No sooner has Stargazer secured alongside than the inshore lifeboat arrives, with a stricken French forty footer in tow.
The family's deep gratitude is warmly expressed, as a stream of fluorescent bibbed officialdom fills the pontoon behind them. In a full multi agency response.
We left Sovereign Harbour on a still steely morning. Stirring the silty bottom, with Stargazer's keel. I had allowed for one point five metres of shoaling, of the approach channel. But, as we motored out, the figures on the depth guage began to freewheel like the display of a fairground fruit machine: 0.9, 0.1, 58, 38, 0, 70. . . . . A sign of 'negative depth.' There was no perceptible slowing, so we must just have tickled the mud.
We motor, over glassy seas, past the shingle beaches and 'kiss me quick' pier arcades of Old Eastbourne.
Creeping slowly around Beachy Head. As close to the lighthouse as we dare. For the view. But also to shorten the distance and minimise the adverse tide. Waiting for water at Sovereign Harbour (even if we didn't wait quite long enough) has cost us a fair tide here. Where the current runs hardest.
We continue to hug the cliffbase. Dodging the Newhaven boats out laying nets. Fully escaping the foul tide, and seemingly picking up a fortuitous eddy. Our speed doubles, to five knots. Then edges up to six. Full cruising speed!
Stargazer romps into Brighton. The afternoon sun out in full force. bringing with it a welcome south westerly sea breeze. Giving maximum opportunity to increase our apparent wind, as we beat into it.
Tomorrow we sail on. Away from the quayside diners. In search of sylvan serenity.
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