Torquay to Portland

I have not enjoyed Lyme Bay on our previous crossings. The trouble is that you are supposed to do Portland Bill at exactly the right time to avoid being dragged down and sunk in the terrifying tidal race. Westbound is a bit easier, as you just leave Portland or Weymouth an hour and a half beyond the crucial moment. Going the other way, a lot more adjustment is required. 

We left Torquay at 3am, worrying a lot about lobster pots. We passed a couple pretty close but fortunately missed them all. As we left Torbay there was enough northerly wind to get the main up and sail for around four hours - bliss, and the sea was comfortable too. At 0740 the engine went on and then it was a question of adjusting engine revs and sails to pass Portland Bill about 1215. We could not have had more benign conditions for passing England’s scariest headland. And we were safely moored in a proper berth in Portland Marina (not on the rather exposed visitors’ pontoon) by 1345. 

In the late afternoon we were delighted to welcome Ben (younger son) and his partner Anne on board. They were on their way down to see my aunt, Sonia, in Cornwall. If things had been different we would have met in Guernsey. It was so lovely to see them both. We went out for a meal at Salt, the marina restaurant. I think everyone else’s food was ok, but my charred hispi cabbage dish was evidently forgotten, and when it finally arrived was mainly a large pile of burnt chewy cabbage with nut brittle scattered across it. Very odd. 

On the Saturday Ben very kindly drove both Guy and me into Weymouth. Guy got the train home and I had a lovely morning having breakfast at a beach cafe, finding a lovely trail which took me most of the way back to Portland, and enjoying the views. 

Distance run: 50 miles

Breakfast at a beach cafe. The bacon was excellent, Guardian entertaining, coffee disappointing. Two out of three ain’t bad

Lifting bridge in Weymouth

Lovely trail

Am I in Dorset or Italy?