Falanda Sailing

After a great trip across the Thames Estuary, we are finally moored up in Shotley Marina, near Harwich. (Arrived 20.30)  We had non-stop, heavy rain all day  untill around 1hr from Harwhich, with poor visibility, and no wind at all. This meant that we had to motor almost the whole way across (around 50miles), which is incredibly frustating, and slow progress!                                                  This morning, before we left Ramsgate, dad discovered his chartplotter doesnt cover the east coast of England. I don't know why he didn't look at it untill half an hour before we left, but I guess that's just David Mccabe for you. We ended up installing Navionics on the tablet, which he can use as a chartplotter- its all up to date, you can plot routes on it, and it even shows your SOG (speed over ground).  Dad, however, doesnt trust all this modern technology, so instead had it turned off almost the entire way, and insisted on being less than 1 mile away - it can be dif

 

Today was only around 15 miles, so a very short hop to the next marina. We were able to leave at 10am, a nice change from the 4.30am start from Eastbourne yesterday.  As we slipped the ropes from Dover Marina, the fog had already started to roll in and visibilty was pretty poor.  Leaving the Eastern Enterance was a rather scary experience, when you have to follow all instructions from Port Controll, whilst know there are 2 moving cross-channel ferries within a quarter of a mile of you. We couldnt see them through the fog, and apart from on AIS they couldn't see us either.  Sometimes in fog you can just hear the long horns of ships and other vessels before they emerge, and this can make it quite eerie.  The 'White Cliffs Of Dover' were quite disappointing, however by the time we had passed them, the fog had already begun to disappear.  We ended up sailing the whole way under jib alone, and with the tide with us, speed-over-ground was around 6 kts! Me and Falanda also got inv

I was very nervous about going into Dover, as it's a big, comercial port, with 2 enterances either side of the central Brake water. As we arrived at the Western enterance, I can say that my heart was literally beating a hole in my chest.  The sea had started to chop up, as the water was funneled into the harbour, so getting the main sail down proved to be slightly more difficult.  Your essentaily trying to work on a moving platform. The main sheet ropes had somehow twisted as I had rushed to sheet it in earlier, so as well as the boat rolling, the boom and sail were also flogging. Therefor, my whole weight was resting on the boom, as it swung back and forth across the boat. Even in calm weather this can be a tricky job, as you have to turn the boat round into the wind and the sea. Amaryllis was still around 1 mile behind me, and I called up Port Controll who kindly guided me in, up to the Marina enterance. Despite only coming into the berth at Dover Marina properly on second attemp

So happy to be supporting Sea Shepherd UK as I sail around Britain! Thank you so much to everyone who has donated, its really nice to read the lovely messages everyone leaves!  The link to my JustGiving pages is below:      https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/falanda-roundbritain https://www.facebook.com/47886412552/posts/10157804292682553/ Lonely Whale are also an amazing charity who basically collect ocean-bound plastics, and convince big companies/businesses like IKEA, and Del Computor Manufacturos to use this recycled plastic in their products.   They have started lots of massive campaigns, trying to raise awareness for ocean health, and get the younger generation involved too!  Unfortunitely, I can't set up JustGiving page for Lonely Whale, as they aren't a UK based charity. However, you can have a look on their fantastic website and donate via  www.lonelywhale.org We are still waiting for calmer weather in Eastbourne, but hoping to get to Dover tomorrow, and then Ramsg

The sea had calmed down a bit since yesterdays blow, so we had a great sail all day, untill the wind died about 3 miles from the brakewater. This was my first proper loch in Falanda, and i kind of messed up a bit coming in, so i had to throw a line to someone who kindly helped from the boat tied up infront.  Luckily i managed to get into the main fingerberth no problem, and we are now all lashed down, waiting for the next blow to pass over. I think it will be nice to stop tomorrow, as feeling pretty tired today. We can walk into Eastbourne tomorrow and have a look at the conditions at sea. All going well, Im hoping to leave on Wednesday, and arrive at Dover that evening.  The Marina crew here seem very friendly, and have said we dont have to be in too much of a rush to leave, if the weather isnt perfect.   We have visited the famous Asda here, and will try out the showers tomorrow morning! Premier Marinas Falanda moored up in the marina, near lifeboats. In the loch, before entering the

Dads footage of coming into Brighton, approaching Marina Breakwater.  Track Falanda!! https://fb.watch/6xZZw3zr-x/

One of the longest trips so far, with plenty of wind so we had the boats sailing nicely! After leaving The Isle Of White behind, we averaged 6.8 kts, and touched 8kts later in the afternoon. After passing Selsey Bill, a small blow came through early, and the wind was a bit stronger than anticipated. I got some great footage from coming into Brighton on a camera, but I am unfortunitely having techinal problems uplaoding them, and forgot to take more photos as the wind picked up. Although it got a bit choppy, today was actually one of the first days I felt Falanda was sailing at her best, and I think we would have happily carried on forever! According to dad, it was gusting a 6 towards the end of the day. It was weird letting the ropes go in East Cowes, watching Ros Ailither staying put on her new berth, but we have a mission, and are very please with who she has gone to. We are now in Brighton Marina, thank to Premier Marinas , and I am planning our next passage to Eastbourne for tomorr