Chapman's Pool

The wind abandons us off Anvil point. We ride the westbound tide to St Albans Head and ghost into Chapman's Pool on a zephyr, to anchor for the day.

Astern a valley winds its way inland between grassy slopes and a sheer cliff of black and gold.

Ahead the bluff snout of St Alban's Head is our harbour wall, soaking up the swell that marches westward.

A weathered boat shed and a deserted mooring nestle amid the boulders on the shoreline.

As the sun dips toward the western horizon it honeys and mellows the craggy visage of our anchorage.

We leave on the morning tide. The NE breeze has returned and Lulworth Gunnery Range has announced that firing is over for the summer. Wind and tide carry us past kaleidoscope cliffs to Worbarrow Bay.

A thunderstorm looms. We anchor snug behind Worbarrow Tout to watch a celestial firework show.

Westward Ho

With an exuberant whoop from its whistle and a fire breathing sigh the steam locomotive pounds across Brunel's long legged viaduct - high among the tree tops. 

A basking seal raises his bewhiskered muzzle and stares quizzically at the spectacle.......

....whilst a snow white egret continues to study her reflection in the looking glass river.

Stargazer rests, with folded wings, on a mooring below the Anchor Stone.....

.... amid rolling Devon fields and ancient woodland echoing with birdsong.

Last night Stargazer sailed into the River Dart, as a full moon rose over the castle.

We left Poole on the morning tide. The lifting bridge our gateway to a long weekend.

Beyond the lee of Town Quay, Stargazer sniffed 22 knots of NW breeze....

.....and romped past Brownsea Castle under double reefed main.

Hard on the wind, she flew past Portland Bill, the tide under her,.....

.....to scud west across Lyme Bay in a joyous welter of wind-song and salt-spray.