Talisker 1, Sanderling, Martiena, Throstle and Caveat.
‘Caveat’ Jill and David Robinson on their first crossing being looked after by James R.
‘Sanderling’ and Migs and Jonny Howard
‘Throstle’ and Wendy and Guy Marshall with Mike Finney
‘Martiena’ with Mike Redmond and friend Robert
‘Talisker 1’ me and Harry Hitchcock
18th June Shotley Marina
19th June
In the Shotley lock with ‘Throstle’
With strong NW winds early Cruiser Captain Migs asked us to get to Belgium ASAP and meet the fleet as they arrived.
NW 5’s. Harry at the mast.
And at the helm…
Some broken sliders on the new main
20th June
Harry sailing with Johan on his lovely ‘Sallust’ a Laurent Giles wooden boat built by Warf Curtis in 1974
Johan had taken Harry sailing in 2014
My great friends and Royal Yacht Club Oostende members Pieter and Johan organised a fabulous BBQ for us all..
Johan and Jan (who sadly could not stay). Pieter in the foreground..
Not your normal BBQ. Fantastic sausages followed by steamed hake. Beautiful fresh fish.
Pieter’s son Aster and Harry. A new generation of RYCO and OSC friends
Johan hard at work
On the RYCO steps…
Despite the rain the BBQ was an enormous success and very much appreciated.
21st June
Aster & Harry on board his Dad’s Spirit 37 ‘Plankzeil’
Aster was going to take Harry sailing on their own ….
but….. it was very windy
‘We have bad news and good news’ said Aster. ‘The bad news is we are not going sailing on our own. The good news is that my Dad is coming down to go sailing with us’. A very mature decision by a seventeen year old studying to be a professional seaman.
It was blowing very hard from the north west and this was set to continue. James R and me suggested we go home via Dunkerque and Ramsgate. The year before, in similar winds, I had listened to the departure at 2AM of some yachts from the River Colne in Essex. As I went back to sleep I was convinced I would be woken a few hours later when they gave up and returned. At 7AM they all returned!!! ‘Martiena’ had already returned to Suffolk.
22nd June Oostende to Dunkerque
‘Throstle’ … No reef in the main as she makes for the Oostende entrance.
2 reefs in ‘Talisker 1’s’ main and Harry is rarin to go..
It was a windy trip to Dunkerque and a night in YCMN
23rd June Dunkerque to Ramsgate
Leaving Dunkerque
‘Throstle’ going well
‘Caveat’
‘Talisker l’ filmed from ‘Sanderling’
Sailing down the French coast and heading for The Straits
‘Sanderling’
Grouped and crossing the TSS head to wind and motoring…
‘Caveat’ heading for Ramsgate
‘Talisker 1’ Ramsgate marina
Cruising Captain Migs and Jonny
Safe arrivals..
24th June Ramsgate to Suffolk and a fantastic sail across the Estuary
‘Talisker 1’ heading for The Orwell, the others sailing to The Ore
North Foreland on a benign day
The ‘Ever Lotus’ Panama who had given way for us the previous day in The Straits
I had spoken to her watch officer as she came up The Channel.
Back in The Orwell
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