Hoped for an easy ride.Wrong!
Left Weymouth at 10.30,but managed to slip down the companion way steps and twist my foot before we left.Asked Gary to pass me an Arnica pilules from my homeopathic kit and he passed me Arsenicum (Arsenic!) instead,luckily it's watered down somewhat.
Said our farewells to our 'town pontoon' friends.Rick on Lullaby hopes to get back to Wooton Creek in the next few days and will stand off from the Bill (Portland),as going close makes his toes curl.Jane on Escapade gave me freshly made cucumber pickles and i gave everyone something from my boat.
Left with fair wind then found our course to Portland on the edge and difficult to keep .We gybed up but of course that was too far North so gradually went South of the Bill and it got rougher and rollier.Went through the night adjusting and sorting out the boat.I hate down wind rolls!Port navigation light went and we had to shine the powerful strobe light on the sail when a large fishing boat was bearing down towards us.Kept everything to starboard after that.Goose neck seems to be moving,so i tightened that up.Had a cup of tea (made in the flask,as usual) and had a sleep for an hour whilst gary kept watch.Frustrating that we had to go so far off the Bill but the winfd was picking up and it was onshore.A huge fishing boat made me change course about 3 times ,as he swept around me,but hey,his need is greater than mine.
As we gradually got round the Bill in the daylight we could see the end of the race,by the Shambles Bank (SE of the Bill) and went through it as it was in our favour now with 7-8 knots of boat speed. As we entered the bay towards Weymouth the wind veered to NW and the sun came out!A glorious morning and Gary jumped up and started taking photos like the pro that he is.
Called the HM (after instructions from Steve Holmes friend and LSSO Weymouth)and got a berth opposite the lifeboat on the town pontoonApart from some snooty people on stink pots on the pontoon it was good to be here.I like the old harbour town of Weymouth,it has character and vibrancy.
Tony finally home from Mexico and now on his way to join me in the last leg of my odyssey.
Went for dinner with Steve ,Tom (Steve's new Sea Safety protegé)and Gary (who nearly fell asleep over his Guiness again!),then back to bed for an early night.
Tom's doing a Sea Check on my boat today .
Tony arrives this afternoon.
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