Castle Cove

St Albans Head rises sheer from the sea washed screes at its feet.




The evening sun paints turrets of shadow onto its battlement cliffs. They stand stark and fore square against the misty softness of the distant rolling hillsides.




Stargazer beats South West over a gently rolling sea - outside the boiling turbulence of the tide race...




... before standing close in under tumbling, tawny wave rent sandstone cliffs....




... and proud, jutting, sharp edged chalk buttresses.




The breeze falls light as night falls. A sickle moon rises. We anchor and I stow Stargazer's sails for the night.




Dawn reveals Castle Cove. The ragged walls of the Castle ruin; green wooded shores; and a beach lined with upended dinghies.




A beckoning breeze is ruffling the still water. Moored boats swing as the tide turns eastward. We hoist sail and make for Poole.




Stargazer follows Tenacious into the harbour. The timeless tracery of her spars frail and elegant against the blocky town centre skyline.

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Location:Old Castle Road,,United Kingdom

Friday Get Away

The sea breeze fills in mid way through a still summer Friday afternoon. I slip Stargazer's lines. We leave the thronging Quay astern...




...and beat gently out of the harbour on the last of the ebb. The jib telltales pitter patter on the bellied sail and our bow wave runs tunefully aft - marking our progress over the silvered water.




Long shadows creep towards Old Harry as the evening draws in. Studland Bay is already a forest of masts. We tack out on the dying breeze.




The tide has turned now. We tuck into Swanage bay, out of its reach, and anchor inside the protective arm of the jetty - off the beach.




Squeals of delight, the chimes of ice cream vans, and the mingled smell of Fish & Chips and sun cream waft through the open hatch above my bunk. I rouse myself from a Saturday morning lie in and breakfast on deck.




Beneath the brindled cliffs of Ballard Down, Moonfleet of Swanage makes sail....





...whilst the Swanage Sea Rowing Club gig crew practices its strokes, on a cobalt sea.




An Open 60 streaks seaward...




...and a racing trimaran soars, free as a bird, over the waves. The weekend has begun.



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Location:Shore Road,,United Kingdom