After somewhere close to 9000 miles (according to Google maps), I’ve decided to call a halt in Brighton. I had planned to keep the boat in Essex, but the weather forecast didn’t look great and it turned out to be pretty cheap here.
Falmouth and particularly Dartmouth were beautiful. I also very much enjoyed the challenge of sailing up the channel, especially the big tidal turbulence I encountered while edging a little too close to the Portland race and motoring up the Needles channel on the ebb, neither of which I will be doing again if I can help it. I’ve added some photos here.
I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks at least doing various jobs on the boat, getting her ready for winter. These include installing a new battery charger, and resealing the deck fittings. Over the winter I’ll be replacing the switch panel, varnishing floor panels, replacing the water tanks and possibly making a start on varnishing the rest of the interior woodwork. The boat will be lifted out at some point, and I’ll be making a proper gas locker, patching the antifouling, and replacing the propeller, shaft, bearing and shaft seal. I’ll also be paying someone to clean and repair the sails and make new upholstery. Perhaps I’ll end up with the boat I wish I’d left with…
I’ll be in Oxford and London at various times over the next few weeks, so get in touch if you want to meet up. X