Dover

We left Ramsgate as planned at 7am and caught the morning forecast on the VHF. The previous 3-4 had been augmented by 'occasionally 5 or 6. Oh well, it's only 15 miles. The wind felt a little strong but we thought we would see how it went with full sail and immediately shorten if needed. We got the main up no problem and it seemed ok but the peak needed to go up a bit. As I pulled on the hardener the sheet bend on the end of the thin rope through the blocks came undone and the upper fiddle block went soaring up the mast as the peak came gently down. No more sailing for us until we can retrieve the peak halyard.

Then it started raining and I went below to put my oily bottoms on. A wave pushed me up as I sat and I bumped my head on the oil lamp. The glass flew up and down and smashed on the floor.

Just to prove that problems come in 3 s, one strand on the main sheet parted due to the constant motion of the boom on the horse as we rounded the South Foreland. The sea around there was not nice. Too choppy and rolly. We need to visit the chandlers.

But getting into Dover was really simple. We saw Great Days at anchor in the inner harbour and they, and Charm who had been behind us, went into the Marina. Safe and sound. Once in we met up with Avola, Hussar, Plum, and Cumannexis. A proper gathering of Gaffers!

We were all sorted out by noon, including a visit to Sharpe and Enright for the new main sheet. They are conveniently sited on the way into Dover itself. We had decided we had to come to Dover to see the Bronze Age Boat in its dedicated gallery at the museum. Well worth the visit.