I’m sitting here writing this on the passage from Whitby to Harwich – a mere 200 mile jaunt down the east coast. We have no wind once again, so the engine is on and we’re running into current on our nose and so only getting 4.5 knots – after initially getting 8! This is a 35 – 40 hour passage! It started at 6.00 this morning running out of Whitby after a very brief “splash and dash” 10 hour stay. I skippered the boat down to Whitby from Newcastle and had the opportunity to take it into this very interesting fishing port. There are all-sorts of dangers, not least of which is it is very shallow except at high water. There is a narrow channel and a swing bridge. All of that was taken care of and we tied up ahead of schedule and shot down to the Magpie Cafe for some of their infamous Fish and Chips (6 out 10 – sorry). After a short night’s sleep – here we are. I have been to Whitby before and once again I concluded that in the season (not sure what that means because it was freezing there yesterday), Whitby is a hell hole dressed in a summer frock. In winter it returns to a cosy little fishing community with pounds that sell real ale and local food. Last night the streets were full of holiday makers of the variable type.  
Our intention is to get to Harwich by late afternoon tomorrow and go up to the Marina at Wolverston – on the River Orwell. It’s a very pretty place and we would like a nice last evening together ahead of running down the rest of the coast, over the Thames Estuary into the Medway and back to Chatham by Tuesday night. We are being very ambitious doing this, but there are few options – if we are to have the boat back in time. If things get too much for us we could stop short in Lowestoft, but that means another very long day the next day – so the vote on the boat is to keep going. I have family in Lowestoft and it would be great to see them, especially my big brother Trevor – but the consequences of going in are large and I know that in a democratic vote of the crew here – I would be out numbered significantly! I think they would like Trev, but there you go! They’ll never know what they’ll miss.

I want to use the rest of this trip, including the lonely night watches, to think about what this has all meant to me. To go around the complete Island of Great Britain. I’m sure I will need to reflect for a little time before I can properly articulate how I feel about things. Right now – I just want it to be over! I am tired and ready for some normality. Simon and I have been sailing continuously for 8 weeks now. We have had new people come on OUR boat every week, some were great, some less so (for the avoidance of doubt, Barclay was on the negative side of the equation). I am very excited about seeing Bernadette in Chatham and to get a few days off with her before the rest of the plan starts (advanced stuff associated with doing the Yacht Mater Test later in August). While I’ve been doing all of this messing about on boats, she’s had to endure the Dallas summer, look after Bootsie and keep James on the straight and narrow (Alice is no longer our responsibility – you marry – you transfer privileges and responsibilities). Bernadettte has been an absolute brick and I miss her more than I can put into words. As for the Yacht master test, I’m still not sure I’ll do it. If I feel like I’m ready – I’ll go for it. Part of me says I have nothing to lose and part of me says I don’t have to have the pressure. I’m not going to use it to make a living – but there is a huge amount of work needed over 3 weeks before I go for it. I promise you I will let you know what I decide. As for the next blog entry – hopefully it will be about the last night as a boat crew – at the Butt and Oyster at Pin Mill. Until then – pip pip,

Pip pip,

N