Currently on a train from Exeter to Newquay (on the North Cornish Coast) where I will spend the night ahead of catching an early morning puddle jumper to the Isles Of Scilly (about 25 miles off shore) where I will rendezvous with Tonic and here Crew (2 new members joined in Penzance and 1 left). We need at least the 5 of us to accommodate the 2 long passages we will do in the next 5 days. The first will take us from the Isles of Scilly up to Milford Haven and the second from Milford Haven to Dublin. We’re all excited about arriving in Dublin because we’ll go and visit the Guinness Brewery (been to Dublin loads of times and not done it). We’ll also change training skippers in Dublin (and crew members). We’ve been doing what is called “technical” sailing over the last week _ shortish passages with focus on the real specifics of the quality of our sale plan and boat handling. Very interesting and really well coached by Tom our Training Skipper. 
The wedding up io the North East was excellent – a real family and very Geordie affair. For those who don’t know, it was our niece getting married (Bernadette’s brother’s daughter) and tragically, her mother died just a few months back (Brain Cancer) at a very young age (60). This could have turned into a very sad event, but it wasn’t. It was full of joy and happiness and it was a great celebration. John, Bernadette’s brother and father of the bride did a great job of keeping it together and appropriately Brough Moira’s memory up in his speech. John, the bridegroom, also did a stellar job in his speech and apart from having everyone in tears of joy, he also brought some appropriate tears in celebrating his now departed mother-in-law. A wonderful time was had by all. The wedding was in rural Northumberland, a much forgotten beauty in the very North of England. It is such a pretty county and the wedding venue was a wonderful country house focused specifically for weddings. Look it up – it’s Woodhill Hall in Otterbrun (http://www.woodhillhall.co.uk/) – it’s very cool and in a beautiful setting.

Now I’m en route back (a little reticence this morning about leaving, but I’m excited to get back on the damp, smelly boat and get on with some real sailing.

The photo below is of the Bride’s dress with the natural confetti clinging to it!

More to come from me once I get back out to the boat

Pip pip