
30 years cruiser sailing, now got a real blue water 40 footer. Sadly, my first mate and wife for all those years passed away in February 2025 so I am always after crew.
Little wind, took trip up Southampton water to see if anything interesting was about then back through north channel (quite shallow in places and few buoys!)

Cowes to Eastney, United Kingdom
Strange winds, quite early sea breeze up to around 15 knots from south, then nothing. Nice lunch at the Lifeboat Inn, East Cowes.

Eastney to East Cowes, United Kingdom
Roger Smith, David Thornton & 1 other
10 July 2026 at 08:30
Wind was mostly very light and on the nose due to SOG but eventually shifted more Eastwards allowing a reasonable sail towards the end. No rush as had to get tide right for my berth so sailed a fair way at around 3 or 4 knots towards the end. Looks like I didn't "stop" the recording until on my home berth making it look a much slower trip! Bit of a slow zig zag at the shipping lanes to avoid several ships which delayed things and added to the mileage.
2

Les Mielles, France to Eastney, United Kingdom
Roger Smith, David Thornton & 1 other
8 July 2026 at 11:17
Flat calm, virtually no wind other than what an SOG of 10 plus knots made. Arrived in Cherbourg to find 120 boats were gathering for the start of the Drheam Cup ocean race on Sunday. Very busy, but we found a space. Lots of very serious race boats from 30ft to 70. The race is a qualifier for the Route du Rhum, Cherbourg to Guadoloup (or however you spell it). In case anyone wonders why I took Cap le Hague quite wide, there is quite a strong back eddy close in that really slows you down if you get it wrong.
2

Diélette to Cherbourg, France
Roger Smith, David Thornton & 1 other
6 July 2026 at 08:13
Flat calm, virtually no wind but dense fog much of the way. Cleared suddenly for last 1/3 mile or so.
8

Roger Smith - That restaurant is still there (after 18 years) and still fantastic!
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Roger Smith, David Thornton & 1 other
4 July 2026 at 08:02
Very light winds to start, managed to sail on and off from Roche Douvres. got very gusty as we approached Guernsey with big wind shifts.
2

Very little wind roughly on the nose, but still quite a big swell off the Atlantic.
3

Perros-Guirec to Tréguier, France
Roger Smith, David Thornton & 1 other
30 June 2026 at 15:00
The photos are from a free bus trip to Ploumanac'h which is approx 6 or 7 km.from Perros and well worth a visit. you can moor here if the tide is right and your nerve holds.😅
3

Trébeurden to Perros-Guirec, France
Roger Smith, Jim Mackay & 1 other
28 June 2026 at 12:01
Very light winds, started with a slow off wind sail but wind dropped as we turtle east so motored.
3

Roscoff to Trébeurden, France
Roger Smith, Jim Mackay & 1 other
25 June 2026 at 18:11
Started out lightish winds, quickly built up and turned to a thunderstorm. Pretty rough crossing, often into fairly big waves. Water found it's way in round the hatch in forepeak - wet bedding. Luckily great drying weather in marina but sheets will need washing soon due to salt water. Timing was good, despite very slow patches.
5

Dartmouth, United Kingdom to Roscoff, France
Jim Mackay - quite a number of firsts on this trip. Being in eye of storm. Strange change in air temp from nightime cool to almost desert heat as we exited the thunderstorm then gone as quick as it came. Like a God had breathed on us. Then a lumpy and windy crossing over the channel. 17 hrs bar 10 mins. very tired and thankful to enter Roscoff and eat and rest.
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