bathed in dawn sunlight, then found to our delight the forecast was spot on ~ easterly 10-14 knots.

We marked the moment passing Start Point by having one of Caroline’s flapjacks. Enormous thanks to Caroline, Marion and Sue for their flapjacks and cake, all much appreciated  … although now down to our last few precious squares.

We had a gorgeous sail around the headlands to Plymouth; hot in the sun, wind on our backs, jib poled out and preventer on the main.  It was fun to see the coastline from the sea accompanied by a constant roar from the swell as it worked its way along the craggy rocks.

We were interrupted on several occasions by excruciatingly high-pitched continuous, high-priority DSC alarms from a vessel in distress. Until the button on the VHF is turned off, the alarm just gets louder and louder; clever tech but deafening if steering and unable to leave the tiller. We then listened to Falmouth Coastguard establishing the facts and subsequently coordinating the rescue; as we approached Plymouth we could see their Lifeboat heading out into the Channel.  

We sailed right into the anchorage here at Jenny Cliff Bay in Plymouth and are rocking gently now that the wind and swell have died down. A few running repairs to the mainsail cover in the cockpit before relaxing after our early start.

Our plan is to sail to Falmouth tomorrow, and Penzance on Monday, then once the forecast blow goes through, we have a decision to make which way to go; Isles of Scilly, Milford Haven or Southern Ireland…..