Falanda Sailing

 Yarmouth to East Cowes today, plenty of wind so had a cracking sail through the solent.    It wasnt as busy at sea as I had though it would be, but there were still lots of people sailing around.  Tried out new sailing boots from chathamfootwear, and pleased to say, i didnt get wet feet!  All tied up in East Cowes Marina, watching all the fast modern boats arrive back after racing around the Island. Some of the sails and other equiptment on the big boats is very impressive! Hoping to get to Brighton tomorrow. The forecast looks good, not much sea but wind picking up to a force 5.  Thanks to everyone who has donated to Sea Shepherd UK , and its great to read all the messages and comments on the Page. I have attatched the link below.  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/falanda-roundbritain New sailing boots prove waterproof Tied up in East Cowes marina Moored behind our old boat, Ros Ailither! From the pontoon, looks very shipshape and its nice to see its still being well kept! Fala

  Not much wind this morning so had to motor sail untill it picked up in the afternoon. It was a bit of a grey, foggy day, and we passed the Militery Firing Range without being shot at or bombed! We had the tide with us at St Albans head, wizzing us staight round, and the tide stayed with us untill we arrived at Yarnmouth. No problems passing the Needles, although poor visibility untill the Lighthouse.  I slowed down before we got to the Needles, so Dad on Amaryllis could catch up and we could take some photos of the boats sailing. Hence why he was so close. The bad weather looks like its coming in on Monday night, so as long as it does't change, we're hoping to get to Eastbourne to shelter for a day or so. Its quite stressful trying to predict the weather when each forecast is completely different, and I need to let each Marina know exactly what time we will be arriving, a couple of days in advance. Sailing past the Needles Approaching lighthouse at the Needles Leaving Weymout

  Today, after a small oat explosion, we left from Lyme Regis at 8am, with no wind so had to motor-sail for a bit. The wind picked up soon enough though, so we had a great sail round the Bill, and along to Weymouth! Portland Bill us one of the most major headlands on the whole trip, and if you dont time it right, it can quickly become very nasty. Luckily we had perfect conditions today, and had a lovely passage! If you want to follow me as I go around Britain, you can find me on Marine Traffic, or Vessel Finder. Boats name is Falanda, and my MMSI number is 232036836. My dads boat is Amaryllis, ans will be around 3 Miles behind me! Also, i was on BBC spotlight tonight!! boatfolk BBC Radio Devon moored up in Weymouth marina, with a new banner out, made by my mum, Hazel McCabe swirling tides at Portland Bill slowing down to let Amaryllis catch up before entering the harbour Amaryllis at Weymouth approaching Portland Bill under sail

  A massive thank you to EVERYONE who has supported me so far, for waving me off at Topsham or at Exemouth (I was amazed at how many people were there!), and for helping me out finacially. A special thanks to: -Andy Killock for AIS, (and chocolate) - Taff for binoculators (fancy ones) - Tom and Amelia for everything - Kate Brodie for a dingy, PLB, and money - Maria Whitton for money - Pam for money, charts, and everything else - Genny and Robbie Martin for charts, pilot books, and other boaty stuff - Phil Marsh for sailing boots, and shoes - Godfrey Whitehouse for charts and pilot books - Mark Fishwick for almanac - Trouts Boatyard, for craning, and for all the stuff you have done for me! I am now on a mooring in Lyme Regis, with dad on amaryllis on another mooring nearby. We had (very) light winds all day, but it was the perfect day to start the trip, and so far, all is well! Today I also got to sail with an Autopilot for the firt time, and I must say, they're great! The AIS is al

Not completely ready, but feeling a but more prepared this evening. Have spent today stowing stuff, tidying, connecting the cooker and gas bottle, and sorting out the electronics with dad. I now have a working chartplotter, AIS and depth sounder! Lyme Regis tomorrow, so should be flat with little wind or swell for the first leg. Picture taken by Tom williams The Salutation Inn, Topsham

  Official leaving date is TOMORROW! Aiming to leave Topsham at about 10.30am!! We've had a very hectic couple of days getting the boats ready, finishing off the chartwork, and sending a bizillion emails. A sponsorship deal for my electronics fell through at the last minute, so i was left with an out-of-date 2004 chart plotter. Me and dad drove down to Plymouthon Monday to get an updated chart for it, and safety gear, however my chartplotter is so old that the new chip doesnt fit in anymore. I was either going to have to buy a new chartplotter, or go around with Navionics on my phone, the cheaper option. Thank you so much to everyone that has been so kind and generous to me, and donated money and stuff. With your money, I have bought: ● a new Garmin chartplotter with updated chart of the British Isles, and depth sounder ● AIS linking up to the chartplotter, so everyone can follow me ● other safety equipment like flares, personal EPIRB, life jacket lights ● ropes and spare parts

Hoping to be setting off next week sometime, maybe wednesday /thursday once the wind has swung round north westerly. I finish school tomorrow, so i can start to work on falanda properly and get all the last minute jobs done before we leave. I'm nervous, but mainly just very excited, and cant wait to finish school! MDL Marinas Click below to read the press release from MDL marinas New attempt to become the youngest to sail singlehanded around Britain (mdlmarinas.co.uk)

  ANNOUNCEMENT! As I sail around Britain, I will be trying to raise money for 2 ocean pollution charities - Sea Shepherd UK , and Lonely Whale . I have set up a JustGiving page for Sea Shepherd UK, they are an amazing charity, who are trying to stop illegal fishing, and rid the ocean of ghost nets. The Ghost nets (discarded fishing gear) are one of the main contributors to ocean plastics, and as well as littering the sea, they are also a major hazard to marine wildlife. They eventually break down into microplastics, which then enter our food chain and end up back inside us. If you would like to support this charity, the link is below! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/falanda-roundbritain Lonely Whale are also a great charity, who basically stop ocean-bound plastics, and convince big companies like IKEA, and Dell computer manufacturers to use this recycled plastic in their products. Lonely Whale are also focused on raising awareness about ocean health, and are connecting with

  So we could properly trace back and fix the leak, Falanda was craned out of the water at Trouts boatyard in Topsham. We noticed the water was coming in from behind one of the frames in the bilges (where it had become a bit loose), and once out, we discovered it was as simple as a small screw snapping inside the wood. Water could then come in through that hole. So dad helped me dig it out, we put a dowel into the hole with some expanding glue, and sica-flex. We then put in 2 longer screws directly beneath the old one, and a couple on the other side of the hull. We also noticed a small crack outside the bulkhead on the starboard side, I think it's bit from the pressure, as the bulkhead doesn't look to be put in properly, but also because of the bad supports whilst it was out of the water for 10 years. We just made up a patch, screwed it on, and put on some more antifoul. We also put in a new rib alongside the bulkhead for extra support. Falanda is now back on the river and re

  On Saturday we left Weymouth at 6.30am, to round the Bill at slack water (ish). We took the Inner passage again, and had very little chop due to it being neap tides. Although not much wind in the morning, we had a great sail all afternoon averaging 6kts in a force 4. Although we had a few engine problems, and found a new leak in the hull, the trip was great fun, and it was good to round the Bill for the first time in good weather, so I'll have more of an idea of the inner passage for when I leave in a couple of weeks. In Weymouth, we were alongside another singlehanded Katie, in a boat called Blue Diamond. She is doing the Jester Challenge, normally a nonstop trip from Plymouth to Ireland, however with Covid, the destination has changed to Milford Haven as you have to self isolate for 2 weeks in Ireland. This confirms that I won't be able to stop in Southern Ireland on my trip, and will have to go around the more exposed coastline of Wales. Today's work was fitting in a c

  Arrived in Weymouth this afternoon, 5.30am start to catch the tide around the Portland Bill!! --> trip to Lyme regis yesterday was choppier than expected but very nice with 3 reefs in the main. All great sailing until we reached a 'wall' of black buoys reaching half a mile each side of us. They turned out to be marking a mussel farm, unmarked on my 2002 chart! I was a bit nervous of rounding the Bill but with neap tides and calm conditions it was flat as a pancake! Once rounded the wind picked up and we touched 6.8 kts just in time for lunch! tying up in Weymouth wall of buoys - mussel farm putting out my pathetic fenders alongside fishing boat at Lyme Regis boats rafted in Weymouth prettiest boat in harbour