Christmas Greetings

 The highlight of the year for us was the celebration of our Golden Wedding Anniversary. Jeremy was going to surprise me by revisiting our honeymoon cottage of 50 years ago in Anglesey. We couldn’t find it, so we went for the next best thing and booked Glanrhyd Cottage, Anglesey, LL71 7BG, through Airbnb. We stayed for 4 nights, using the cottage as a base for exploring the countryside. We enjoyed a romantic dinner for two at Lastra Farm Hotel on our special day, 29^th March.

Glanrhyd Cottage, Angelsey

 Our second celebration took place on 19^th July. We hired our village hall and The Duck, the pub next door, for a daytime BBQ and party. Thank you to all our family and friends who came to celebrate with us. We had a great day in spite of the dull, grey weather. It was actually a double celebration. Our son, Simon, daughter-in-law, Erin and grandchildren, Nina and Ramona came over from California to be with us. It was the first time the family had travelled to the UK and 10 years since Simon and Erin had gone to live in the USA. The day went well until it was time for the speeches in the afternoon. Nina fell off the zip line platform in the recreation ground and broke her arm just above her elbow. Simon took her to Ipswich Hospital where she was kept in for 2 nights. A plaster cast was put on her arm under surgery and would remain there for the rest of their time in the UK. (As non-residents, they were charge over £6,250 for this).

Golden Wedding Anniversary cake

 As they say in the theatre, “the show must go on,” and so it did with a memorable dramatic presentation by “best man” Andy and Moira bringing in Jeremy and me as characters in our own story! Thank you Andy and Moira. It was a lovely finale to our special day.

And now for the rest of the year. We flew back home from San Francisco on January 14^th. We’d been in California and Mexico for 5 weeks. We borrowed Simon’s Pontiac Vibe and drove 3,000+ miles to Baja California Sud and back. Simon and family flew to San Jose near Cabo St Lucas, hired a car and we met at Santiago for lunch, checking into Hotel Julio later for two nights. We visited hot springs one day and walked to Canon de la Zorro Waterfall the second day. Both places were off road. Only one shop was open on Christmas Eve, so we shared cold tortillas and cheese for supper. Santa came on Christmas morning. The girls were delighted with their presents. Then we drove to La Paz for 3 nights staying at a lovely villa type house with its own, small swimming pool. Next, we drove to a beach house at Los Ceritos, on the Pacific Ocean coast. The family had been there before. The surf was up so Simon and Erin were soon out surfing and the girls were loving the waves in the shallows.

Kathy, Ramona, Jeremy and Simon outside Hotel California

 Our return journey followed the Pacific Highway as much as possible, avoiding as many Mexican potholes as we could (we hit hundreds!). We arrived back at Simon and Erin’s house on 9^th January and spent the weekend with them before flying back to the UK exhausted. We learned later that the Pontiac Vibe needed “some” suspension repairs. Simon scrapped it and bought a Nissan Leaf electric car.

Commodore's Clock

 Later in January, we attended the Westerly Owners Association AGM where we were presented with the Commodore’s Clock for “Services to the Westerly Owners Association”. We were surprised and honoured.

In February we gave a talk to Woodbridge Cruising Club about our ocean travels and in return they gave us a year’s free membership. We collected a new mainsail for Sal Darago from Jeckells Sails in Norfolk. Then we met up with our friends, Graham and Val for a catch up and enjoyed sharing our news over lunch at Fizz and Fromage.

February talk to Woodbridge Cruising Club

 Easter was spent in Mull; the kitchen flooring was replaced with a new vinyl. The weather was exceptionally good and we enjoyed several walks and a visit to Iona. 

Back row: Emily, Ramona, Ellie, Sophie, Nina, Erin. Front row: Jeremy, Kathy, Simon, Ben 

  In April, maintenance on Sal Darago continued in earnest and she was launched into the River Deben at the end of the month. This was just in time for a surprise visit of our son, Simon, over the early May Bank Holiday weekend.  We took him to Sal Darago at Ramsholt and motored along the River Deben to The Rocks. Emily and Ben joined us in their boat, Sea Rose. The grandchildren were away at a scout camp, so we had an adult BBQ on board Sal Darago. We had intended to go ashore to the beach, but the strong, northerly, onshore wind soon deterred us.

Emily, Jeremy, Simon and Kathy on Sal Darago

 We finalised the arrangements for a cruise in company to Holland and Belgium organised by the Westerly Owners Association East Coast Group (WOA ECG). We offered a berth to fellow member, Sarah and sailed to the River Orwell at the end of May to collect her. The weather was predicted to increase to possible gale force over the next few days, so we took the opportunity to cross the North Sea before this weather system arrived. This is where we went: Belgium – Blankenberge; Brugge; Holland – Vlissingen; Sint Annaland; Willemstaad; Dordrecht; De Heen; Zierikzee; Burghamstede; Yerseke; Haringvreter Meer; Middleburgh.

Westerly rally in Dordrecht

  We were looking forward to attending our friends’ Golden Wedding Anniversary party at the end of August. Cathy and Tony live in Wiltshire, only one and a half hours drive from Poole in Dorset, so we decided to sail to Poole and hire a car. At the party, in spite of torrential rain, everyone enjoyed themselves catching up, eating, drinking and celebrating. Thank you, Cathy and Tony. 

Visit to Kinderdijk Unesco World Heritage site in The Netherlands

 We enjoyed the sailing as well, although we’re still shocked at the marina prices on the south coast. We had stops in the following places: Ramsgate (we had to replace all three boat batteries here); Dover (we spent a day at Dover Castle on our way back. This was free as we were now members of English Heritage); Eastbourne; Chichester Harbour; Poole Harbour (spent a day walking round National Trust Brownsea Island); Weymouth; Lulworth Cove; Worbarrow Bay (here we walked to Tyneham, the village requisitioned before D-day in WW2 and never returned!); Chapman’s Pool; Westbury White Horse; Stonehenge (joined English Heritage here.); Studland Bay and Stone Heaps on the River Orwell.

Jeremy leaving Dover

 Sal Darago was hauled out for the winter at the end of September at Melton Boatyard. I ended the sailing season by falling on the concrete near the travel lift as we left Sal Darago. After five and a half hours in A&E, I was discharged with two dressings on my face and no fractures. I had to be supervised at home for the next 48 hours in case of delayed concussion. When the bruising came out a few days later, I looked like I’d been in the boxing ring! Fortunately, I am now fully recovered.

Jeremy and Kathy at Lulworth Cove, Dorset

 The insurers requested a survey. There were only three relatively minor things to replace, so we were very pleased. These were: the heads valve was seized; the Surveyor couldn’t move it. Jeremy did move it but serviced it anyway; the galley sink outlet cock had external corrosion; Jeremy replaced it. The flexible gas pipe or pipes showed signs of surface degradation. Jeremy replaced the gas box to deck flexible pipe and the armoured flexible pipe to the cooker.

Sal Darago hauled out for winter

 Last month, we spent two and a half weeks in the cottage in Mull. On the way, we viewed a three year old Ford Focus Vignale Estate, had a test drive and agreed a price. We enjoyed walking on Mull and catching up with friends and neighbours, particularly John and Eilidh. On our way home, we detoured to the South Lakes, paid for the car and drove both cars back to Suffolk, calling at Ritchie and Catherine’s house near Doncaster for lunch.

Waiting for A&E

 This year, leading up to Christmas Day, we’ll be spending three nights with Em, Ben, Ellie and Sophie. After opening presents on Christmas morning, Jeremy and I will return to our house and the others will go to Ben’s brother’s.

Sea Rose and Sal Darago

 We hope to sail to the Mediterranean next year. If we do, there will be more blogs.

We wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Sailing Resumed

Ellie as Nana

Following my broken sternum, I was not supposed to lift shopping bags, do laundry, housework or gardening. I was restricted to walking as my only exercise. I was able to cook meals and drive short distances, as long as I placed a towel or cushion under the seatbelt.

Ben, Sophie, Jeremy, Kathy, Em and Ellie at Felixstowe Ferry

My first outing was to my granddaughters’ school to watch Ellie perform in her last primary school pantomime as Nana in Peter Pan. She was a star (of course, I’m biased!). Three weeks later it was Emily’s birthday. The weather was hot right into the evening. We had smoked salmon sandwiches and cake on the beach with Em, Ben, Ellie and Sophie. They all went swimming and paddle boarding, while I went for a walk by the sea. 

Beach BBQ at The Rocks

 Early in August, we had another outing with our Suffolk family. This time we had a beach BBQ and we went in our boats, Sal Darago and Sea Rose. I could steer but otherwise, I was a passenger. We stayed longer than intended and I was very tired, but happy to have been out on the water.

Lene, Robert, Kathy and Jeremy at Harwich

 Our Danish friends, Robert and Lene, flew over from Denmark for four nights. This was another opportunity to sail and we had crew. We motorsailed from the River Deben to the River Orwell and spent the night in Ipswich Beacon Marina. Lene was briefly seasick passing Felixstowe but soon recovered. The next night we picked up a mooring in the river. On our way home we stopped at Harwich for lunch. Berthing at the Halfpenny Pier was tricky and I could only watch and shout as Sal Darago’s bow was bounced into a metal rail close to the pier. After lunch, we continued to the Deben and met up with Em, Ben, Ellie and Sophie for dinner at the Ramsholt pub.

Kathy and Sal Darago in Heybridge Basin

 Towards the end of August, Jeremy and I set off on a two week coastal sail. There was a gale warning the first day, so we stayed on the mooring for two nights. We moved to Felixstowe Ferry and prepared for a dawn departure. It should have been light, but the rain clouds were so heavy, it was practically dark as we left the Deben on the ebb. It was rough and we needed binoculars to see the buoys. That’s when the lens dropped out of my binoculars! Quickly, I found another pair and soon we were out in the North Sea with the lit cranes of Felixstowe container port ahead. We made our way to the River Blackwater in Essex and on the Heybridge Basin on the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal, where we spent three nights.

Kathy on the River Blackwater embankment

 Jeremy had bought two folding bikes from our local recycling centre and we had them on board. First, we needed some groceries, so we took the dinghy along the canal to Tesco. The last time we’d been on a boat here was back in the mid-1970’s when we lived in Essex and kept our motor boat, Francoise Deux, at Little Baddow on the canal. Back at Sal Darago, Jeremy lifted down the bikes and we cycled along the towpath and road to Maldon, completing the day with dinner at The Swan. The next day we cycled along the river embankment and had lunch at The Jolly Sailor. We locked out and spent the night on a mooring off Osea Island.

Dinghy trip along the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal

 Our next anchorage was at Stone Point in the Walton Backwaters, where we walked, swam and snorkelled in sunny weather. Then we sailed directly to the River Ore back in Suffolk and met up with Em and family at Orford. We had lunch at another Jolly Sailor after we’d all toured Orford Castle. The following day we went in opposite directions. Em and family returned to the Deben and we explored the River Alde, anchoring at Aldeburgh for one night and off an old brickyard further upriver another night. We tried to reach Snape and made it to the church at Iken after several muddy groundings. After a quiet night in the Butley River and a pleasant walk ashore, where we met Em on her bike, we returned to the Deben.  Later in the week, we motored upriver to Melton Boatyard and tied to their pontoon next to the travel lift. She was hauled out in mid-September. Two weeks of frantic activity followed. SD was emptied; sails, bimini, sprayhood and dodgers were removed; the engine was winterised and winter covers put in place. Another season had come to an end for us.

Sal Darago at Stone Point

 On 1^st October we drove to Mull. Over the next three weeks we tidied the cottage and garden, watched the Mull (car) Rally and did some walking. We enjoyed catching up with the neighbours, especially drinks, nibbles and a natter with John and Eilidh. Our great niece, Alice, came up for the Mull Rally and to see friends. 

Mull Rally

 We were pleased she joined us for dinner and chat on the three evenings she was in Mull. Jeremy had an accident in the garden. He slipped on the steep rockery he was clearing and fell 14 feet into the open drain. He was shaken, but decided nothing was broken. He’d had one session of physiotherapy on his painful shoulder back in Suffolk. The fall hasn’t helped the healing process.

Meeting family at Orford

 Winds and rain up to Storm Force 10 were forecast for the day we were to catch the ferry to Oban. Local people advised us to leave a day early. We booked on the ferry to Lochaline and arrived home safely. Later, our original sailing was cancelled and our money was refunded. 

Jeremy and Kathy after their talk

 We had two illustrated talks to give the week we arrived home. One was in our own village to a small audience from my book club. The other was in London to the East Coast group of the Westerly Owners Association. We were the speakers at their AGM. We sold five of our books “Sailing By on Sal Darago.”

Kathy and Sal Darago at the Butley River

 Em, Ellie and Sophie came to our house for a Halloween tea followed by trick and treating around our village. Naturally, we dressed up for the occasion. 

Sophie, Ellie, Jeremy, Kathy and ghost

 Scary, good fun was had by all. Ben was able to join us later for soup, cake and sweets.

Tobermory Bay

 So now we’re into November, the season of flu and covid jabs. We are planning a road trip from California to Mexico, where we hope to spend Christmas and New Year with our USA family:  Simon, Erin, Nina and Ramona.

Alice and Kathy in Mull

 We wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

A Bridge Too Far

Thank you to all our readers who have bought one or both of our books, “Sailing By on Sal Darago” Volume 1 and 2. They continue to be available on Amazon. Please leave a review if you liked the books.

The last land based jobs on Sal Darago were completed in May. Her decks were scraped, sanded and repainted and the topsides were cleaned and polished.  New antifoul paint was applied. We collected her sails from Sail Medic in Ipswich along with two new dodgers and a sail cover. The sails had been washed and serviced. Tom warned us that they would need to be replaced soon, but hopefully, they would last for one more season.

As we hauled the mainsail up a few days later it tangled at the cross trees and ripped. Tom had gone on holiday so we patched and stitched it ourselves.

Ready to launch

Time was moving on and we were keen to launch. This we were able to do after spending a weekend in Lancashire to celebrate our niece, Miki’s, 50^th birthday. Then there was my birthday and granddaughter, Ellie’s, birthday.

Durham Regatta

At last, on 28^th May Sal Darago was launched into the River Deben by Simon from Melton Boatyard. We motored down river to our mooring and tied up at Ramsholt. Earlier in the day we’d taken the car to Ramsholt with our bikes loaded inside. Then we’d cycled four miles to Melton arriving in the rain.

Andy, Kathy, Moyra, Ben and Jeremy in Durham

It was looking like we would make it to Ramsgate by 14^th June for the start of the Westerly Owners Association Summer Cruise. First, we had a commitment to attend Durham Regatta for the weekend before. We stayed with our friends Andy, Moyra and Ben. We had a lovely time catching up with them and with a good number of college and rowing friends from the 1970’s.

Back at home, we checked the weather. It was going to turn nasty – definitely S or SW force 6 and maybe 7 or gale force 8 by the weekend. We had one day to defrost the freezer, do our laundry, shop for Sal Darago and close up the house for 3 months! Two trips to the boat the following day saw everything loaded on board and stowed. We drove home and our daughter, Emily, drove us back to Ramsholt in her car. There was no change in the weather forecast, but we might just miss the worst of it by leaving a day early.

At 5.00 am on Thursday 13^th June, we motored out of the River Deben and set a course for Ramsgate. The winds were light at first, increasing slowly and blowing hard on the nose for the last 22 miles. We were relieved to tie up in Ramsgate Marina helped by fellow Westerly owners. Swell entered the marina and all the boats were pitching and rolling.

Kathy in the Ramsgate Tunnels

Memorable visits in Ramsgate included a meal in the largest Wetherspoons in the world; drinks in the Royal Temple Yacht Club; a guided tour of WW2 tunnels and lunch in the Home Front Tea Rooms. The weather was cold, wet and windy. The pontoons in the harbour were affected by the incoming swell.

Westerly owners at Pin Mill

Fortunately, we had much better conditions on Monday when the fleet sailed north to the River Orwell. Here we split into pre-arranged groups with members taking berths at Shotley Marina, Royal Harwich Yacht Club or Ipswich Beacon Marina. Jeremy and I were berthing reps for RHYC and Ipswich.

Sunset over the Orwell Bridge

Highlights of our five nights on the River Orwell included a riverside walk to Pin Mill, lunch at the Butt and Oyster and a 6 hour private hire trip down the river and back on the Thames barge, Victor. It was good to see Hilary and Steve from Travelling Light again and former Westerly owners Bill and Bren, whom we’d last seen in Coffs Harbour, Australia, in 2019!

The Thames barge, Victor, at Ipswich

Jeremy and I invited our daughter and two grandchildren, Ellie and Sophie, to meet us in Ipswich on our last evening and we’d all go out for a pizza. This was the evening that I fell down the stern hatch, bashing my chest hard on the rim and smacking my face on the hatch lid. Once the shock had worn off and I felt all right we went for our pizza and had a lovely evening.

Sunset over the moorings at Queenborough

The next day required an early start. We left Ipswich with fellow Westerly yacht, Oratava, soon after 6.00am and reached Brightlingsea in Essex at midday. We remembered our previous visit 50 years ago in our small power boat and how excited we’d felt to be going “out to sea” for the first time. Soon lots of Westerly boats were rafted up on both sides of a floating pontoon. The water taxi to the shore cost £1.50 per person per trip or you could take your own dinghy.

The main highlight from our two nights in Brightlingsea was the delicious carvery in Colne Yacht Club. We shared a table with Hilary, Steve, Bill, Bren and Dutch couple, Cor and Lia from Dionysa. Our table won Commodore Brian’s quiz and six of us shared the prize of a bottle of red wine later, on Sal Darago.

Hilary, Bill, Bren, Steve and Jeremy at Colne YC

We had another early start on Monday 24^th June. There was some disagreement about the departure time. Most of us were away before 6.00am. Our destination was Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey. Our first crossing of the River Thames estuary was very pleasant in calm, sunny weather and we were tied up to the all tide landing by lunchtime.

Chatham Historical Boatyard

The next day we departed for Chatham in Kent after having a tasty English breakfast in a Turkish café. Travelling Light and Sal Darago were the last to leave and enjoyed a leisurely sail upriver. We spent two nights in Chatham Marina. There were lots of interesting places to visit in the area. We chose to spend a day in the Historical Boatyard. We passed in and out of hatches on the 1962 submarine, Ocelot, wandered around the 1878 three master, HMS Gannet and spent time exploring the 1944 warship, HMS Cavalier. We finished the day in The Ropery where we saw long ropes being made using traditional methods and machinery. On the way back to the marina, I began to have pains in my chest, especially when coughing.

Thames Barrier

On Thursday, 23^rd June, the Westerly boats departed at various times for Queenborough. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol in the morning and felt better. At Queenborough, we rafted up to Travelling Light on a mooring shared by 6 boats. Jeremy and I went ashore in the free trot boat and walked to a Tapas restaurant where we shared 5 dishes and a bottle of rose. On our return the wind was blowing strongly and the tide was moving quickly. Dionysa, rafted up to the all tide landing was damaged in the night by a French yacht tying up to them in the difficult conditions. A stanchion was ripped out. All was well with the yachts on the mooring.

National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London

The next day I still had chest pains and knew I’d have to see a doctor soon. I took pain killers throughout the 40 mile motor along the Thames to London. Strong headwinds blew. We arrived with the first group of yachts. All of them entered the lock into St Katharine’s Dock, except us. We tied up to a mooring right next to Tower Bridge to wait for the next locking. We were not called in AGAIN and the lock was filled with boats that had arrived after us. We had arrived at 1725 and entered the third locking at 1905! My chest pains were worse.

Tower Bridge, London

Consequently, just after breakfast on Saturday 29^th June, I phoned 111, answered lots of questions, declined an ambulance, had a shower, hailed a cab and went to A&E at the Royal Hospital. Jeremy came with me. After an ECG, chest X-ray, blood tests and a CT scan, I was diagnosed with a fractured sternum late in the evening. I was kept in overnight; discharged on Sunday afternoon; collected by Emily in the evening and driven to her house for two nights. Here I joined another granny, Ben’s Mum Beth, who was recovering from an operation on her foot. Jeremy returned to Sal Darago alone. We missed the last two days of the Summer Cruise and the motor under Tower Bridge. Jeremy sailed single handed to the River Deben in one, long day.

Sal Darago in St Katharine's Dock, London

We were reunited on the Tuesday and settled into a landlubber’s life again, while Sal Darago waited patiently on her mooring in the river.

Sadly, we’ve had to cancel our plans to sail to Denmark to see Robert and Lene. I’ve been told to expect 6 weeks for the fracture to mend and a further 6 weeks for complete recovery. Hopefully, from the middle of August, I can go sailing again in local waters. I think I’ll be “Skipper,” hog the helm and command my “crew” to “hoist the sails” or “weigh the anchor”! It might be fun. Then again, I might have a mutiny on my hands! I’ll let you know.

 

Happy New Year

Lake Tahoe

 We hope everyone has been keeping well since our last blog post back in September.

 

San Francisco waterfront

Once Sal Darago was safely on the hard at Melton Boatyard, near Woodbridge, in Suffolk, we made plans to visit our son, Simon, daughter-in-law, Erin and grandchildren, Nina and Ramona in California. We stayed with them for a month and had a great time catching up with them and visiting some lovely places with the family and on our own. Most memorable are Lake Tahoe, Inverness, San Francisco and the Hikers Hut.

Inverness, California

 

Simon took us completely by surprise when he showed us two books he had published privately for us. Both books are quite thick and contain many colour photographs of our voyages. Volume 1 charts our first circumnavigation of the world from 2008-2014. From the Lancashire coast, we travel to Europe, sail across the Atlantic Ocean, on through the Caribbean, transit the Panama Canal and cross the Pacific Ocean. We visit the Galapagos, French Polynesia, Cook Islands, Niue, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. Then we go to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Next we cross the Indian Ocean and call in at Cocos Keeling, Rodrigues, Mauritius, Reunion and South Africa. Turning north we enter the Atlantic Ocean and have stops in Namibia, St Helena, the Caribbean, Bermuda, the Azores and the Isle of Man before returning to Lancashire.

Sailing by on Sal Darago is now available for anyone to buy on Amazon.
 

Volume 2 tells the story of our second circumnavigation from 2016-2023. We  moved to Suffolk in 2014, so this time we left from the River Deben. After crossing the Atlantic and passing through the Panama Canal, we motor sailed north for about 3000 miles to visit Simon and Erin in San Francisco. We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. Heading south to Mexico, we spent a season exploring the Sea of Cortez. Then off we went across the Pacific visiting American Samoa, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Australia. We followed the east coast to Sydney and anchored off the Opera House to watch the magnificent New Year firework display over Sydney Harbour Bridge. Wild fires ravaged the east and south coasts. We escaped to Tasmania, crossed the Great Australian Bight and came to a standstill in Albany, Western Australia. The world went into lockdown. After several months, we were able to move north to Carnarvon on the Indian Ocean coast.

Almost 2 years later, we continued our journey returning to the River Deben via the Cape of Good Hope, the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea and the North Sea.

Both volumes have now been published on Amazon. We hope you enjoy reading them. If you do, please leave a review.

Jeremy, Nina, Kathy, Ramona and Simon in front of the Hikers Hut

Jeremy and Kathy at the WOA AGM, Poole

 

“So,” you might ask, “what’s happening with Sal Darago?” The bow and stern stays have been replaced. The front cabin, heads and half the bilges have been cleaned and repainted. The crankshaft oil seal has been replaced. 

Diesel tanks removed

 

 The diesel fuel tanks have been removed and are being tested for leaks. Assuming everything can be put back in place, we hope to join the Westerly Owners Association on their national cruise on the east coast of Kent, Essex and Suffolk. After that, we might sail to Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark.

 

Thames barges at Maldon, Essex