In anticipation of the web site disappearing (probably in the distant future) I have converted the more important threads into PDF documents so I'll have a continuing record. These are somewhat easier to read, I have not made any significant edits but there are fewer pictures and no video. Links from downloaded copies should still work if on line. I may later put further links to Flickr for videos but probably not for the slide shows because of the effort required and the likely hood of the Flickr library disappearing with the web site (with thousands of images it has to be paid for). WIP:- 2020 Round GB here Flickr albums (rather a lot) with all pics available here.
In anticipation of the web site disappearing (probably in the distant future) I have converted the more important threads into PDF documents so I'll have a continuing record. These are somewhat easier to read, I have not made any significant edits but there are fewer pictures and no video. Links from downloaded copies should still work if on line. I may later put further links to Flickr for videos but probably not for the slide shows because of the effort required and the likely hood of the Flickr library disappearing with the web site (with thousands of images it has to be paid for). WIP:- 2020 Round GB here Flickr albums (rather a lot) with all pics available here.
Well, from the 4th July we should finally be allowed to stay on our boats overnight. By this time last year I had done the Jester Baltimore and had covered about fifteen hundred miles, this year zilch and the Jester Azores is postponed until next year so much of this years sailing will be crammed into one long summer cruise and perhaps a shorter one in the autumn.
Islands, then if the weather is kind to me I will go on to Orkney via Cape Wrath and home eastabout for a solo round GB trip, admittedly excluding N. Ireland although I am planning to visit a couple of placed there on-route.
You may notice that the post title says "towards" the Islands etc., that is the traditional way of recording the planned and hoped for destination in the ships log recognising that things frequently do not go to plan, especially under sail, and I will be very surprised if my actual trip matches the detailed plans I have, even with all of the alternates I put in the plan during the long days of lock down.
Marinas and port facilities in Scotland are currently closed, hopefully that will change before I get there in the second half of July but at best, meals ashore are likely to be few and far between so in the hope of lots of alfresco dinning I have fitted a cockpit table and am well stocked with food, water and diesel for 400 miles for minimal contact with the shore. Fortunately N. Ireland will be open so I can refuel and hopefully get fresh provisions there - but I suspect it could be busy.
With possible issues with cell phone coverage in many of the remote anchorages I am planning to use, the IridiumGo satellite system is ready to go and my track and current position should be available from the tab above.
In anticipation of this trip I had Sancerre's bottom cleaned on the 18th June, you can see how much crud builds up on a boat that is kept on the Hamble and not used, and this was just 6 months since I antifouled her and that included the winter months when weed growth is at a minimum.
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| Power wash at Hamble Yacht Services, June 2020. |
Posts on route may be sent by email so formatting etc. may be a bit ropey with few pictures and none if submitted via satellite. Some of what follows was written in real time, some retrospectively so the tense keeps changing! More about this and some general information on the blog see my introduction.
