Bryn an RNLI colleague went through the fuel de-bugging with me.Thanks Bryn.New crew, Bernard (Branson)arrived and I was more than relieved.We prepped to leave and went for a lovely Balti meal,where the owner had been to the Rick Stein seafood School!I had amazing Nepalese fish and a mango lassi (not the dog,but a sheep's yohurt drink,an Asian smoothie so to speak),what a treat.We were also given a free shot and as Bernard doesn't drink and i rarely these days,we tried to put it in the orchids,or give it to the neighbours.I drank mine instead.
Departed for Salcombe and had a gentle broad reach across for 50nm,well most of it,until i got concerned about my gooseneck attachment and dropped the main,tried to fix it and re-set again,but finally took it down.It was also very rolly in the swell to work on deck.Motoered the last 8nm into Salcombe and what a wonderful place,though being the busy South coast totally overcrowded,in fact I've never seen so many dinghies in one place,must've been hundreds.Bernard the sweetie treated me (again) to lunch.Bernard's friend David was on his boat (Pollyione)here,with family and wanted Bernard to sail back with him to Poole, from Brixham!What incredible timing.
.David also took us ashore to the town in a dory he'd hired for the week.
Departed Salcombe at 06.00 and followed by an exodus of boats in the slot of a glorious morning.However, gentle though it was,and quick,past Start Point there was little wind.We cheered ourselves in the glow of the (rare) morning sunlight.
it took 4hours for the trip up to Brixham.I felt more at home here as i'd come twice last year with the RNLI Sea Safety Roadshow.We moored up on the town quay alongside a sailing boat (with C.J.,B.J.,and Jane onboard),which was outside a huge motor vessel.Also on the pontoon Vigilance and other brixham sailing vessels of old,the former which I'd sailed on last summer.
met a guy who put the local radio station on to me (Palm FM) and I subsequently did a phone interview before i feel asleep slumped in the cockpit.
Bernard meanwhile went for a walk in to town and came back with a fiver for me,as he'd sold his train ticket to a lady going to see her sick mother in London.He didn't want any money so she offered the money to me!
When David arrived he cooked a glorious roast dinner and I ate meat for the first time in months.Naturally,it didn't agree with me.
Waiting for next crew,Gary (photographer friend of Steve Holmes RNLI LSSO, in Weymouth) and plan to leave Tuesday ,or probably Wednesday, as more weather is coming in.Blah!
So close to home ,yet so far.
Hope my Tony will do last leg with me from Gosport.
Pam from s/y Cari, called,they're in Fishguard with young Jack on s/y Paddiwack (17years old and sailing RB on a Coribee,for sailability).
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