Congratulations to Mike Perham on becoming the youngest circumnavigator, in spite of the endless technical problems that are the lot of 21st century solo sailors. While in Cape Town he met up with a 75 year old Japanese man who is the oldest known round the world solo sailor – in fact he’s on his eighth circumnavigation. As someone who needs strong seasickness pills, extra socks and the promise of a gentle following wind simply to sail across the Bristol Channel, I have the greatest respect for long distance sailors of all kinds.
I’m currently enjoying Dee Caffari’s account of her voyage round the world the ‘wrong way’. In one paragraph she says ‘the wind speed climbed beyond 60 until I had 76 knots across the deck’. Further on, in the next paragraph, she says ‘the mainsail had to come down’. That’s impressive. I’d have had the mainsail down and been cowering in the cabin with a stiff gin in anything over 20 knots. In fact, I’d have never left the quayside in the first place, being of the opinion that if you light a candle and it stays alight, there’s not enough wind to sail; if you light a candle and it goes out, there’s too much. Perhaps I should give up sailing and take up flower arranging instead……
Walking round Lundy we wondered why the beautifully crafted stone lighthouse had been replaced by two modern ones low down at each end of the island. Then we found out why. At 567 feet above sea level it was the highest in Britain, but so often obscured by fog and low cloud that it was useless to shipping. Nine years after being built it was abandoned. Oops. Obviously not the model for the phrase used to describe weak tea as ‘lighthouse tea’ – blinking close to water!
old lighthouse, Lundy
Last week drawing board, keyboard and ironing board were all abandoned in favour of bouncing around the Bristol Channel in a small boat. Very pleasant it was too as the weather was settled enough to let us get to Lundy, on a sparkling clear day with not quite enough wind for perfection but we were grateful to the Azores High for letting us get out of the river. We saw not one other boat on the 40 mile passage, but were accompanied by more dolphins than we’ve ever known, group after group leaping round our bows.
Bristol Channel dolphins
Lundy is well worth a visit – sheer cliffs, wildlife and a history of smugglers, wrecks and pirates, but now in the safer hands of the National Trust. The lively pub has a discreet notice asking that no mobile phones, laptops or any electronic device be used on the premises – a good place to go for peace and quiet, in spite of the boatful of tourists landing each day.
Torhilda at Lundy
