The next leg of the Round Britain from Dover to Portsmouth. In Portsmouth we went into the Royal Clarence marina.
Alex and some university friends joined me for the trip across from Lymington to Poole. During the trip we were buzzed by the Coastguard rescue helicopter and asked to take part in a hi-line training exercise.
During the trip across to Poole we were buzzed by the Coastguard helicopter and asked to take part in a hi-line rescue training exercise.
A short passage from Poole across to Portland via the Lulworth firing range. Paul joined me as crew.
Between June 2nd and the 5th, we took part in the RYA Passage to Portland event. During the event, we got a tour around the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, discovered a replica of the James Caird and had a dinner in Portland Castle, as well as watching the Sail for Gold regatta racing.
The Boat Project is one of the Cultural Olympiad projects. It was the winning commission for the South East and was funded by the Arts Council. The artists are called Lone Twin. They asked people across the South East to donate wooden items that meant something to them and all 1221 items are incorporated into the boat. It is beautifully completed and during the Passage to Portland event, Roger was one of the eight winners who got a sail on it.
On the first day of the Passage to Portland event, we went for a sail down to Lulworth Cove and back. A lovely sail, though we did do nearly 20 miles of sailing to travel the 8 miles to Lulworth Cove from Portland Harbour! It was also interesting to see the various competitors out training including Iain Percy and Bart Simpson in their Star.
During the Passage to Portland event, we got to watch the first day’s racing in the Skandia Sail for Gold Regatta. During a lull in the racing, we were also invited aboard the committee boat on the 49er course where the Principal race Office – David Campbell-James – gave us a great talk about managing the courses.
A short visit to Brixham, but an attractive town with an intriguing history. William of Orange landed in Brixham with his Dutch troops in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution. There is also a replica of Sir Fraancis Drake’s Golden Hinde in the harbour.
A stop in Plymouth for a few days (June 13-17th) to wait out a gale coming through. Visited the Barbican in town, Mt.Edgecumbe Country Park and pottered around getting to know the area.
A short trip to Fowey. Came here from Plymouth before heading on to Falmouth. A nice town, but we weren’t alone visiting as a large cruise ship was anchored off the entrance as well!
We moored in Mylor while in Falmouth and left the boat there for a few days. While there did a walk along the south shore of Mylor Creek to Mylor Bridge and then along the north shore and on down Restronguet Creek to the Pandora Inn. After leaving the boat, we then returned a little over a week later at the same time as the Pendennis Cup. We also visited the Falmouth Maritime Museum.
Photos from the trip across from Falmouth to Milford Haven and to Neyland Marina.
From Ardglass we did a passage up the coast to Bangor. We then wintered the boat in Bangor Marina.
Using Bangor as a base, we explored Northern Ireland during the first couple of weeks in August.