In view of impending high winds, we sailed from Portsmouth all the way through to Poole on one tide, despite head winds – not something we would have achieved on Santana. The next morning we motored in strong winds to Ridge Wharf – a test handling the boat in the confines of the river in force 5-6.
After that we got the boat onto our mooring, secured by mooring lines while Tony prepared permanent mooring tails.
At last we were able to relax and appreciate the tranquility of rustling reeds and the chatter of reed warblers. What peace after Dead Fish Alley.
Over the weekend we were back in Portsmouth and Tony in Bristol. On Tuesday we were back on board ready for our cruise westward. On the Wednesday we had a good sail to Lulworth Cove, ready for a departure around Portland Bill. Lullworth Cove is amazing as ever.
On Thursday we set off for Portland Bill but were becalmed, so we diverted to Weymouth and anchored off the beach there and enjoyed our first swim off the sugar scoop stern – very convenient.
The weather over the weekend is looking bad, so today Friday we made a dash for Dartmouth. After negotiating the dreaded Portland Bill we had Force 5 headwinds all the way across Lyme Bay, but despite that arrived at dusk in good shape and much less exhausted than we would have been in Santana.
We are anchored right in the middle of the river. It is difficult to convey to anyone who has not experienced it, but it is a magical spot. The lights of Dartmouth reach up the hills on one side and those of Kingswear up the other. We shall hang out here over the weekend at least while the winds huff & puff their strongest and we are glad we are not out there.
Love to all
Y & T
Fantastic looking boat!
Enjoy Dartmouth – you are right it is a magical place, we love it there too. With the weather as it is at the moment, you are in the best place.
He storm-sailors, must be heavy for you because here in Holland the wind is 5-6 on land! It is realy a “vuurdoop” for Antipole I think, but she shows now whatfore you wanted this ship instead of… your good old Santana.
In dutch now: dinsdag vetrek ik – met Geert – voor een paar dagen naar Frankrijk (Bourgondie) om in een huis van vrienden van Geert de moestuin te verzorgen en te luieren. Hoop op beter weer, maar daarna een trip naar Hamburg voor de jaarlijkse “Nordart”, een kunstmanifestatie die Lida en ik (volgens traditie) zomers bezoeken: ik verheug ik me er op. Hier in het Amsterdamse alles oke: eind van de maand verjaardagfeest van mijn kleinprinsen, twee jaar alweer. Liefs voor jou en de jouwen, heleen