Final update

Vaquero
Wed 4 Aug 2010 16:20
51 59.8N 1 16.1E
Levington
After arriving in Plymouth, I set off
with crew up Channel two days later, stopping in Dartmouth on Tuesday 20th
July. Two days after that, en-route for Weymouth, the exhaust blew so I
decided to return to Dartmouth to have it fixed. We ended up getting stuck
there for three days waiting for a part to arrive and my crew had to jump ship
to get home to attend to his business. What a pleasant place Dartmouth is
to be stranded in! I finally left on Monday 26th and singlehanded non-stop
to Brighton to meet up with my cousin for a night out. The following
morning I set off again intending to get back to Levington in one hit, but ended
up stopping in Dover in a state of exhaustion. Unfortunately the marina
was full, so I had to anchor out and ended up spending precious sleep time on
anchor watch, worried that I was going to hit one of the other boats. So
much for a good night's sleep. I now had a deadline to be back in the
office for Friday morning and the wind decided to help by going into the
northwest giving me a beat all the way home. Leaving from Dover with the
tide means you have to fight it all the way from Long Sand Head, so it ended up
being a rather slow motorsail across the top of the banks, finally arriving in
Levington at two o'clock on Friday morning. Needless to say the office
opened late!
So now the voyage is complete with the
boat safely back home in Levington, nearly five thousand miles after leaving in
early April. Despite not achieving my objective of reaching the USA, it has been
the most amazing experience, one that I would not have missed for anything and
one I would happily repeat. Perhaps that's because singlehganded ocean
sailors have short memories - you tie up alongside, get ashore
and kiss the ground swearing never again, ever ever ever, and half way through
the second cold beer you think, actually it was quite fun, when's the next trip
starting? It's been emotional, as they say. My wonderful boat has
proven to be a supremely safe and seaworthy design, wet and uncomfortable on
many occasions, but always steadfast and surefooted.
Who has known heights and
depths
Shall not again know
peace
Not as the calm heart
knows
Low, ivied walls, a garden
close,
The old enchantment of a
rose.
And though he tread the humble ways of
man
He shall not speak the common tongue
again.
Thank you all so much for you help,
interest and support, God bless you all.
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