Day 28 - Thursday, 17th July - Jane's birthday!
What a lovely day, weatherwise, particularly for the birthday girl's chosen activity of cycling over tho the south of the Island. We rented a bike for Imy and set off about 10.30 along the old railway line and then towards the centre of the Island, heading for Chessell Pottery. Plenty of gentle uphill work left us overheated and very appreciative of a recuperative stop at the pottery for drinks and delicious scones and a snoop around the shop.
Time to move on, heading for a beach and a paddle, with Jane keen to try a swim, for some reason. More uphill work then a nice long freewheel through a pretty village called Brook before seeing the sea. Once there, with the tide coming in, the beach was quite small and shrinking but enough to enjoy an ice cream and sit on the sand listening to the gentle waves. Jane managed a short paddle but somehow lost the desire for a swim.
The next couple of miles were mainly uphill with some walking required along a very busy road towards Freshwater Bay. Long and hot work, relieved by a couple of high speed freewheel descents, before turning right and heading for the Red Lion for a cooling pint, well earned, then back along the cycle way to the boat, showers and a rest.
The evening saw us heading for On the Rocks again, for a really good meal that even Imy enjoyed as the vege option was halloumi and some very fine asparagus. A nice walk in the warm evening air before returning to the boat for coffee and cards rounded off a lovely day for the birthday celebrations, capped off by a spectacular thunderstorm with much bright lightning.

Day 27 - Wednesday, 16th July - truly beautiful early morning in Portland marina at 5.45. Totally calm with the water completely still and mirror-like, reflecting the clear blue sky and the boats perfectly.
An early start to make sure we left by 07.00 so we could clear the Lulworth ranges before they opened at 09.30. With very little wind, we had to motor again, sadly, but no real hardship on such a lovely morning. Our motoring speed has been reduced by some fine weed growth along the waterline so we needed the tidal assistance that built as time passed and cleared the range area with quarter of an hour to spare.
We continued under motor all the way to Yarmouth for a very relaxing five hour passage. Saw a porpoise breaching once a couple of miles before the Needles and then raced through Hurst Narrows with the full tide under us, showing over 13 knots speed over ground for a time!
Arrived at Yarmouth just after midday, when it was relatively quiet and we were given a spot alongside the pontoon next to the fuel station. We were then amazed, and occasionally entertained, as the harbour filled to bursting, for some reason. Boats were rafted four and five deep in places. Seemed strange for midweek in July but there were several foreign boats and the private schools have broken up, I guess.

Day 26 - Tuesday, 15th July - Portland. Crossed back over Lyme Bay on Sunday, sailing most of the way in better weather than forecast - mainly sunny with a NW force 4 speeding us along at 7 to 8 knots plus assistance from the tide to begin with after leaving Dartmouth at 9.15.  We needed to round Portland Bill between 5 & 5.30 to avoid a big Spring tide race and so slowed the boat down at 3 as we were ahead of schedule. That worked fine until the wind suddenly picked up to 25 knots and we were over-canvassed. After sailing rather faster towards Chesil Beach for a while to cover some ground, we then put two reefs in, furled the jib and started motoring towards the Bill against a strong current and rather lumpy, quartering seas built up by the fresher NW breeze.
All worked out fine as we rounded the Bill on the inshore passage just after 5 in nice calm water and then it was a relief to have flat water once round and into the lee of the Bill itself. Arrived in Portland Marina at 6.30 with a stiff breeze that blew us straight off the allocated finger berth and against the boat alongside.  Happily some very helpful gents came to help us warp WH into the right place. A long and tiring day so we ate on board and watched the World Cup final before an early bed.
Monday dawned bright and sunny and we enjoyed a lazy lie in, shower and breakfast before heading to Weymouth by taxi at lunchtime to explore its "delights" and look for a graduation dress for Imy before returning to Il Posto, where we had had such a great meal on the first visit.
In the end, dress shopping was hopeless as the choices available were all unsuitable / downright horrid so we decided to see a film instead. The new Transformers movie - lots of action and nonsense but just what the doctor ordered to fill the time until the table booking.
The meal was as a good as we recalled, even having the same scallop linguine, although Imy's gnocchi was very simple.
We have decided to spend another day here as a relaxing last opportunity rather than heading to Poole today and. Yarmouth tomorrow.  We can do that in one, longer, hop tomorrow and the tide times are friendly so it is nice to have another quiet day, with sunny weather, books to read and generally relax. We do not seem to have spent much quiet time on the trip, instead filling days with outings and exploration when not actually on passage between places. I am typing this at 10.25 and still no sign of Imy stirring, as if that is a surprise...

Day 23 - Saturday, 12th July - Imy's Birthday!!
In Dartmouth for one more night before an early start across Lyme Bay tomorrow.
After a short trip to buy supper etc, and drink in the local pub, we ate supper on board and enjoyed a fantastic firework display at the Royal Naval College - we had a grandstand view across the water.
Curiously, Imy was not up very early (!) and so we had a late breakfast on board after a shower and Jane did a laundry visit and then went across to Dartmouth on the Kingswear ferry around midday to find some lunch and have another wander around.  Had a great light lunch in a Polish bistro on Anzac Road, where the main problem was deciding what to have from a very tempting, if short, menu.
While there I got a call from the marina to say that the owner of the berth we had been allocated was returning in 3 or 4 hours, earlier than his planned return tomorrow morning, so we would have to move Windhover.  Not top of the list of what to do this afternoon, when a nice cup of tea/coffee and plenty of delicious birthday cake was much preferable.
As it was, the marina staff came to help take lines and it was no big deal, followed by putting the (nicely washed) tender away before settling down to tea. What a struggle! Sad to put the tender away, though, as we will not be needing it again on this trip.

Day 21 - Thursday, 10th July - sitting on a mooring in Salcombe after a great day, late up, nice breakfast, on to the beach for an hour and then across for a shower and a lovely walk for about two miles to Overbeck, a National Trust property, that we last visited nearly twenty years ago.
Sailed here yesterday from Fowey, a really fast sail in gusty conditions ranging swiftly from 15 - 25 knots on a beam / broad reach. We averaged over 8 knots for over four hours, frequently 9 or more and saw a maximum of 10.9 on a surf.  Exhilarating stuff. 35 miles in fours hours, twenty minutes from leaving Fowey harbour to Bolt Head.
Leaving here in the morning to head for Dartmouth, a short passage, for two more nights there, including Imy's birthday on Saturday.

Day 18 - Monday July 7th - back in Fowey today after a wet motoring session from the Helford River, about 24 miles. We had a nice three nights in Falmouth, with Imy joining us on the Thursday evening, and enjoyed some nice food in Rick Stein's restaurant for an excellent lunch on the Thursday and then Zizzi on Friday night to celebrate Imy's great news, getting her 2:1!!!  Well done to her.
We moved on the Saturday to the Helford River, somewhere I have wanted to go to for ages after seeing it so often on TV programmes and reading about it.  Not disappointed, happily. Plenty of boats (but much quieter than it would be in high season) but picked up one from a choice of visitor moorings and enjoyed a peaceful weekend with plenty of sport, with Wimbledon finals and the British GP.  Oh! And a very nice pub, the Shipwrights, in Helford.  Strongly recommended.
Left Helford this morning in weak sunshine but it started to rain before we had left the river and managed to continue for most of the way, quite heavily at times.  The front has now passed, though, and the forecast good for the next few days.
We are here tonight and tomorrow and then on to Salcombe on Wednesday.  Now sadly on the way back but still nearly two weeks to go, so much to enjoy! Roll on.

Day 13 - Wednesday, July 2nd - another lovely sunny day with a steady Force 3 - 4 easterly breeze that gave us a lovely sail from Fowey to Falmouth. We left at 11.30 and arrived at 14.30, so made good time.
Now in Port Pendennis, feeling dwarfed by three huge sailing superyachts, including Christopher, a 150 foot beauty! They gave us a really awkward berth that proved a daunting prospect but happily landed safely with no dramas.
Imy arrives tomorrow so we are looking forward to that very much.

Day 12 - Tuesday, July 1st - so what has happened to the last week? Two nights in Dartmouth became  four in the end as we really enjoyed the place and also decided on one extra night because of the forecast. Had a great day out to Greenway, Agatha Christie's lovely holiday home across the river from Dittisham, going there by steam train and a half hour woodland walk and returning by ferry on the river.
Another day we walked out to the church and castle at the river entrance and then back to town to enjoy a welcome pint of Proper Job in the Cherub, a wonderful very old pub that I first enjoyed when sailing on Lutine several years ago - and the same old character was sitting in the same seat.
Would recommend Annabelle's Kitchen where we went for a really good meal on the Friday night, our last there.
Having delayed our departure because of the weather we then had worse weather on the Saturday than it was on Friday.  Typical. As it was, apart from two truly biblical torrential downpours, one as we were leaving Dartmouth and the second as we passed Salcombe and the occasional drizzly spell, we had some good sunshine and a good 10-12 knot breeze that allowed us to have the first proper sail of the trip.  Windhover flew along with fairly flat seas, averaging 8 to 9 knots - I could not believe how fast she was romping along.  Really exhilarating sail with just a single tack required in 34 miles, heading for the river Yealm.
It looked so much more peaceful than Plymouth and we were certainly not disappointed.  A real delight, once Jane had overcome her fears as we headed for a very narrow entrance that was alarmingly close to plenty of jagged rocks. Once in the river it deepens enough and we picked up a swinging mooring that was so quiet we could hear nothing but birds and sheep on the hills above.
Sunday involved us inflating the tender for the first time in three or four years (!) and realising that I had forgotten to bring the fuel can with us.  Not clever, as that meant a 500 metre row to the Harbour Master's office, where we had a welcome shower before set to off to find some lunch. Yes, we had had a nice lie-in, thanks, enjoying the peace and quiet. The yacht club in Newton Ferrers had stopped serving food by this time so we headed across the "Voss", a pedestrian causeway over to Noss Mayo that can used when the tide is out.  That allowed us to enjoy an excellent lunch in The Ship.  The drawback was that by be time we headed back, the tide was well on the way back in, with knee deep water over the Voss! With no real alternative but to venture onward, Jane took her shoes off and rolled her jeans up while I was wearing beach shoes and shorts.  Even then, the water was up above my knees but all was well until Jane veered a little too far to her right and stepped off the causeway. Let's just say that it caused much mirth for the drinkers in the yacht club. I am sure we were not the first and won't be the last. And we then had to ask to be towed back to the boat as I was rowing like a mad thing and getting almost nowhere against the tide.
Monday dawned bright and sunny with little wind as we set off at 10.00 for Fowey - finally leaving Devon for Cornwall - motoring all the way, sadly, but enjoying the warmth and relaxing, hoping in vain to see some more dolphins. In the end, we headed closer inshore to take a look at Polperro from the sea before clearing the delightfully names Udded Rock and to Fowey.  A beautiful place and a really helpful  harbour patrol who haloed us tie to the mooring and then went off to get us some petrol in a new tank.  Fantastic and so kind to help us.  Thank goodness we are here in a quiet time so he had time to assist us like that.
Now the end of our full day here, more sunshine, more shopping, another welcome shower and beer at the Royal Fowey Yacht Club and an excellent crab sandwich lunch, followed by more sightseeing and shopping for Jane while I had my hair cut! Then back into the Galleon for another beer, internet access and a catch up on the log.
Tomorrow we are off to Falmouth, where Imy joins us on Thursday.  What a way to pass the time - we are getting very much into the live aboard lifestyle!

Day 5 - Tuesday, June 24th - another fairly early start, departing at 07.45 to make sure we rounded the Bill at the best time (around 09.00) and had assistance from the tide across Lyme Bay as we had a long way to go, heading for Dartmouth, some 54 miles in all. Still no decent breeze so, once again, the engine did all the hard work, although we did have the main up for some gentle assistance.
Apart from the lack of breeze, we could not have asked for finer weather for the long crossing.  Sunny and very smooth seas so we just had to sit and watch the world go by while the autopilot kept us on course.
Definite highlight of the whole day was a visit by a pod of dolphins that played with us for around ten minutes.  Just fantastic to see with the water so clear so you could see them above and below the water.  Magical.  I hope some of the photos turn out well.
Arrived in Dartmouth safely shortly after 3.00 and now all secure in the Darthaven Marina, where we will stay for two nights.

Day 4 - Monday, June 23rd - no sailing today. Instead, a nice lie-in and late breakfast before departing on a scorchingly hot bike ride to explore the Island of Portland with the objective of getting to the Bill and going up the lighthouse. As the northern end of the Island is some 170 metres high, this involved a long, hot push at times but well worth it. And, of course, what goes up must come down so there were several enjoyable freewheel sessions, some at alarming high speed. Portland Museum was a small delight and surprise on the way and the lighthouse worth all the effort and gave a good view of the "Portland Race" developing as the tide changed.  Certainly one to be sure you pick your passage time carefully.
We must be fitter than we thought as the bike rides have been less of a strain than expected, even if we do push up the steep bits, and very enjoyable. On the way back, we visited the fort built on Henry the Eighth's instructions - very interesting.

Day three - Sunday, June 22nd - an early start to catch the tide.  Not a universally popular idea with the First Mate as we left Yarmouth at 07.25 on another beautiful sunny morning.  Very few other boats about at that time (can't think why) and we sped off towards Portland averaging around 9 knots over the ground with the tidal assistance for our hard working Yanmar engine.  Sadly, the lovely weather meant any attempt to sail would have doomed us to a long, hot day making little more progress than the tide would give us so we still have yet to raise the sails on this, our "sailing" adventure.
We made such good time that we diverted to Lulworth Cove to see if there might be space to anchor for an early lunch but it looked too busy to practice our rusty anchoring skills in full view of a large and interested audience looking for some entertainment.  Instead, we headed on to Portland marina, arriving  at 12.40. Very good time and rather earlier than I had anticipated, so there was much joy on the part of FM.
Interesting place - our first visit to a new marina that was only opened in 2009, set in the vast open space of the old naval base. Very smart facilities and a good light lunch at the marina pub / restaurant but with a sense of it still being something of a work in progress with new roads, undeveloped building sites and a fair amount of commercial activity all around, not to mention the air sea rescue helicopter coming and going.
Still, no complaints about the continuing lovely weather that looks set to give us a pleasant long hop across Lyme Bay, heading for Dartmouth, on Tuesday.  Off to find somewhere to eat in Weymouth tonight as the marina restaurant is closed on Sunday and Monday nights, just when we want it. Ho hum.
The log shows us as only having travelled around 34 miles rather than the 40 odd miles distance involved - the wonders of the "road" moving in the same direction as you, like a gigantic travelator.

Day Two - Saturday, June 21st - no sailing today as we have enjoyed a perfect, cloudless sunny day using the new bikes to go up to the Needles to watch the Round The Island competitors. The lovely weather meant very little wind, however, so progress for the hundreds of boats competing can best be described as "stately", I think, with a fair bit of drifting once around the Needles, including the occasional bumps between boats as they were at the mercy of the tide.
Then down to Freshwater Bay (deciding against a swim, although it did look tempting) and on to the Red Lion for a well earned beer or two and a light lunch in the garden. What sunny summer days should be about- let's have many more of them.
Off to Weymouth tomorrow.  The forecast is for more of the same fine weather, the breeze, what there is of it, should be behind us so it will be a long hot day on the water, probably having to use the engine a fair bit again, I suspect.  We shall see.

So, the end of Day One and we are finally under way after so much anticipation and so many changes to schedule. With welcome help from Liam and the Finesse crew to put the repaired jib back on, we left Haslar shortly before 2 o'clock and motored through a busy Solent full of boats practicing for tomorrow's Round The Island race. Despite being a lovely day for a sail, the wind was on the nose and the tide against us and we were keen to get a good berth in Yarmouth for two nights so the iron mainsail was the order of the day.
Mission accomplished as far as that was concerned but the "landing" resulted in some minor damage, sadly, as we were caught by an unexpected cross-current and were pushed onto a sharply angled end of the finger pontoon.  Some minor gel-coat repair will be necessary! An annoying end to a great first day, enjoyed in shorts as we enjoyed the sunshine.
Looking forward to watching the RTI race for a change, from a vantage point above the Needles.  Go, Finesse!
22 miles logged, all under engine.

Time for a break!

Windhover will finally get to explore beyond the Solent and Christchurch Bay this summer.  Using the Boatlogger site to show where we go and this blog to record thoughts, happenings and whatever comes to mind from day to day will become our online Logbook for us to look back on and allow anyone interested to see how we are doing.