New owner, first passage and a new home

We brought Croix des Gardes home last weekend. After a hectic couple of days on Monday and Tuesday, refitting the mast, sorting a out a badly plumbed engine and signing over paper work, she was ready for the voyage home.

Friday night was a taxi, train, ferry, taxi ride to the boat and the to a very trendy restaurant/night club in Dunkerque. Yes such things do exist, and while it was not our first choice, it was the only thing open by the time we got to the boat. Huge pot of mussels each, which was more than we could eat.

Not much wind on the Saturday so a longer motor out of Dunkerque, with a late start, thanks to tidal co-operation. Some sailing across the channel and then the night in Ramsgate alongside a sea cadet training vessel. Good entertainment the following morning seeing the cadets pipe the colours up and sound the bells for the forenoon watch.

Sunday gave us good brisk sou' westerlies and a good hard sail back to Ipswich. 7-10 knots in the water and F5-6 over the deck, in the end 2 reefs and a couple of rolls in the number two to get across Fishermans Gat and then up Medusa channel. Not a lot of others out, at least offshore.

Briefly into SYH to discharge, and then onto the mooring. A great first sail as the new owner.

Close reach on the Sunday with some reefs in but a blue sky and cheerful crew.

Hard on the wind, but not much water over the decks at this stage.

New skipper surveys his liability!

1:21 PM - Sep. 21, 2007 - post comment