WE WILL BE LEAVING ON SATURDAY 4^TH MAY

                                             

Liz & Ness with the Ilfracombe Lifeboat Crew.   Sea Sense returning from Clovelly, on Sunday.

We took Sea Sense out for the day on Saturday, not the best of weathers, but we needed to give Sea Sense a Shakedown Sail.

On board there was Carol, Jo and Liz with myself.  We set off and motored over the bar through the waves. And sailed down to Clovelly with only a bit of Jib.  A Cold wind force 3 to 4   

It wasn’t very calm and when we arrived in Clovelly, we picked up a mooring buoy, with Jo being sent sprawling because it was so rough.  We had breakfast, and as the day wore on at low tide, it became calmer.  The sun was shining and felt quite warm for a short time. That was very nice.

We set off back at about 4.30, had the main and jib up a bit. It wasn’t calm, and we had trouble trying to keep on the course for the Fairway Buoy, and ended up motor sailing and the wind rising to force 6.

We were glad to get back onto our mooring in Instow.

We realise at Clovelly that we had a battery problem; one of batteries had gone really flat very quickly.

Brian and I have been to have it all checked out with local Marine Electronics Engineer John Rice.  It was a good exercise, we realised that the battery that said Engine, is in fact not correct.  The new battery that we purchased last year is the one that is completely flat.  The other one, although OK, we will replace and use as a spare.. So it’s 2 New Batteries (Ouch)

It is a good job this has happened now; we will be fixing new batteries on this evening. I am going out tomorrow for a small sail with Sandy and Peter.

We have loaded lots of gear on board, wet weather gear for most of the crew, as they will be travelling by Air.

We still have more food to purchase and load on probably Thursday or Friday.

We expect to be leaving on Saturday about 13.30 for Milford Haven

The weather forecast is looking hopeful.