Now I know folks back in Dallas are sweltering in the sun and possibly starting the annual moan about the heat – but I’m not! We sailed around to Brixham on the Devon Riviera-

Riviera my eye! I know it can be glorious down here and it has been on previous visits, but they were from the land side and maybe that makes a difference. We were supposed to have (according to them) light winds and light drizzle. Well we didn’t! The gentle Force 3 to 4 became a definite Force 5 to 6 and the light drizzle became bloody big wet drops. We sailed close hauled at 8 plus knots and needed hot soup and a good sandwich to keep our spirits up!

As we entered the bay ready to turn and tack into the harbor, we prudently put in a couple of reefs on the main and turned to get 8 plus knots with a lot less sail and a lot more control! We then firled away the sails right outside the harbour entrance and motored in to the Marina and guess what we did next? Well – what do you think – we went for a pint and some warmth! We then collected some supplies and headed back to cook a meal fit for Sunday night in a damp boat! Lyonnaise Potatoes, Ratatouille and roasted pork chops with an apple wine glaze – all cooked by my fair hand on a two burner simple boat stove. Of course we had to drink some red wine to occupy ourselves during the prep process!

Now the things is – as seems to be the way to start conversations with the folks at Elite Sailing (owners of this vessel and suppliers of the training skippers that will accompany us) – “fing is” Brixham used to be a lovely little fishing community with summer tourist season. It looks sad now – the fishing fleet is there, but smaller and the summer tourism is still there, but smaller (and to be honest not sure of the summer based on what we’re seeing right now) – and the quality isn’t the same. To be frank -it’s a bit grotty! We went to a lovely pub which had been given a facelift on the outside (like Ivanka Trump had a face lift) and now it looks like a fish shop on a wet day – but inside it was quaint (does Invanka Trump look like a fish shop on a wet day – or is that her ex?). Outside sat a bunch of jogging suited early twenties males (strangely looking like each other – but let’s not fixate on that aspect – Ramsgate?). It was very off putting and had we not had local knowledge – we wouldn’t have gone anywhere near it. “Fing is” – the entire street of shops that line the quay all looked the same – Turn of the Century Gauche! Again – it’s a judgement and someone must like it – but on a rainy Sunday afternoon – it just looked naff.

The phot below is of us passing Portland Bill (it’s a place not a person of doubtful character). A forbidding place – a large set of cliffs, a whirlpool in the sea and and prison on the top. You can just about see how welcoming it’s not!

So now it’s Monday morning and the rain it keeps a coming and so we’re having a lazy start and a late breakfast. We’re heading just down the coast to Dartmouth later today (home of the Royal Naval College). Today and tomorrow we have some short hops and we’ll use them to do drills and make sure we’re not out of snuff on things like MOB (Man Over Board)! For now – that’s it!

More to follow! Pip pip