London to Brighton - Spotted along the way



Passing through a 'chocloate box' Sussex village
 The (race to the) Finish...

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The Bedraggled storm petrel...

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Overnight the winds increased into the thirties and as dawn broke and I handed over watch to Justin. I went forward to investigate a clanking sound Justin had been hearing in the night and found the deck strewn with tiny flying fish. Paul emerged about an hour later and we decided to bring down the main to give us more flexibility in terms of course as we are running almost down wind (and means we don't have to constantly be aware of he possibility of a slam gybe). So we reefed the Genoa and tightened it so we could sail close hauled while we brought the main down. At some point after me going forward and the main coming down a small storm petrel landed on the forward deck in a very sorry state, wet, bedraggled and exhausted. I went forward again to rescue it and wrapped it in a tea towel. It has dried off a little now and has done some preening and now looks more like a bird! We offered it one of the small flying fish but rather think it may be the biggest one it has ever s...
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Departure day slips again...

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Another eventful week of  extended deadlines and delays.... we thought that it might've been possible to set off with a grand party to wave us goodbye on Saturday.... sadly that will not be possible... But, looking on the POSITIVE side of it all, it has meant that we are now more prepared than we would otherwise have been.  We have;   refurbished the rear lazaret seals and latches so that they should be watertight and are now lockable.  supplemented the existing anchoring equipment by adding a new length of chain, 60m, together with 40m of anchor rope to create a new main anchor rode. This should allow us to anchor in depths of up to 30m. We removed the old 35m of chain from the forward chain locker, attached a new 45m anchor rope to make our secondary anchor rode, and relocated it to the starboard lazaret.  We have always commented on the slight list to Port due to the position of the generator and hope that putting the chain on the opposite s...
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Things Are looking up!

Another gem from my genealogical work. Astonishingly my father was the fourth generation of eldest sons to die younger than their fathers. I am very happy to say that the next generation has at last stopped a 100 year decline in longevity! The last direct male ancestor on my father's side who lived longer than his father was;                           John Stephens IV who lived to 89 yrs (1786-1875). his son               John Stephens V lived 83 yrs (1819-1903) his son               John Gilbert Stephens lived 79 yrs (1862-1942) his son               John Sturge Stephens lived 63 yrs (1891-1954) his son.              John Christopher Stephens lived 47 yrs (1928-1975)
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