50:20.247N 004:37.828W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Wed 11 Jul 2012 22:00
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"Short days and calm seas"
Tea was served at 7am followed by breakfast and we
were on our way once again. The forecast was as usual SW 4-5 occasionally
6. Reefed down yet again, it was a pleasant start, the sun shone and I
managed to stay up on the deck until after lunch. The gannets were
beautiful to watch, some came so close to the boat that I could actually see
their yellow heads. They swoop so low creating a pressure which enables
them to get so close to the waves but to never to get caught in them. It
is delightful to see them fish from such a height. One minute they are
gliding about 50ft above the waves, when they suddenly duck dive, fold in their
beautiful scimitar wings and drop like an arrow straight down into the sea to
catch their meal.
Our plan was to reach Falmouth, and although
sailing at 6 knots we were into a head wind. The plan was changed and we
headed into Fowey. Whisper sailed beautifully, riding over and through the
waves. Lying below, it seemed to me as if she sometimes was not in the
water at all, as she suddenly dropped with a thud onto the next wave. They
say that British sailors are the best. The reason being that they
manage to sail down the English Channel and secondly they can sail across the
Bay of Biscay, after that the seas are easy in comparison. Could this just
be another ploy to keep me on board. I already feel that I have been
kidnapped as I have not been able to get ashore since leaving Littlehampton on
Sunday. I think my only claim to fame might be that I survived, at
least I hope that I shall.
Fowey is a pleasant harbour, but open, we picked up
a mooring but I'm afraid the crew objected to the swell and we motored on up the
river to the visitors pontoon, where it is a little more stable, but no where
near as sheltered as our mooring in Salcombe last night. Fowey 5 -
Salcombe 10!
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