Arrivals

Friday 16th is arrivals day. Crew (David K and Bob C) converging on Exeter and arrive Paignton at 1557. I did suggest we went shopping straight away, but perhaps tight in the car and we have tomorrow. The weather is pointing at a Sunday departure - heading for Brest with an easterly. The weather does look settled for at least the next week, so we can pretty much go where we want.

Last year we got as far as Brest as our midway point. This year we aim to start there and head South.

Much preparation work is required. The outboard that came with the last boat has given up the ghost. Owes me nothing. It must be 25 years old. So I have a "new" Yamaha 2.5 4 stroke. All good except now my dinghy is leaking. We suspect the valve and find a replacement bung that, of course, is very slightly too large. A half hour of sandpapering and some hefty clouts with the mole grips and its in.

Guest writer David....

Welcome all readers to another year and to our annual blog of the Liquid Asset summer cruise.

Friday 16 June

The crew mustered on Friday at 15:57 with Bob and David arriving by train from far off lands into Paignton. Then through winding country lanes to the marina at Dartmouth (actually Kinsgswear on the opposite bank of the River Dart).

Liquid Asset Sun Odyssey 45DS sits in the water with newly scrubbed teak decks, cleaned spray hood and fuelled up ready to go - a beautiful sight to behold.

Very soon the conversation starts up about our destination for this year and by researching the prevailing winds from all sources ( marina blackboard, iPad, Windy, Met Office, Wind Guru and    ) it was clear Saturday was calm with easterlies on Sunday. Let's head out west or southwards… easy really!

(Editor's note : contributions for this year's blog is from all the crew; we would like to take some pressure off skipper for the time taken to post the content. And perhaps the latest technology will allow quick and up to date content except there are no WiFi masts out at sea yet)

Kendricks restaurant in Dartmouth hosted our traditional pre cruise meal and as always offers a mixture of good food, good conversation and of course the opportunity to people watch. Then back through the narrow streets to the ferry, a malt nightcap then zzzz...

Saturday 17 June

Early rise and off to Sainsbury's to victual for the trip with no shopping list written down but hey the combined memory bank of three sextarians ought to handle that with some old favourite dishes in mind and some fresh recipes being discussed.

“Three full English please with coffee and toast” was ordered in the supermarket cafe and we tried not to talk about politics or religion but focus on the task - food and drink - but we did revisit the topic of our destinations - this was going to be a tough one to crack because there is a lot of places out west, Isles of Scilly, Southern Ireland, Brittany coast and Cornwall to name a few.

Victualling complete the next job was a visit to Dartmouth in the dingy to test the new outboard and buy some unleaded petroleum; that was the plan but “things can change!”

The testing of the outboard no problem but why was there water inside the dingy and why was it getting deeper? A leak? The sea valve? Three hours later the valve was replaced with a bung. Retest but still water coming up. The real problem was a split seam at the bow under the waterline. Two hours later and that was repaired.

A large chicken and mushroom pie (Annie made earlier) that Desperate Dan couldn't have finished was by the three of us; the diet starts tomorrow!
Routine checks around the vessel including lights then
Zzzz….

Sunday 18 June

Let's head west but firstly some spare unleaded petroleum and glue for sealing the dingy as the first tube was only the size for an Airfix model.

9:24 Departure and pilotage out of Dartmouth under a cloudless sky.

Sails up as Liquid Asset leaves the harbour entrance and then heading out to sea towards Start Point. The new crew honing their skills, a safety briefing and checks over navigation equipment and plotters.

12:14 Gybe and new heading westwards. The winds are steady 12kts so we goosewing the sails and set autopilot for the next 4 hours - unbelievable as we relax heading straight to our first destination on a flat sea under cloudless skies.

20:20 Arrive Fowey

Attached to the last space on the floating pontoon as no mooring buoys available.

Dinner is served - salmon, Mediterranean vegetables and sauté potatoes (Bob), Fathers Day malt and owls hooting in the wooded hillsides. Perfect spot.
Zzzz...