Others may have been watching the Royal wedding, FA cup, etc.; we are watching Beachy Head.  We have been watching it for quite a while, a consequence of arriving at exactly the wrong time.  We are making 5 knots through the water, not bad with 11 knots of wind, but less than two over the ground.  That’s the trouble with the worst of a spring tide coming the other way around the headland…

Delighted to be joined by Jerry for this leg from Ramsgate to Brighton.  A long-serving previous member of Littlehampton lifeboat crew, he arrived just in time to rescue a man that had fallen in the water while berthing his yacht.  The pontoons are too high out of the water for anyone to get out without help!  In spite of his obvious heroism, he hasn’t yet convinced us to get the compass adjusted.

We left a tippy berth, a bit too close to the harbour entrance, mid-afternoon yesterday.  Spent most of the night ghosting past Dungeness under the stars – 11 knots of wind is as good as it has been, mostly it has been much less and the passage plan based on a 5 knot average speed soon started to look ambitious.

A beautiful night, but cold and damp.  Many layers, still cold.  Almost bailed in a moment of tiredness after breakfast, tempted by Eastbourne.  But held our ground.  We won’t be there by mid-afternoon today– but have high hopes for tea time.  Could be worse.  The sun is out and the cruising chute is up.  Another 30 min of sleep would make it perfect.