Gary O’Grady

Getting up at 0530 is what you have to do if you want a good ride and wind. Any later and I’d be fighting it easy bound. Made great time but mostly on engine. Crew only woke up at Chichester Harbour entrance.

A great peaceful sail to the Folly with a short swimming stop at Osbourne Bay. Water cold but didn’t stop the kids who seem immune to this. Saw a seal eating a fish on the River Medina.

Disaster struck about 300 miles from Plymouth when my mainsail parted company with the mast leaving me just the foresail and stay sail. Unable to beat back to the UK in stiff northerlies I had to find a downwind port. The choice was either A Corunna or Bayona. Headed for Bayona as the onward journey west would be an easier start and it’s on a closer latitude. For A Corunna I’m further east and late on day one you are hitting the shipping lanes so Bayona was a bit further but had more advantages. I’ll fly to UK tomorrow to pick up the bits for repair and head off again on Thursday.

No wind for most of the trip so motored most of the way. The plan was to go to Salcombe first for a night but being at the entrance at 02:00 in complete darkness and low tide I thought I’d give it a miss and continue on to Plymouth. Now in Plymouth readying Cara to go even further west on Sunday 10th May to Newport, Rhode Island. Can’t wait. Might need a packed lunch for that one!

Hardly any wind do motored to Spitsand and then managed to sail home.

Nice easy sail to Cowes until a navy ship decided to stop right in front of us. I had to tack which was annoying or face the marines on the stern at close quarters.

Moving the boat back to her berth in Chichester Marina. Throttle cable seized making for an interesting lock and berth entry.

Very calm day. Not very challenging sailing but played with the new sails. I went out Sunday too but it was phenomenally windy. I game up when the gusts were hitting 40 knots and rain was coming. I was wet through but happy. I forgot to record Sunday in SailTies.

Very windy trip. I left earlier than planned to avoid the rain but got enough wind to blow my hair off. In Hamble now ready for a weekends sailing.