Thursday 14 July
The crew made an early start, and we set
off into the early morning sunshine, skirting the active firing range to round Dungeness Point with a clear view of the nuclear power station and its pair of solemn lighthouses. The day was warm and sunny, and again dolphins swam close past us on their own journey to an unknown destination. It must have been fairly gentle sailing, as the Mate came down to the galley to prepare lunch, and tidied up below. She must be feeling stronger in outward muscles as well, as she hauled up my big mainsail this morning.
The crew was surprised by the lack of shipping in the vicinity of Folkestone and Dover, reputedly the busiest sea lanes in the world. The only vessels I was aware of were a few cross-Channel ferries, but for an experienced Solent yacht like me, it was all an easy anti-climax. Around the next headland of South Foreland the afternoon breeze almost died away, and as we were still several miles away from our destination, the Mate decided it was time to swap the genoa for the engine; yet another jump start and so a rude awakening for a dozing Skipper. I was able to motorsail quite close into shore so my crew enjoyed good views of Deal pier and Sandwich. We pulled into Ramsgate Marina, that was busy with boats from the Continent, the closest crew of which kindly helped my tired crew bring me safely into a finger berth with an unexpectedly short pontoon – will the Mate’s short legs allow her to step ashore?