Well, we are now two days into our trip and tied up securely(I hope) in Plymouth waiting for the force 8 promised around midnight tonight.

On Sunday we slipped from PYC at 06.15. A force5/6 occationally 7 N.E. was forecast, so we put two reefs in from the start. We were at times making 9 knots on the GPS and were off Portland Bill by 09.50.

An hour or so after rounding Portland Les decided to see if he could attract some fish by projectile vomitting to port. After he went down below to lie down, it obviously worked as we were joined by the largest pod of Dolphins we had ever seen. We guessed about 50 swimming either side of the boat. The excitment brought on another  bout of vomit rocket from Les, who was feeling pretty rotten, and wondering why he had decided to have this adventure.

We made very good time to Dartmouth, arriving at Darthaven Marina just 11 hours after leaving our berth in Poole. A quiet and early night was called for. Gail only had one glass of wine and Les none. Shower and supper and bed by 9pm.

A later start was made today, with no time pressure, we slipped from Dartmouth towards Plymouth at 09.50. The forecast was a 2/3 NE going to a 3/4 ENE later. We hoisted full sail outside Dartmouth and were soon cracking along on a tight fetch in a force 4/5 southerly. So much for weather forecasts!  After about 30 minutes all the Simrad instuments went down. No depth or wind readings. Fortunately the GPS chartplotter was still working.

A couple of tacks later we passed Start Point, hoping to crack off onto a reach, only to find the wind dropped to about force 3 on the nose. Not being too proud, and still without instruments, we fired up the iron jib, dropped the sails and motored to Plymouth, arriving around 16.00 at Mayflower marina. On the way in the instruments went down again. We think it is a problem with the self steering computer. Not sure how we are going to fix it, as they usually need replacing when they play up.
Just been for a drink and to listen to a talk by Chris Tibbs, the weather guru. Met a couple of people we knew, including the guy who sold us the boat.

I will post a few pictures when I have downloaded them.

Les. and Gail