..It's quite humbling to be reminded that the elements are king!Wonderful sail from Brighton, NE 3-4, 5.5knots average. However, on leaving Newhaven, three attempts to hoist the main, as I shook the reef out by mistake!Then the halyard got caught around a spreader,(after a late night at NYC, demonstrating RNLI Lifejacket safety), started out lovely to Seaford Head.We knew that we might not make Dover with stronger winds predicted and these would be on the nose after Dungeness. We didn't even get that far and thank goodness. We'd left Newhaven with a 3-4 NE and then as we began to turn after the shelter of Beachy head we we're just punching the waves, with the wind increasing and the wind was now against the tide. After two hours of the boat being churned up and Julie my crew now being sick we did what we could and that was to turn into the safety of Sovereign Harbour , Eastbourne.We had to tack through the racing fleet which mad it all seem a bit surreal. We were reefed and they were flying spinnakers!The wind is forecasted to be continuing for the next few days, but I really need the rest.Went to see Juliet from Brighton (Domani) and she kindly gave us moral support and a cheque! So we're quite philosophical about it and have to wait for more clement conditions. I'm not in a race and this is Britain!
RNLI brought a body back from Beachy Head, the 4th this week!
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