Me Too - Hilary Lister

Finally some good steady wind arrived and it was time to leave the car park outside the RNLI station which had been our home for a week. Since we had the experts on hand we consulted the coxswain, the mechanic and just about every other member of the lifeboat crew we could lay our hands on

"Good people in Arklow... the RNLI guys can hold their drink!"

"Yes", we asked, "but what about the entrance to the harbour and the passage?"

"Oh, no idea, but they are great guys"

Really useful... thanks guys!

The events of Friday's sail have been greatly exaggerated and, in some cases, incorrectly reported. We sailed from Milford Haven for Fishguard. On Thursday we had come over to Fishguard to talk to the coxswain of the RNLI. He was extremely generous with his time and knowledge and we talked about our planned route in some detail, although not to the level of precise waypoints! He offered to come out to escort us in and we took up his very kind offer to use the inshore lifeboat to transfer me from my boat to the shore as it was the only practical way of bringing me ashore.

It was obvious first thing that yesterday's sail wasn't going to go ahead, at least not as planned. We got up to Force 6 winds, which is simply out of the question as far as taking the Artemis out for a quick spin with a knight of the realm and a

A storm system has been blowing through for two days and, in Toby's opinion, it's been far too dangerous to throw me in the water anywhere! Fortunately for us a new friend was in town!

First of all let me apologise for the long silence. Things are now beginning to move with alarming speed once again, which is probably a good thing although a little frightening!

Unbelievably, we are still in Lymington. The wind has not dropped below a force 5 for less than a tantalising couple of hours. The frustration is immense, not least for Toby, me, Mike and the "Ribbies", but also for the ground crew who are constantly told that we might be leaving and then everything is cancelled at the last minute after they have prepared suitable meals and got everything ready.