Wed 26 Aug, the Final Leg, or is it?

We had thought about a stopover in Eastbourne, Brighton or Shoreham, but looking at the speed-time-distance, optimised by best use of tidal streams available, and therefore the sort of time we would be approaching such venues, we decided to press on to Island Harbour in one go. I think the heightened desire to get home had something to do with this decision, however from a navigational point of view it all made sense to do this.

This trip of 124 miles comprised, in broad chunks: Ramsgate to Dungeoness (30 miles), Dungeoness to Beachy Head 30 miles, Beachy Head to Selsey Bill (40 miles, spookily the longest leg) and Selsey Bill to Island Harbour (24 miles.)

(Officially we closed the Round Britain loop at 0253 as we passed the point where we turned back just before Beachy Head in a horrible easterly blow on 20 April. Ran back to Brighton for a couple of days.)

Departed Ramsgate at 1440, made Dungeoness at about 2040 (6 hours,) Beachy Head at 0220 (5 hrs 40,) Selsey Bill at 1005 (7 hrs 45), were between Horse Sand and Nomansland Forts at 1145 and alongside in Island Harbour, shut down at 1337 (3 hrs 35.)

‘I love it when a plan comes together’

As we approached our berth a load of Island Harbour sailing friends were onboard their boats, sounding their horns and generally raising up a storming welcome.
Wight Mistress was lightly adorned with the courtesy flags of all the significant places we had visited and stepped ashore.
The 6 P’s had flipped to the fore, as we ‘just happened’ to have a case of champoo in the fridge. Our lovely friend Lyn brought around one of her famous cheesecakes and we enjoyed a couple of hours of boisterous chat and bubbles.
At some stage we retired, tired and emotional, to bed.

So. In summary (after the first trawl back through a very thick logbook and I reserve the right to amend the figures where I find errors (and to protect the innocent.)::

10 April, left and headed east
22 April, headed back from Brighton to Island Harbour ( flying along all the way downwind on a Chesapeake Bay reef - did 51 miles in 8 hours with good favourable tidal streams, even though only Neaps +1 - you will remember the very strong and persistent easterly winds?)
7 May, departed Island Harbour heading west
27 August, arrived back in Island Harbour

For the statistically minded:

Total mileage 1906
Total days 140 inclusive
Total days at sea 65
Total days alongside 75 75
Total engine hours 306 306
Total diesel consumed 933 ltrs 933
Average fuel consumption 3.05 ltrs per hour 3.05
Total spent on diesel this trip £793.62 £793.62
(NB we started with full tanks, total 414 ltrs)

Barbara and I hope you have enjoyed this blog. Please keep an eye on it for a while as we have a lot of photos to upload and now we have time to do it properly.

Our thanks go to all those lovely people who engaged with us during this wonderful experience. In particular:

David and Kerry, our son and daughter in law (and next door neighbours) who looked after our home while we were away, stocked the fridge, managed the window cleaners etc etc.

Steve and Rachel Morgan, old friends from the RN, who took us up homers for a BBQ and to meet their friends. Steve is a volunteer on the vintage Brixham trawler ‘Pilgrim’,

Mike Smyth CF28 EX-REA of Fisgard (and Steve’s brother from another mother) - our video expert, webcam spy and provider of weather snippets, rude comments and general banter, as well as joining us for the passage from Dundee to Berwick upon Tweed and again from Ramsgate to Island Harbour. And for generally leading Steve astray!!

Sam (Steve) and Ellen McLeod. We met them in Campbeltown. Sam and Steve served together years ago. and Sam is also a retired submariner. It was really lovely to see them.

Catherine and Steve Bunn F35 PJ Fisher. Catherine joined us at the top of the Inverness staircase to lend a hand, then Steve and Catherine invited us home for a break, do laundry, go sightseeing, buy provsions etc. THEN they sailed in PJ Fisher in company with us up, across the Pentland Firth and into Scapa Flow in the Orkneys and spent a bit of time with us there too.

David and Christine Dawson F37 Lunga. They drove all the way from Ullapool to Culloden (55 miles) to pick us up, takes on a tour of the highlands and back to their house in Ullapool for a lovely meal, THEN drove us all the way back. Another lovely experience.

Charles Morland, F30 Hedda, who came to see us in Lowestoft and took us shopping.

Alan Ward F30 Northeaster North Star, who maintained comms with us and kept us up to date with Fisher Owners Association while two of the flag officers swanned off Round Britain.

Steve and Steph Rodgers, our friends in Plymouth. They took us home to ‘sleep in a real bed for a bit.’ A lovely sojourn in Plymouth.

Kel and Jackie, Broome 37 Boisterous Mistress, who we bumped into along the Caledonian Canal and again in Lowestoft (small world.)

Richard Brockelsby, Colvic 32 Ketty II, who we met in the Crinan Canal and again in the Caledonian Canal. Richard was sailing single-handed around Britain, raising funds for a Parkinsons Disease Charity. Last time we spoke he was on his way from Yarmouth to Poole. We wish him all the very best for a safe return to Plymouth

I am sure I have forgotten key members of this lovely bunch of people so as advised by St Francis of Assissi, I beg your forgiveness. I will continue to update and correct for a while before committing this to the god of blogs and get it printed.

Yours aye

Steve and Barbara White
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