More Islands

Hello everyone. Apologies that it has been a while since our last update, but we have been without a reliable internet connection for some weeks. Our last update came from New Grimsby harbour, where we were moored, between Tresco and Bryher in the Isles of Scilly. After several nights of rolling and rolling, we had had enough and decided to capitalize on one of the Ovni’s greatest assets – the ability to dry out. This we did (photos above for all the sailing enthusiasts) and in the company of another Ovni and various other boats we dried out successfully (after a few stressful moments for Simon, watching what was coming up from below as the tide went out, from a vantage point half way up the mast). It was a great place to anchor as the weather continued to be unsettled and we spent the next week or so enjoying the beaches and quiet lanes of both the islands. We particularly liked Bryher, which is unspoilt and very quiet.

The next quest was to find a window in the weather to head for Arklow in Ireland. Unfortunately at the end of July it was just westerly gales one after another. We waited for as long as we could but the weather did not abate. Eventually we decided that the Irish sea was not going to be an option this year and went for plan B. We headed back to Falmouth – a beautiful sail leaving Green Bay at dawn and sailing round the north side of the Scillies and coming into Falmouth in the evening (pictures of using the shute – 9.5 knots for Pistachio Pete and pals to try and beat - and poling out the foresail above). We spent a day there, catching up on washing and shopping and then did another fantastic sail, this time 22 hours to Alderney in the Channel Islands and a first ever sail through the night for Katy and the girls. We have been here all week, soaking up some beautiful sunshine and blue sea as summer seems finally to have arrived. The plan from here is Guernsey and then the coast of Brittany. We are all keen to return by sea to the coastal town of St Quay Portrieux where we have been on holiday before, but this, as always, will depend on favourable weather.

Being on the boat brings back many happy memories of sailing (as well as motorbiking) with my friend and cousin, Alex Woods, a key member of Fidelio’s delivery crews both last year in France and on the return trip to Plymouth in May (as pictured in these pages). Tragically, Alex died suddenly last week aged 28. Words can hardly describe the quiet strength his presence always provided, his rich sense of humour or the warmth of his smile. Alex was a great companion through many adventures and the news has been hard to take in. Whilst I knew him recently as a grown, strong man, perhaps my fondest memory of Alex’s spirit is the 11 year old boy, clinging to the back end of my old XJ750 Yamaha when (as a “responsible” 22 year old) I demonstrated the mixed delights of old-style heavy Japanese motorcycle handling at speed in the rain. So much time has passed, but the uninhibited, joyous, shriek of laughter in my ear is how I will remember him along with a photo I have of him taken when we returned (intact) where his huge grin is visible despite my spare crash helmet being several sizes too big for him.

Whilst enjoying the last few weeks of our trip, our thoughts are with Martin, Jean and their family at this sad time. Simon will be leaving us for a few days next week to attend the funeral in England before returning to sail back to Plymouth and the end of our cruise.