Welcome to Sally - our new kitten

Poppy and Jake insisted on a new kitten - who are we to refuse?

She's 8 weeks old and very sleepy. Fred, the older cat was not overly delighted until he discovered Sally's food bowl - but then he is very greedy.

We're keeping them apart for now, as I think that Fred could probably eat Sally in one sitting!

Highest Tide for 20 years

Tonight was the highest tide in 20 years. I went for a sail this evening with Martin, and the current was incredibly strong, with wind over tide. At first it was a steady F5 then an F6 gusting F7 which got a little hairy, so we reefed, then headed up towards Bideford.

When the wind died down we shook out the reef again and arrived back at the slipway as the alarm on my watch sounded High Water. It was the shortest walk to pull the boat up the slip that we've ever had to do.

Sailing a Catamaran in an F7

Well, today we learned that discretion is the better part of valour. The wind picked up rapidly after we'd rigged and was an F6 by the time we reached the end of the slipway.

We reefed at that point and launched with our hearts in our throats. On a run we nearly pitched, so at the earliest opprortunity we tightened up onto a reach and headed towards Inner Pulley.

We fitted the extra long tiller extension, so that Martin could steer from the wire, and I could power the main with both hands. This worked very well, and we didn't capsize. By the time we got to Inner Pulley, it was blowing old boots, and we decided to head for the beach at Instow, rather than risk getting stuck with other boats in the moorings. By now it was blowing a good F7, and possibly gusting as high as F8.

We derigged on the beach and I went back towards the club to pick up the trolley wheels. Mary Jane Scott kindly gave me and the wheels a lift, and Ellie also gave us a hand getting back the half mile along the Esplanade.

Only one other boat went out was a Dart 15, and that was Ellie's brother Sam, with two crew. Their extra weight made all the difference.

A thoroughly enjoyable and exhausting sail.  Maximum speed only 15.3 knots.