Delayed in Brighton

We set off on Saturday 4th from Harwich having filled up with fuel, water etc. It was much easier following the buoys and avoiding the commercial traffic in  daylight. Wind force 5 to begin with - quite a strong breeze. There are lots of sandbanks in the Thames Estuary so we kept to the west before turning south. There are several cardinal buoys  showing where the sandbanks lie.  The forecaste changed and warned of a gale approaching - a force 8 but is was from the north east so we decided to keep going as the wind would be behind us. The sun shone for most of the day as the wnd strength increased. The Goodwind sands are a famous place for shipwrecks and lie of the Foreland point at the extremer south  easterly part of England. We kept well clear and rounded well off shore. The wind increased to gale force during the night and we reduced sail to a very small hankerchief of genoa. (fore sail). It was quite a thrill occasionally almost surfing down the waves with the lights of Dover to the west and innumerable ferries and ships using the traffic separation zones or crossing at right angles. Cruise liners - the Oriana was one, are brilliantly lit and look liker fairy castles on the horizon.
We took turns at helming and sleeping through the night and by the morning were both tired and exhilerated to have rounded the sands and gone through  Dover Straights.

During the Sunday we continued to have a good north easterly so sailed on, managing to eat a home made shepherds pie at  a considerable angle of heel.  However as we turned on the engine to charge the batteries there was a lack of water from the outlet so it was going to overheat again and had become a problem. It is necessary tro have a reliable engine both for battery charging but more importantly to keep us going if there is no wind ot to get us out of danger or into shelter when necessary.  We decide to make for Brighton Marina which is well equipped and we sailed there in dying winds, arriving around 3pm.  On  Sunday it was impossible to get an engineer so we are waiting for someone to help this p.m.  We think the impellor may have broken - it is part of the pump which pumps cold water round the engine as a coolant.

We hope to set off later today heading for the Isle of Wight and on towards the Dartmouth river where friends may give us a meal - hopefully!