THE ROUGHEST SAIL EVER
"Stinking weather all day."
S A T U R D A Y, 2 3 S E P T
Stinking weather all day. A pity because of going down to the boat.
In the Marina, the chap on the next boat gave Ma and me a cup of tea - and when Sydney and David arrived, we asked him in for coffee! It was nice all sitting in there chatting.
Left in the drizzle for Buckler’s Hard. It was the horridest sail I’ve ever had, especially over the Bar. I spent most of the day wanting to die.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so terrible, I couldn’t bend a finger because I was too weak.”
All I could do was cry and moan between every rise and fall.
Had tea in the cabin when we got to Buckler's Hard. I still felt pretty weak, but it’s super fun with guests on board. We saw Gypsy Moth moored! I began on the introduction to Byron, then changed into the skirt I made and my pink jumper. My fringe was wrecked because of the weather and I couldn’t get it right as there’s no light in the lav. Mummy had the most dreadful throat all day, she’s practically lost her voice.
Went ashore to the Master Builder’s about 8, but to my huge disappointment Mark and Mrs G didn’t come after all. Actually it’s just as well because I looked absolutely foul, worse than I’ve looked for years and years. Really I could have wept to see my fringe. Had whitebait, canard à l’orange and lemon sorbet. Discussed the question of a dog among other things – Sydney says it’s essential to have two if you're going to have any. I rather agree. He also said Mark gets the 406 home from Ewell Tech. Perhaps I'll see him on the bus sometime.
Had an argument over how to organise the sleeping when we got back as David and Sydney had our berths in the bows. Finally made one huge bed and slept across it – port to starboard so to speak. But the blessed boat next door stayed up until two – chatting, singing and playing the accordion.
Incredible people can be like that.
Having solo-circled the globe, Sir Francis Chichester returned 'Gypsy Moth IV' to her original morning at Buckler's Hard
