After deciding to abandon the Jester Challenge I headed for Newyln under engine. I have always enjoyed visiting here and I had half a mind to look up an old a friend living in Penzanze. I thought that later I could maybe continue to either Ireland later or the Scilly Isles. 

Arriving off Newlyn I discovered via VHF that the harbour was full so I anchored off. Several other boats had to settle for this option too.

17th June Newlyn to Falmouth 30 miles 7 hours

After a peaceful night I woke early. Reviewing my options in the light of the forecast I decided me to set off back homewards over the other alternatives. Visiting the Scillies was slightly tempting but not if I had to mmotor there. So I upped anchor and started to retrace my steps. With a slack tide and calm conditions I could pass close whilst rounding the Lizard. I hoped for some breeze but there was none so it was a long motor all the way. There was a strange ship anchored off the Manacles I couldn’t decide on its purpose. A bit of a toss up whether to stop at the Helford river or not but I continued to Falmouth. I thought I might anchor off St Mawes but it felt a bit crowded so went across to anchor at Carrick Roads

18th June Falmouth to Plymouth 32 miles 8 hours 

Awoke to a flat calm so it turned out to be another day of motoring. A warm and sunny day but with little to report. I anchored in Cawsand Bay.

19-20th June Plymouth to Portland 97 miles 34 hours 

Awaked to a bit of chop in the anchorage caused by  an easterly wind. All sail set and off sailing. Later in the morning the wind had picked up and with the wind direction and all decided I would make better progress motor sailings so I handed the staysail and furled the yankee. Later with a better slant on the wind which had eased a little I was sailing again. Much later by Berry Head I turned Eastwards having decided not to stop at Brixham in the NE winds. So started the long slow process of tacking across Lyme Bay. Sunset came and then the dawn. Mid morning and the wind was blowing 20 to 24 knots condition were not pleasant. Eventually I was by my waypoint 3 miles south of Portland Bill and I could turn towards the East Shambles buoy. The presence of the Shambles Bank was clearly marked  by all the breaking waves- it looked nasty. Rounding the buoy I could head for Portland and gratefully dropped the hook in the harbour around 5.30 pm. The entry in the log book says That was tough.

Portland to Studland Bay

 Prior to setting off I dipped the fuel tank, it was about a quarter full. So I went across the marina. Sods law struck as I approached the wind had been light but it decided to blow up strong and start raining too. Made coming alongside the fuel berth tricky with the wind blowing me off. Of course once fuelled the wind dropped and rain stopped and the sun came out. We had about 13knots of easterly exiting Portland harbour but not too bad a slant to make for St Albans Head and then a change of course for Old Harry. Closing in top Studland Bay it looked reasonably calm and there were plenty of boats here. The Forecast was promising a wind change to S and the SW so I took a mooring here. My original plan if the easterly persisted was to go to Poole harbour but I was pleased to be spared the extra distance. Yes the wind did shift as forecast so we had a reasonable night.

Studland Bay to Osborne Bay

The morning was sunny with a blustery w wind. By the time the tied were suitable in the afternoon the sun had disappeared but with a blistery Sw wind of 15 – 20 knots I ran under just the yankee towards the N Channel and through the narrows at Hurst point. Once through the rough water there it was much calmer in the Solent and I was soon in Osborne Bay to anchor. It was blowing hard here 25 knots or so but there was a couple of other boats at anchor.

23rd June Osborne Bay

After listening to the forecast which was  W-NW 5-6 occ 7 at first I decided to stay put. It was a little bumpy with the wind shift but liveable with.

24th-25th June Osborne Bay to  Dover 97 miles 24 hrs

Forecast was for SW 4-6 but veering NW 2-4 later.

Accordingly I decided to remain at anchor for the day and set off much later when the wind had calmed. Working out the tides I aimed to buck the tide as far as the Loo Channel and pick up a favourable tide here. It meant a departure around  11pm so that is what I did.

There were quite a few big ships about but by keeping to the edge of the channel I kept out of their way. I had to cross to the other side of the channel in the vicinity of Horse Sand Fort but kept a good lookout and just had the ferry to Portsmouth to contend with, I didn’t realise they ran all night.

The Boulder Bank buoys were located successfuly and it was becoming light as a traveled down the Loo channel. Mid morning and Beachy Head was abeam. I decided to take the inshore route past Eastbourne. Somewhere off Hastings it was foggy but it later cleared. Later rounding Dungeness there was a weather warning over the VHF of severe thunderstorms and heavy rain. Indeed soon behind me and to the S there was vey ominous dark clouds which were split  by jagged lightning flashes. Forewarned I donned waterproofs and prepared for the worse. We did have some rain but it eased off and stopped just before I entered Dover harbour. In the dark I had difficulty spotting the lettering of the pontoons in the marina  but eventually I found my allotted pontoon and a fellow sailor helped with my lines for which I was thankful. It was midnight, it had been a long day.

26th June

Stayed in Dover to let the bad weather pass through.

27th June 48 miles 12 hours

Dover to Pinmill

Away from the pontoon in the late morning and after clearance from Dover authority out through the East Entrance. Wind was SW 4-5 but reckoned to maybe increase to 6 later. Running under a reefed main and yankee, midday and we were past Ramsgate and early afternoon we entered Foulgers Gat and passed through the wind farm. Saw a big container ship heading south down the Black Deep but it was well passed when we crossed that and then the Sunk. We turned to follow the Kings Channel and up to cross Goldmer Gat. By now the wind was getting a little fiesty so a second reef put in the main shortly followed by the third. The wind was now 24 – 25 knots, fairly shallow across the Gat, about 5 m under the keel, the wind and waves had stirred up the bottom , the sea was the colour of sand. Later coming into Felixstow the wind had dropped. With approaching dark I had decided to anchor in the Orwell rather than proceed to the mooring. I had left the dinghy on the mooring and thought that maybe the dinghy rope and mooring strop might be all tangled up, it would be easier to pick up the mooring and sort it out in daylight rather then in the dark. So I anchored under sail and could have a welcome cuppa and late dinner.

28th June

Next morning in calm conditions a short motor took me up river to my mooring. There was no tangle to sort out, all well. I had time to tidy up and sort out before going  ashore around high water and heading for home. I had been away for almost a month.