After last nights shenanigans. The only plan today was to get Watanga back to the mooring at Wareham.

After breakfast we fancied a change of scenery and moved to shipstal point and watched the wildlife

whilst we once again awaited the tide. I’d never realized before that you can see Corfe Castle from Shipstal

Later on the way upriver we passed our friends Howard, Liz, Colin and Jenny, out for a jaunt in their Cornish Shrimper, before arriving at our mooring.

So 4 days aboard, 3 nights on anchor a total of 50 miles travelled, most of that sailing. A few minor snags found around the boat, some of which were corrected and the rest will be done soon. As far as we can tell everything works, the boat is ready.

It’s been tiring, and I think I need a crash fitness course, but other than that we’re ready to go on the 29th.

Sunday morning. Coffee in bed. and Louise opening all of the birthday presents she had bought with her. A slap up breakfast was an Egg and bacon Roll. Then what to do. Lou suggested a sail, so off we went.| The South Easterly wind lent itself nicely for a sail along the coast past Bournemouth, Boscombe and Chichester, ending up a Hegistbury head. It was pretty much perfect conditions for sailing, and there were several boats around us help us gauge our performance. I was over the moon to be sailing at 32° to the wind, something I’ve been unable to do for some while, all whilst outrunning a Catana Catamaran. Result.

I had planned to stop in Chichester Harbour for a quick lunch. The narrow entrance to Chichester Harbour was a little choppy and when the rudders kicked up on the way in we knew that any stopover would mean we wouldn’t get out again because of the falling tide. So a quick U turn and out again before we got trapped.

The journey back was a brisk broad reach. Lunch was on the go!! We reached Poole Entrance 2 hrs before low tide and had to fight our way in against 4knts of tide. Aiming for the Wych Channel to anchor the tide defeats us once again as the channels dry become too shallow to pass. So we ended up in South Deep for a second night. Still not a bad place to spend the night..

Famous last words… Around midnight I started awake, to the sound of wind and waves slapping the hull. Looking out of the window the boat ahead had dragged, and very close to the front of ours. I dashed out on deck in an ensemble of pyjamas, crocs and wet weather gear, and although it didn’t appear to be getting any closer I still bestowed the front of the boat with fenders just in case. There was not much more to do than watch and hope. High Tide came and went, the wind died again and we didn’t touch.

Back in bed an hour later, Not easy to sleep with that on your mind.