31st May/1st June – Sat/Sun – Falmouth to Aber Wrac’h, France Overnight

We set sail for France at 10.30am on a flat calm sunny day.  This was a little sooner than we had planned, it is 105 miles, so 3 times further than your average Channel crossing.  We were fully expecting to go to the Channel Islands but having been delayed in Howth (Dublin) and Padstow we made the decision to go to France as we had a weather window which would allow for destination changes if required.

The wind got up to approx. 15-20 knots from 17.00 to 23.00 and the boat was much more roly during this time.  The boat rolls due to the tides going across us and so there was a period where the journey was not too comfortable.  I was not sick this time but felt pretty weary for about half of the crossing.  Again we had a hot meal on standby but neither of us managed it.  The sandwiches were consumed mostly on arrival.  Mick slept 22.00 to midnight and I slept 00.30 to 03.00, then Mick slept again 04.00 to 06.00.  There was a new crescent moon, so no added moonlight, but that meant we were able to see thousands of stars in the pitch black night.

Approximately two thirds of the way across we sailed through the shipping channels.

See below a screen snapshot of the Electronic Mapping system, which Mick uses to plot the course, and also shows other ships in the area on the AIS system.  I think most people will be quite surprised at the number of ships to be encountered in the middle of the night.  Each one of the ships is displayed as a triangle and the jagged circle appears, and alarms, if a ship is within a pre-defined distance from our boat.  Hovering the mouse over a ship displays its name, what type of ship it is, Cargo or Passenger, its tonnage and destination.  It is really fascinating.

 

We raised our French courtesy flag just off the coastline and sang a warbling/humming version of L’ Marseilles for added gravitas.

One of the things I am getting to grips with in this longer distance sailing world is the fact that you plan a 21 hour passage with major consideration to the weather and the tides.  The crew however, have to rest as much as they can beforehand and then sleep as and when during the trip.  I mention sleep again, as for this leg it was really important that Mick was on full power on arrival.

Aber Wrac’h is a small fishing town which in the last 20 years has increased the size of the marina and visitors pontoons to accommodate passing sailors.  It puzzles me that so many sailors take this option, as there are literally hundreds of Rocks and Small Islands on the coast line when entering the harbour which is situated about 5km up the river surrounded by more rocks.

It is used because it has all weather access at all states of the tide.  It is though, still quite a challenge.  There are very large lighthouses (always a big clue) on the headland which guide you in, one of which flashes every 5 seconds.  The passage planning books (in this case ‘The Shell Channel Pilot’ by Tom Cunliffe) give clear instructions and pilotage.  The channel is well marked with Large Buoys but several changes of course are required as there are rocks at each side.  Did I mention the Rocks? 

 

Just to add to the anxiety a mist had settled on the mouth of the river.  There was also a large number of small, pedlo/canoe type fishing craft making their way out to sea.  (We found out later this was a Canoe-Fishing Competition – lucky us!!).  It was hard enough being tired and anxious about hitting rocks, then having the added tension of not squashing small craft with our boat.

It may be worth googling Aber Wrac’h on google maps to see the number of rocks and small islands around the entrance.

Arrived in Aber Wrac’h at 08.00, tired but jubilant at having arrived safely en France.

Whilst tired we had a go at putting together suitable French phrases to visit the Harbourmaster and pay for the mooring, as they did not open until 09.00am.  I attempted some courtesy’s but the lady spoke perfect English, so no more attempt was required.  We returned to the boat and slept until the afternoon.  Had a walk around the small village and retired to eat the Lasagne we had brought, watched some French TV and back to sleep.

2nd June – Sunday

Walked to Landeda which is the town most local to Aber Wrac’h.  We think they may have the same Mayor as the other local larger town of Lanellis is not mentioned anywhere on any signposts.  20 minute walk to Landeda to find a few shops, mostly closed as it was Monday.  Then saw a signpost for Lanellis or rather Aldi and Briochmat (? B&Q).  Another 50 minute walk on a busy roadside to get to Lanellis.  The secret town was more open and about 4 times the size of Landeda.

We found a ‘Casino’ supermarche, which on first appearance looked derelict but on entering was comprehensively stocked.  We bought Pork Escalopes for tea and some bread and pate.

We then found a bench in the town square and ate the pate and bread, using fingers for pate spreading, sipping fruit juice and feeling like Kings.  Very happy.

Local, very clean amenities meant clean hands for our journey back, a walk back much improved and hastened by our sense of wellbeing and fill of pate.  On returning we found many more boats had arrived, we were told there was a race to Plymouth the next day.

At approx 18.30 a boat was rafted up against ours.  They were very pleasant elderly French people who were travelling in their boat whilst their younger family members were in another racier boat.  Their arrival was quite eventful with lots of shouting and a quickly diverted crash, avoided by ourselves and their younger family members fending them off as best we all could. Phew.

They turned out to be really nice people and the presumed owner of the boat asked us where we were going, then him and his daughter proceeded to tell us at great length, whilst also insisting we brought our charts to further their explanations, of the best places to visit.

The courtesy when rafting on another boat is for the people on the outside to cross onto your boat in the centre and then walk around the front to avoid any embarrassment that may occur by looking into your cabin.  Three of the four people on board their vessel were not really agile enough for this and processed across our boat cockpit all evening, occasionally looking in and saying hello, along with their families, their food, their drinks and at one point their washing up!!  This lasted until midnight with much lively conversation amongst the family.  The toilet procession began at 6.40am and continued until they left at 10.00am.  It was like a Nautical French version of ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ or ‘Vintage Vin Rouge sur la Mer’.

30th May – Friday – Falmouth Cont… Pre Channel – Final Days in UK

29th May – Thursday

Played tourists for the day.  Had a good walk around Falmouth’s streets and alleyways.  There are lots of little alleys going up and down from the harbour-side to the main street.  Must mention ‘Trago’ the most comprehensive, independent department store we have ever been in.  What didn’t they have.  It is situated almost at the end of the Main Street.  More ‘Pesto’ pasties, salad for tea.

30th May - Friday

We did our last big shop in the UK before leaving for France.  It was a 2 granny trolley plus 2 bag affair.  We have been slowly stocking up on teabags (currently 1,000) for a few weeks, but there is only so much room en le bateau.  We are led to believe that toiletries and pharmacy items are more expensive across the water, so it was really more that kind of thing, and items that we are particularly fond of.  Managed to find Eccles cakes and Egg Custard Tarts.  Then we had to find a place for everything.

Quick walk to McDonalds to spend our last free coffee voucher and snitch a bit of free wifi.

Ye Olde Traditional Sainsbury’s Indian Meal Deal for Two followed by Custards. Yum.

 

27th May–Tuesday–Newlyn to Falmouth

We had a good sleep and got up to say goodbye to Gordon and Louise on Camira, who were staying another day and then heading to France.  We hope our paths cross again in the future, as we enjoyed their company and shared the similar life experiences which we had all taken to meet on our journeys south.

Beautiful day for a sail.  We left Newlyn at 10.00am and set course to view St Michael’s mount on the other side of Mount’s Bay.

We then progressed towards Lizard Point dodging anchored ships and many, many lobster pots.  Once again the tide was with us from Lizard Point onwards and we sailed into Falmouth harbour arriving at 17.30pm.

As there was a large regatta in progress there was no room for us at the Town Quay visitors pontoons so we progressed up the river to the large Falmouth marina, where we re-fuelled and tied up.  The Marina has very good facilities, chandlery and excellent showers.

28th May – Wednesday

In preparation for our departure to France Mick checked the engine and changed both the engine and gearbox oils and filter.  On running the engine after this service we could hear a small clunk as the boat was put into gear coming from the prop shaft.  Mick thought the shaft anodes may have come loose but could not understand how.  So we deployed for the first time our USB underwater bullet camera (£10 from Ebay) taped to the end of the telescopic deck brush handle, taped to the end of the boat hook.  We could then whilst perched on the pontoon, one holding the laptop and one holding the pole, manipulate the camera to get a view of the underside of the boat.  Keyhole surgery must require much more finess.  Once we had verified on the laptop screen what was up and what was down, we found the prop shaft and saw that the anode was still in place.  We worked our way down the prop shaft and could see wrapped round the propeller a mass of fibrous material.  The boat is fitted with a rope cutter, which cuts through any rope that would stop the propeller going round, but does not remove debris.

There are now 2 options.  1. Ring the marina and have the boat craned out (approx £200) or 2. Put on the diving gear and jump in.  We decided to sleep on it.

29th May – Thursday

As £200 represents one months pasties and we are both qualified divers, a quick dip to investigate seemed the best option.  Mick donned his dry suit and mask and armed with his new Sailing Knife (a great leaving present – thanks) he entered the water

and returned 50 seconds later clutching a clump of fishing rope and netting.

He spent the next 10 minutes scrubbing blue antifoul off the dry suit and was hosed down.  This was much easier in a calm marina than in a rolling boat at sea.  We were lucky to have found this before we set off on an overnight trip to France.

Became tourists for the rest of the day.  Falmouth is also worth a visit.

26th May–Monday - Padstow to Newlyn

We wanted to leave early in the morning at first light, so the lock opens 2 hours before and after high tide we had to time it so that we left at 4:40am on Bank Holiday Monday the 26th May.

Leaving just after high water gave a following tide for the first 6 hours of the trip and the correct timing to round Lands End in order to gain a fair tide to Newlyn.

When we arrived in Padstow there was a heavy mist 1 mile out, and therefore the outward passage was much more scenic, as we could see the rocky and dramatic coastline, with its off lying rocks and islands.

By lunchtime we were passing St Ives bay and by one o’clock the Longships Lighthouse at Lands End.  There are 2 routes around the Longships rocks the inner and the outer which we took.

Slightly choppy sea in the morning, but we rounded the Runnel Stone within 10 minutes of our estimated ETA.

We arrived in Newlyn Fish Harbour at 17.30.  The harbourmaster was pleasant enough and told us where the facilities were, but we could not find them.  They turned out the be the fishermen’s toilets, so the £18 mooring fee was literally just for rafting to another boat.  Newlyn is not advertised as a Marina for yacht but proved a very welcome stopping point.

We walked to Penzance which was lovely and then collapsed back into the boat with a bag of chips for chip butties.  Long Day.

Penzance and Newlyn run into each other and whilst passing Penzance on the way in it was obvious from the crowd and the noise that there was an event taking place.  The locals were trying for a World Record of having the most Pirates in the same place at once.  There were bands, stalls and much jollity, including pirates of all ages and baby buggy pirate ships.  Unfortunately the record was not broken having been found to be 77 pirates short of the 14,000 required for the record. 

We had no desire to stay in the fish dock and so pressed on to Falmouth.  The boat got very dirty from soot specs from the fishing boats.

Padstow Cont..

21st to 25th May

Stayed in Padstow waiting for weather and tides.  Much time was spent deliberating the timing between Pasties, Ice Creams and Fish and Chips. Time was also passed cleaning, making bears, starting the work-shirt quilt, washing, shopping (large Tesco at the top of the hill), route-planning, reading, talking to the holidaymakers who occupy the benches around the harbour-wall, chatting to other boaters, walking and generally having a nice time.  We would both highly recommend Padstow as a place to visit.  Cheap mooring and friendly staff in excellent facilities.

15th May–Thursday – Lazy day – then Milford Haven to Padstow overnight.

 

Drinks on Fleur with Camira’s Gordon and Louise, congratulating ourselves for a safe passage and swapping tips.  Walk around town, meal at ‘Martha’s Vineyard’ on the harbour.

Very teary this morning, just relief and tiredness I think, also apprehensive prior to todays overnight trip.

To Tesco for Big Shop.  Bought ourselves jogging type, warm pants to wear under of waterproofs.

Milford Haven Marina is very well equipped, with lots of lovely little shops and cafes.  There is also a separate powder room in the showers for drying hair with a good hotel type dryer and 4 plug sockets and an area for general beautifying.  These thoughtful extra facilities really make a stay more pleasant. 

I expressed my opinion that overnight trips just make you tired.  Setting off at 22.00 seemed ridiculous to me, but I was wrong.  We had to set off at this time to catch the correct tide to take us out of Milford Haven safely and get us to Padstow when the tide is high enough for us to sail over the Sandbar.

The lock opened specially to allow ourselves and Camira out at 22.30.  We left the lock at approx. 23.30 due to the huge amount of water which needs to be shifted to operate the lock.

After travelling out of the channel we did not see Camira until Padstow.  Tonight was a MUCH calmer affair.  I took the 01.00 to 03.45 watch and Michael did the 04.00 to 06.45, I did 07.00 to 09.00 until I had to wake him as a mist had descended and visibility was only half a mile.  I then slept from 09.30 to 11.30, and Mick had an afternoon nap from 15.00 till 16.00.

During the night I was well wrapped up from the cold, I also had a hot water bottle (great idea from Camira, and thanks to Ella we had one on board).  The engine heats the water so there is a constant supply.  I had made sandwiches but as it is night time you do not tend to want to eat much.  We had the flask and made the occasional brew.

The full moon was high and reflecting on the glassy calm black sea.  During my first watch I thought I could see dolphins but it was too dark to really see.  I kept myself amused with more cheerful versions of Jerusalem, more French counting as I had looked up the numbers and several episodes of ‘Coffee Break French’ on my IPhone (thanks James), merrily chatting to myself in French following the lessons.  Although it was still lonely and felt like a long time, it was heaven compared to the previous trip.

During Mick’s watch the Dolphins really came upon us.  He said when I woke that they had been with him for 40 minutes.  During the day we saw a dozen or more pods of 6 or 7 dolphins, who seem to come and play with the boat, ducking and diving around and about

. 

The still days are always the best for Dolphin watching and this one was truly delightful. 

There was more mist in the afternoon which is weird when the sun in shining.

We arrived outside Padstow at approx. 16.00 and had to go around in circles for an hour and a half until it was safe to enter the channel.  When we finally approached with several other boats we had to negotiate the Sandbar off Rock which is the area across the estuary from Padstow.

There are some enormous houses along the other side of the channel.  The tide was running at 4 knots and while waiting for the lock gates to open we were travelling at 5 knots but only making one over the ground.

We entered the harbour at 17.30.  It is enclosed and surrounded by shops and cafes, very pretty.  It is also surrounded by bench seats which were filled to capacity for the entertaining spectacle of watching us all moor our boats.  We have not moored against a wall in Fleur before so finding the correct way to tie the ropes through the ‘U’ shaped cleats was a challenge.  We deployed every fender we own and the new fender  board, which prevents the boat from rubbing against the marina wall ladders.  The tide moves the boats up and down the harbour wall so you have to make the ropes long enough to accommodate the tide, but short enough to hold the boats secure.  We then had Camira and another boat rafted to us, and their ropes were tied to us and the harbour wall.

Many ice-creams, chips and pasties were consumed by our audience, in the warm sunshine.

Fish and Chips tonight from ‘Chips Ahoy’ (thanks Dave and Catherine for recommendation).

17th May – Saturday - Padstow

Lazy day, AM made a bear for Camira, walk around town, Salmon Spaghetti for tea.

18th May – Sunday – Padstow - Frank Sinatra Busker

At about 12.00 I heard singing.  I thought it was being carried over from a lunch time act at a local restaurant.  But no, there was a suited gentleman, with full backing track and microphone singing on the harbour-side, 50 feet in front of the boat.  It would have been rude to do anything other than stop everything, sit on the top of the boat and listen to him.  What a treat.

The Pasty a day diet is in full swing.  Mick mended another boat.  Lovely walk on the beach and coast path.  Hard to believe we are in England in Mid May.  Sausage and Mash.

19th May – Monday – Padstow

Bike Ride to Wadebridge.

At the Beaulieu boat jumble a couple of years ago Mick negotiated a very good price on two folding bikes with carrying cases.  They are kept down the side of the big bed.  The ‘Camel Trail’ is a bike/walking trail between Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin.  The track is a disused railway line so pretty level, consisting mainly of gravel with some tarmac.  It crosses several inlets on the river which at low water look like mud flats.  There were many types of wading birds (which Julian would love).  Our cycling has been mainly in the north were there are hills, so you pedal up a hill and then get a nice ride down the other side.  Not here.  Here you have to pedal all the time.  Mick’s bike had an annoying squeek, both ways.  It took us about an hour each way with the inevitable pasty stop at Wadebridge.  There are more shops at Wadebridge but it is not as pretty.

20th May – Tuesday – Padstow

Writing blog. 

13th-14th May–Tues/Wed - Arklow to Milford Haven

 

There will be 2 versions of this section.  One sailors technical version and one emotional wreck version.

14th May - Arklow to Milford Haven MJB

This passage goes right across St Georges Channel between Ireland and The UK mainland. The Atlantic Ocean rushes into and out of this relatively small gap with quite some vigour so the currents (especially at spring tides) are strong although predictable.

Between Arklow and Milford Haven is a group of rocks and islands called the Smalls and an island named Grassholm.  You can go either, west of the Smalls or east of Grassholm, between it and the island of Skomer.  The current flows very quickly here in either a northerly or southerly direction and is so strong that if we attempted this part of the passage at the wrong time we could end up going backwards.

The purpose of the introduction is to try and describe the need for a good passage plan, which is a plan that takes all known issues into account, the weather, tide, boat, crew, destination and alternatives, in case any issues occur. Key to the passage was arriving at Grassholm at the right time for the tide to assist us, in order to arrive at Milford Haven at first light.

We left at 13:30 into a fine afternoon with a weather forecast of N N/W 3 or 4.  We contacted Milford Haven Coastguard with details of our plan and intended route, which they log.  In order to meet our schedule we needed to maintain an average speed of 5 knots over the ground, so we used both the engine and mainsail.  As the sea had been churned up in the previous few days it was swelly and gives a rolling motion to our boat as it has quite a flat bottom.  We had waypoints programmed into the chart-plotter (boat GPS) which directed us to various points towards our destination.  We also had ETAs for each leg to ensure we hit the tides at the correct time.  Regular plots of our position on the chart and a visual indication of our track allows corrections and modifications to our course.

A schedule of hourly checks now begins:-

Check the engine cooling system

Check the alternator charging system

Check the navigation lights

Check the bilges for water

Plot our position on the chart

and every three hours check the weather forecast.

One of, if not the worst, conditions when sailing is fatigue or tiredness.  If you are too tired you cannot think straight and you make mistakes.  When sailing for over 5 or 6 hours you need to have a watch system in order to rest and recover.  Ann-Marie understands this and on this trip needed to take overall control for three 2 hour watches (two of them in darkness) in order to let me sleep.

During the second of her watches Ann-Marie started to feel sick and found it difficult to sleep in the cabin, she came up on deck and rested there. She was very cold so blankets were used and she finally managed to nod off.  Ann-Marie stood all 3 watches allowing me to get some sleep which allowed me to be fresh for the final legs of the journey and the navigation through the port of Milford haven.

BIG LESSON

Because we set off in good weather Ann-Marie did not take any seasickness pills nor put on extra clothing under her sailing attire.

The other requirement for sailing any length of time is nourishment, food and warm drinks.  We have a flask to make warm drinks easily available when on solo watch and a fresh cup of tea is prepared when a new watch starts.  Food on this trip was going to be hot chilli, but Ann-Marie didn’t fancy it and so backup pre-made sandwiches were consumed along with Crisps, Mars Bars, Ginger biscuits, and lots of humbugs.  Any one who knows me understands that keeping nourished has never been one of my problems.

We arrived off Grassholme with the tide and rushed through at 9.8 knots just as planned and arrived at the approaches to Milford Haven just before dawn.  The navigation into the port is straightforward and controlled by the port over the radio.  Once permission to enter was obtained we proceeded up the West channel and arrived at the marina at just after 5.00am.

We contacted the coastguard by radio to inform him of our safe arrival, filled in the logbook, backed up the computers, checked the engine oil water and belts, ate the remaining sandwiches, and went to bed.

14th May – Wed - Arklow to Milford Haven  - AMP

In preparation I had made a Pressure Cooker Chilli and had cooled it and put it into Tupperware to be used for 2 meals during the crossing.  How Naive!

We set off at 13.30 for the overnight trip to Milford Haven.  I have only made a few overnight trips before and was not massively keen on them.  All started well as the weather was Mediterranean and the first 7 hours passed pleasantly enough, we had corned beef and Branston tea cakes (first mistake).  The sea was swelly due to the recent unsettled weather and the coarse we were taking and the state of the tide, so the boat had been rolling for quite a few hours but it was endurable.  Mick had been for a sleep and insisted I go for one too as we were going through the night and I would need to stand watch while he slept and vice versa.  You sleep in the centre cabin during a trip as the bed is too near to the engine and you would never sleep, also you can keep and eye on the instruments and be available if assistance is required.

I had been downstairs for maybe half and hour when I became incredibly nauseous.  I have not been physically seasick for 14 years and was quite determined to control it.  Sometimes it is uncontrollable.  An irresistible urge to go to the loo, then I surfaced on deck after much deep breathing.  I was then sick into the washing up bowl, very neatly apparently, strange compliment.  I then stayed on deck for the following 8 hours.  Trips to the loo are difficult as we wear so many layers of clothes but have to be made.

I stood watch alone during this time twice.  Approximately 21.30 till 23.00 and again 01.00 to 03.00.  The auto-helm was steering so I was basically a lookout, checking the coarse regularly.  Fortunately it was not raining and I could stand in the cockpit and sit there too.  You have to be tied on to the boat for safety at night, at first I thought it was like a dog lead, but soon grew to love the secure feeling it provided.  The harness is secured to a solid item in the cockpit and a thick strap with carabineers is secured to your life jacket and the boat.

I felt so very sick during these periods and tried to distract myself firstly by counting to 100 in French, but kept getting stuck at 60.  Then I tried singing.  The only songs I know all way through are Jerusalem (thanks W.I.), Yesterday and Edelweiss.  I was stood looking out over the spray hood, in the pitch dark, while the boat rolled from side to side, singing Jerusalem with tears streaming down my face.  It is an emotional song for me but after the 10th rendition I got a grip.  Many versions of the other songs and more French got me through, along with renditions of ‘Albert and the Lion’.

After being sick I was incredible cold and Mick got me a blanket.  Low point of the night came when my blanket slipped off and landed in the still slightly sickie Washing Up bowl.  I managed to rescue it quickly and Mick rinsed and wrung it.

The moon was full, which would normally help.  It only served to make me realise how much the boat was pitching from side to side as it dipped and rose 45 degrees in the sky.  Obviously it was not dipping we were rolling.  The sea looked like angry black oil tossing us around.  This was worst during the passage between two islands when the tide was with us and we were making almost 10 knots over the ground (normally we do 5).  Although we were going quickly we were also rolling quickly.

During Micks watch I somehow managed to fall asleep curled up in the corner of the cockpit.  During the night we took the seasick pills and these did help for the last few hours.

Milford Haven is a huge Gas and Oil port.  Navigation lights at night are Red and Green for Port and Starboard, which means the boat passes with the red buoys to the left and the green to the right when entering the harbour (vice versa when leaving).  At night it is virtually impossible to tell the difference in distance of one buoy compared to another.  They are marked on charts which indicate the occulting (flashing) times.  So 2f10 means the buoy will flash twice every ten seconds.  Approaching Milford Haven was a little like a 70s disco.  I did not have a clue.  Mick however was on full brain power and steered us slowly and safely through the mass of lights.  Milford Haven was quite exciting as there are massive tankers on either side of the estuary being loaded and unloaded.  It is amazing that all this activity occurs just so that we can make a brew and go to Tesco in our cars.  (Big thanks to these people).

There were many others lights during the night watches too.  Some from the islands, some from fishing boats and some from the shore.  There were 2 sets of 6 bright red lights which we saw for at least a third of the whole journey.  At first I thought they were fishing boats, but they never got any closer.  They turned out to be huge lights, 3 on each tower/chimney on an oil refinery at Milford Haven.  We eventually passed them at 4.30am.  Shame they are not marked on the navigation maps.  We arrived through the large lock which leads to the marina at first light. 

While this sounds dramatic, at no time did I feel in danger and realise these crossings have to be made.  I also fully realise I had to stand my watch and did not complain.  The weather was forecast WNW 3 or 4 (no more than 15 knots of wind) so we could not have chosen a ‘calmer’ or safer time to do this either.  You may think ‘Why did I not go and find warmer clothes or more blankets?  The problem was the thought of going down into the cabin was so acute I could not make myself go and for the same reason i did not ask Mick to either.

No Chilli was consumed.

We ate our Ham sandwiches on arrival for breakfast.  Mick was buzzing from the challenge so not immediately sleepy.  We slept from 6.00amd till 12.00 noon.  A bit like jetlag you need to get up so that you can sleep the following night.  We had Chilli for lunch and then again for Dinner the next day.

Lessons learned.

No Corned Beef Sandwiches for a while.

Keep yourselves warm.  Pre-prepare warm things which are stored close to hand.  Hot water bottle.

Think of some type of entertainment to pass the time.

Do not try to sleep downstairs when it is too rough.

Sickness goes quite quickly once under control.  Must take Seasickness pills earlier even when the sea is calm.

AM to herself – must pay more attention to the route prior to trip.

AM - Full understanding that watches have to be stood no matter how you are feeling.

Fleur on G pontoon.