Our sponsors have been great so far and we would like to thank them for all their help. Plans are coming along for the great finale in Fambridge Yacht Haven on 29th June. Lots of events are planned including taster sessions with both the Scouts and Yacht Clubs.

 

 

Our crews set out on a slightly warmer Tuesday morning, leaving Shotley marina and heading for Lowestoft.  Ashanti and Clearlake II once again looking wonderful, passing the huge cranes outside the port of Felixtowe and the container ships loading and unloading their cargo.

Cranes at the port of Felixtowe

With the tide working with us we made good time for the first few hours of the passage, each crew member taking turns at the helm whilst our skippers ensured we kept to the deeper waters, avoiding the sandbanks that surround the south-east coast. Although the tide was with us, alas the wind was not, and it duly disappeared forcing us yet again to proceed under motor for a couple of hours. All was not lost however, as the tranquility of a calm day on the open water, and the gentle throbbing of our two vessels' Volvo engines in the background.

Locking in at Shotley

Both boats arrived at Lowestoft around 1800, in plenty of time for a delicious meal at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club, who were excellent hosts, ready for the following day.

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

On a cloudy May-day morning, our two crews set off on the first stage of our adventure around Britain in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  Both vessels looking resplendent in the liveries of our sponsors, and with the green flags for Macmillan rippling in the breeze, Ashanti and Clearlake II set sail from Fambridge Yacht Haven toward Shotley marina, day one of the cruise.

With the tide against us, but with fair winds, we made slow but steady progress along the river Crouch, although as the wind dropped we were forced to motor for a few hours in order

to make any progress at all! Those of us who are relative novices to open water sailing became very aware of the drop in temperature as we left any shelter from the wind behind us, the cool bank holiday weather offset by the hot tea and delicious cake served in generous quantity!

We reached Shotley marina with little time to spare (when locking in, Ashanti had only half a metre below the keel), however she was expertly handled by our skipper in the shallow water and we berthed safely a few minutes later. After a very welcome dinner and a rest in the marina club house, both crews settled in to prepare for the next leg of our cruise up to Lowestoft, hopefully into the sunshine!

If you wish to support our crews on their voyage, and help Macmillan Cancer Support continue their vital work with those affected by cancer, please follow this link to our justgiving page:

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing

Thank you.

 

cartmagnifiercrossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram