Chris Woods

Limping back under engine. New sails not yet arrived. Fresh water plumbing not quite as tight as I'd hoped, so rather a lot of water to scoop out tbe bilge...

Easy start, tricky second half. Autoriller developed an electrical fault, got quite seasick trying to fix it. The backup autohelm also developed an electrical error, so hand to hand steer the last 7 hours... Tried to furl the genoa and found a wrap of the furling line beneath the drum around the forestay. Got pretty salty sorting that. When I tried to pull the main to reef 2, the halyard shackle slapped the mast and opened, shooting to the top. Ran the rest of the way on genoa reef 2, but F7 SE at bridge buoy was pretty thrilling at the rnd of the ebb! Decided to pick up a buoy at Yarmouth just as it was getting dark and the mother of all downpours dropped on is with zero vis, 20+ knots and a by then hard running flood. Not the easiest pickup. Wine and stir fry awaited, and should be a much easier run back to Hamble in the morning

Picked up a pair of cams on a line mid shipping lane. Had to get creative with a boathook and a knife. Got joined by some dolphins just as we approached Alderney