Summer arrives in the South West

Joined by the “Buckley Boys”, Nick & Joe for leg 1, Kasara, minus Jan (recovering from her appendix flair up) set sail from The Hamble almost on time at 14.15 on 29th May After a farewell toast with our well wishers.

165 NM later we have arrived in Sutton Hbr Marina in Plymouth via Studland (anchor), Portland (marina), Dartmouth (marina), Dittisham (buoy), Salcombe (pontoon) & The Yealm (buoy).

(life on the Yealm)

Weather Report: has been excellent F2 - 4, East veering to SW, sunny blue skies, getting warmer, looks set fair for a while.

Sailing highlights: rounding the Bill at slack at 05.00 set us in good stead for Lyme Bay & a nice F4 sail from Salcombe to The Yealm.

(Lyme Bay)

(Salcombe mayhem)

Best Landfall: First at Dart Marina (great showers) followed the next night rafted alongside Maurice & Michelle‘s Colvic on a buoy upriver off Dittisham.

Best eat out: Hilarious night at Red Lion up the hill in Dittisham - Scallops & local ale to die for.

Best eat in: (2nd only to “The Captains Table” of course) was Joe’s delicious Butternut squash, mixed veg & Parmesan Risotto followed by banana & nectarine smothered in Rum mmmmm.

Animal Watch: not a lot really apart from a fair smattering of Egrets, Shags, and the occasional Buzzard up the estuaries. We shall do better.

Cultural Highlight: Agatha Christie’s holiday home (now National Trust) Greenways on the Dart.

Most hilarious moment: Both father and son mounting their kayaks (or not) - see Videos 😂

Popped home for a couple of days to see Jan - happily feeling much better - and confident she will join us on 24th June in Belfast.”

Tuesday first thing we set off on leg 2 hopefully via Scilly to North Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 and a planned stroll up Snowden.

Wishing for continued 🌞 and maybe just a little more 🌬

Well done Buckley’s - great to have you aboard and thanks for getting the adventure underway.

Speak soon P J & Kasara xx