It’s now less than 100 miles to home and it looks as if the weather is having the last word with strong easterlies forecast for most of next week. That’s dead on the nose for us, again, so we will keep an eye out for the best conditions to complete our journey. At the moment we’re not even sure whether we will be able to stop in Swanage to unload the boat, but that’s all a week away and things change. (hopefully for the better.)
And so to Dartmouth. The easterly winds were already starting as we motored out of Salcombe, avoiding Wolf rock, out past “Queen Victoria on a dolphin” rock, over the sandbar then eastwards.
As we round Start Point and Dartmouth comes into view, it’s immediately obvious there’s a lot of activity off the entrance. A quick look on the internet reveals it’s Dartmouth Regatta week. This means it’s going to be busy. Will we get in? A phone call to the harbour office confirms it will be OK but rafting may be necessary. That’s a relief I didn’t fancy Brixham for 5 days in Easterly conditions.
On we went, avoiding the race area, where some 50 boats were getting ready for their starts, and motored in to Dartmouth. It was certainly busy, but once past the town quay, where all the regatta activities were centred, it quietened down and we actually got a berth straight on the pontoon.
It was the last day of Regatta week here, so we went ashore to join in the fun, spending the afternoon watching RNLI displays, rowing races, sailing parade, and fireworks in the evening.
With so much going on it feels like we’ve been here for ages already.
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4 Kidneys and a Wonky Leg 