Round the Island Race

The Round the Island Race fleet swarms around the Needles...




....giving no quarter.




We awoke in the pastoral tranquility of Newtown Creek....




....with a grandstand view of the race, across the spit from our anchorage.




Yachts classic and modern, multihulls and monos ......





....of all rigs unite to race one another. The air drums and thrums with the sound of taut driving sailcloth and loaded sheets on winch drums.




Stargazer beats up to Hurst on the last of the fair tide. We're in with the cruiser classes, short tacking up the Island shore to keep clear.... and gaining on the Sadler 32's. We break west at Hurst to leave the duelling fleet astern.




The marbled cliffs of Hengistbury Head rise above us. The morning sun cheering their wizened features with splashes of ochre and dabs of shadow.




Stargazer romps along in 22 to 26 knots of SW breeze, double reefed and hard on the wind. Plumes of white spray blow back from her bow as she dances across the swell.




Queen Galadrial greets us with a royal welcome-home at Poole Quay.

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Dream Weaver Cruise - update 16

5.6.15 Studland Bay




Stargazer catches the first of the northbound tide in the Little Russel channel.




We're soon gulped down thirstily by the Alderney Race.




The Quenard light gives us a familiar wink, over Alderney's shoulder as we surge past - reaching under main and jib in a force 4.




Out in the shipping lanes of the Channel the breeze settles into the west and builds steadily from 4 to 5.....




...and on to 6. I take a reef. Suddenly there's a splash and a breathy snort - a large dolphin (probably 5m - about as big as Funghi, over in Dingle) skims up level with the cockpit and holds station; makes eye contact, then blazes off in an arc astern, dives beneath us once, and vanishes; leaving an empty sea and a lingering sense of wonder.




Ahead the evening sun glints off the chalk of Old Harry to port and the Needles to starboard.Stargazer romps into Studland Bay and drops anchor. The wind roar and the rush of water quiets. Up on Ballard Down a lamb bleats.

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Location:United Kingdom

Dream Weaver Cruise - update 15

4.6.15 St Peter Port, Guernsey




The wind is whisper light and the sun smiles on the harbour front. A day to linger in port.




On the pontoon I join the crews of many nations exchanging yarns of passages made and adventures in prospect.







Friday's forecast is W 10-15 knots. A reach north through the Alderney Race, under cruising chute, would be a fitting grand finale to the Dream Weaver Cruise....

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Location:Saint Peter Port,United Kingdom

Dream Weaver Cruise - update 14

3.6.15 St Peter Port, Guernsey




Stargazer romps along all day long, throwing white feathers of spray high in the air in sheer exuberance.




She revels in our 18 knots of jolie brise and swoops endlessly across
an ink blue swell marbled with white.




It's one of those sailing days which you wish will never end; although, if it has to, a sunlit and near deserted, St Peter Port is the place to do it.


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Location:Victoria Pier,Saint Peter Port,United Kingdom

Dream Weaver Cruise - update 13

2.6.15 St Cast le Guildo







Like the Big Bad Wolf, today's gale huffs and puffs until it blows down the window of our neighbour's spray hood.




It's a day to walk the cliff tops, wind-song and surf's roar filling my ears.



A jolie breeze from the west, is forecast for tomorrow.

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Location:Boulevard de la Mer,Saint-Cast-le-Guildo,France

Dream Weaver Cruise - update 12

1.6.15 St Cast le Guildo




Out in the shelving sheltered bay, it's back turned to today's SW wind, the morning tide gently recedes.




The waves tire on their long march up the sunlit shallows and arrive on the beach with a sleepy crump.




Dinner is served.




Now halyards beat like gongs on masts across the port de plaisance. They herald the arrival of the second low pressure system.




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Location:Rue du Port Jaquet,,France