Congratulations from both of us on 44 years. There’s a lot of sense in doing a long run but I confess to now planning no more than 5-6 hours , well that’s the theory 🥴 chucking it down here but new batteries fitted today so we will see how we get on tonight and tomorrow morning? Keep smiling 




Darn it!!! We’re at least 4 days away from St Vaast - but we could make it 1 day away if we set off lunch time and just keep on going.     

We’ve been holed up in Boulogne-sur-Mer for 4 nights … as have all the sailors of Western Europe(so it seems).  A few hearty souls tried to leave yesterday, most returned (to find their berth taken by a rafting boat from the fairway!) shaking their heads, wet through and announcing chaotic seas outside the breakwater.  Predict wind was showing settling seas from midnight Tuesday … we decided to make a break for it.  

Wednesday morning it seemed like everybody had a similar plan.  marine watch was showing loads of boats on the move and the marina rapidly emptied.

It would take us around 24 hours to get to St Vaast where the entrance lock would open on Thursday around 11:30am - so no need to move from Boulogne until noon.

A cracking journey with friendly seas although the relatively light wind was in our faces.  From time to time it moved enough for a good motor sail, but was never enough to turn the engine off.

The watches worked well, food was plentiful as we’d pre-prepared chicken casserole and Barry had popped out to the Boulangerie in the morning.  We didn’t scrap or fight and we arrived here just after 10:30 to anchor,  waiting for the lock.  Interesting sailing past the wind farms at night and a fair bit of shipping to avoid.  Although a full moon, a lot of cloud cover - but it gave an atmospheric photo!

That’s where I stopped sailties.

Then we had porridge… bloomin’ fantastic.

Struggled to get the anchor up as the parade of yachts started to exit the marina … the electric motor will need to be refurbed or replaced … but it meant quite a lot of boats managed to to get in before us so we missed the chance of a finger pontoon … we’ll end up being rafted on, but not to worry. We’re in, and the restaurant of choice for the meal tomorrow night have just confirmed a table for two at 7pm - awesome, ‘cos after all, that’s why we’ve put in the miles to get to St Vaast today, oysters for the anniversary of 44 years since the creation of Mr and Mrs C

A long day’s night …

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