NOT ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN

NOT ALL ACCORDING TO PLAN

Best laid plans, don't always work out.

We arrived in Ilfracombe, we were able to moor alongside which is great.

The Ilfracombe Yacht Club, had laid on a welcome back Sea Sense Bar-B-Q.

A big thank you to Bobby and Bert and members for organising this.

They raised £120 for the RNLI, which was great. Some of the Lifeboat crew came along, so Carol could collect Ilfracombe lifeboat signatures.

It was great we had a lovely evening with family and friends.

6^th July

We had decided to get up early and go outside the harbour on the moorings so that we could go down to Clovelly for the afternoon.

At 6 am we prepared to leave, but the engine wouldn't start – Noooooooooooooo!

Having checked batteries, we checked the oil, and found that we had water in the oil.

We hadn't lost any oil pressure, so hadn't realised.

Thank goodness it has happened here in Ilfracombe.

Quick phone calls to Clovelly Harbour Master, and text to Wendy of the Lifeboats. To cancel our arrival. What A Shame.

The upshot is that we are here for a week or two, we have located a local Engineer, Leigh Hanks, who is Lifeboat Engineer and Trainer. We are not sure what the problem is, could be V serious. At least we are close to home.

 

I will post photo of us being moved by the Ilfracombe rib, onto the inner mooring so that Leigh can work on the Engine easier, and I can go home.

Leigh had an trainee Gillian (Crew) so they used the move as a training session. -NOT A RESCUE.

That would have been an embarrassment.

We can't feel too unhappy, we may not be back at Instow, but we are in North Devon, and have made the target of SAILING AROUND IRELAND.

Statistics.

We have done 1138 miles.

We made 26 overnight stops.

Carol and I were on the yacht for the 9 weeks, and we had 8 different crew members who very kindly joined us, by travelling to Ireland and home again.

All expenses were covered by us and the Crew.

ALL Money raised by the 10 Crew members is donated to the RNLI.

We had scheduled 36 stops, but due to the weather delays, had to miss out 10 places.

We haven't totalled money raised yet, but will keep you posted.

I have just heard that I have over £400 on Just Giving and Virgin Money Giving.

Thank You for those donations.