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Have made our passage plan to return tomorrow. Can't leave to early because of tides this end so will be quite late arriving Yarmouth tomorrow night. Have been waiting for wind to change direction to the East to give us a more direct course to Portsmouth, but doesn't look like it will happen early enough for us, but the NE'erly forecast should carry up to the west of the Isle of Wight quite nicely, then return from Yarmouth on Friday.
Not that waiting here has been a chore! We have had a relaxing time mooching around the town and enjoying the food. But the winds seem reasonably favourable, so we should take the opportunity to head home.
By late afternoon tomorrow we should be in UK reception and the map should have live position updates. Briony is just looking forward to radio 4 again.
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Blithe Spirit in St. Vaast

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Have arrived in St Vaast. It was quite a testing 5 hour trip from Cherbourg. An hour or so of motoring through choppy sea and then some very confused waters past the headlands. We were a good distance off so ok. The final hour up to st Vaast in the sunset was much calmer and it's nice to be safe here moored up for the night.
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We made it! arrived in Cherbourg at 7pm last night. Had amazing conditions for the crossing-the wind steadily building to a nice F3/4 for most of the trip.
I thought we might get board but the trips to the chart table for the hourly plot seemed to come round very quickly. The shipping lanes weren't too busy but we slowed to let a couple pass. A few hours are spent crossing them so spotting ships is a good passtime.
We were clear of the lanes by 4 in time to concentrate on the Grand National on 5 live. Very surreal listening to Aintree with the French Coast looming up ahead.
Having a rest today. Strong winds here and will make a plan for tomorrow. Off to find some rost boeuf for lunch!
Having trouble uploading rest of route and position-will do if I can.--
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Properly sailing with the spinnaker up and the sun shining. We're making almost 6 knots so looks good for a timely arrival in France.--
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Half seven headed out past the needles. It's a lovely morning but not really enough wind yet. It's an easterly, and we've set our course due south carefully worked out by H to account for 11 hours of tide. --
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Arrived at Yarmouth, IoW having motored all the way. Moored outside the harbour on a buoy for a quick getaway out past the Needles early morning.
Just checked the forecast, and the increasing wind that was promissed tomorrow is now not forecast till Sunday. So maybe we will be waiting here a day. Feels like an a repeat of our last attempt to cross the channel when we waited here for the wind to drop, when it did it disappeared completly.
Still a day sitting around on the boat in the sun won't be bad.
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Leaving Portsmouth on a very calm evening-hoping for a good wind tomorrow to take up across the channel.--
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First Sail Of 2010

Blithe Spirit went back in the water on Good Friday after an intensive week of maintenance. After a horrible wet morning the sun came out as soon as she was lifted in- Surely a good omen!

A day spent sorting her out and bending on the sails on Easter Monday, and we were ready for out first trip of the season. A quick overnight trip to Newtown River, on the Isle of Wight, in strongish winds, proved that the boat was as it should be.

Concerned that good weather is around the corner and we might miss our opportunity for a longer trip/cross channel, we came home to make some preparations- and collect our passports!

Although we are missing some fine weather today!

We could be setting off in the next day or two.

For maps 0f all our trips go to the gpsed site by clicking on the Map above and then find our trips on the left hand side, and select the one you want to view. They should be updated every 3 mins whilst sailing in UK mobile range.

Back home.

Last part of the trip from Lymington was very hot with very light wind, loads of boats out like it was hight of summer.

A good week all in all, with some great sailing, amazing that the weather was so good just for half term, as it it now blowing F8 in the Solent.

Just a shame the southerly winds didn't allow our planned channel crossing. That will have to wait till the spring. 

A chance of a couple more weekends this year, before the boat comes out of the water.