Eastbourne and Dover

The more alert of you will have noticed that I did not post a report yesterday? The internet connection at Eastbourne was naff, so I wasn't able to. Anyway I would have told you that it was a pleasant sail to Eastbourne from Brighton, after some arguing with the wind to escape - the wind preferring to pin us to the marina pontoon. With the help of the bow-thruster we were able to escape however.

I would also have told you of what we did in Gosport - jobs. Roger went up the mast to clean the spreaders and attach halyards for courtesy flags. I also noted Mary Mouse 2 - a former lightship now a bar and shower block! There was also Medusa - small ship used to guide troops to Omaha beach in 1944.

A late meal in Eastbourne resulted in my stomach complaining again! Oww! At 2.30am, having been unable to sleep I got up to pace the gents toilets for 20 mins in the hope of improving my digestion. It seemed to work and I finally managed a bit of sleep - until woken by crew early in the morning. Roger left us to attend a family 'do' so we were just 3 up for the trip to Dover - me, Rob (promoted to 1st Mate) and Hastings. Although Rob seems to have recovered, my recovery is taking some time longer :-(

We left Eastbourne at 0915  with sunshine and a flat sea. By the time we reached Dover at 1730 conditions had deteriorated rather. It had become cold and cloudy, and the sea state was very uncomfortable. We were very pleased to enter Dover harbour.

After tying up in the marina we discovered that the drain on the holding tank is blocked. Great! (Not!)
Will try to sort that tomorrow before our planned passage to Ramsgate in the afternoon. Hopefully the sun will shine and the sea will be flat??

(The internet is not good here either and keeps dropping out before I can post photos, so I may have to post them later. I might be able to get some on the yacht's facebook page, so you might want to check that? https://www.facebook.com/yachtbluestar?ref=bookmarks)