Some way off the North Coast of France

Some way off the north coast of France, there's an island that's surrounded by fierce tides. It's rolling hills and chalk cliffs look down upon it's wrecks, and hide its secrets. On the Downs, and by the shoreline, the Autumn leaves turn golden, rusty, and red. Some drop, to be blown around by the wind, then crunched under foot by the marauding hoards arriving by boat, blown in on that same wind.

Politely the Harbour Master at Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, tells us the harbour's full. Our Rally is split. The boats that arrived early are rafted-up inside. We leave to anchor outside.

Two weeks later we try again, and drift into the quiet seclusion of Bembridge at the eastern end of the island. Avocette is the party boat. Then it a hike across the causeway to the local yacht club for a warm welcome, victuals, and beer.

It has been a kind autumn so far. Blue skies and warm breezes, have seen Avocette dropping her hook in her old haunts, and the Beaulieu River in the New Forest, and most often of all, in Newtown Creek. It's migration time. Butterflies, Swallows, Martins, Ospreys and Peregrins all flying south. My favourites, the Swifts, are long gone, having left, as usual, during the first week of August. In their place are the winter visitors, waders and the geese - thousands of them! I must get up the marshes...

Avocette - A New Role

It's the end of September, and finally the English summer arrives. The winds go light and variable. The sun comes out. Even the water is warm - well "warm" that is for the UK.

Sailing in tides again brings an extra dimension too. Returning from the Needles I was surprised to see the Shingles bank, like a new island, rising a full meter or more from the sea - and it wasn't yet low tide. The shallow patches in one of my favourite creeks had moved too (glad it was mid-week and empty of other boats!!).

Why is it that any piece of rope, and my mooring strop with pick-up line, when left alone for any length of time will contrive to prove that at 3,854 knots the Ashley Book of Knots is one short! Thanks for the photo Robin.

Avocette and I have found a new role as Committee Boat for a few local regattas. Race boats have varied from the fast and powerful Farr 45's, through Beneteau 40.7's, to the pretty Westmacott designed Victory Class and Bembridge One Designs. The Victories are my local One Design Classics and it was great to see my old boat Z50 winning the regatta, with Z54 that I have raced on so often coming second. Catherine's photos are worth a look too http://web.me.com/catherineking/Victory/Victory_Class.html

Immediate plans include an overdue scrub-off, local and channel sailing, and the inevitable round of maintenance, and polishing (volunteers welcome). Next year the plan is the Baltic, Finland and Sweden, and I am actively looking for crew. The plan is to leave in April and transit the Kiel Canal, returning late August/September. Actual ports and Countries to be visited are yet to be decided. If you would like to join for all, or part, of the cruise please do get in touch.