During the first day of June 2010 I set sail in 'Equinox' my 24ft 6' Cornish Crabber from Chichester Marina and headed West down the Solent on a once in a lifetime adventure. Three and a half months later I completed my challenge; having sailed solo around the entire UK; visiting the Scillies, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and the Hebrides; going with huge trepidation over the top via Cape Wrath - the 'big right turn', before the next 'big right turn' heading south, at John o'Groats. This blog is my diary, written most evenings as I took stock of the day's progress; often with a huge lump of Cheddar cheese in hand and a pint of Speckled Hen to keep it company. Sometimes I was almost in tears; tiredness and frustration having taken its toll. Other nights exhuberant after breathtakingly beautiful passages along our stunning coastline with favourable following winds. It describes the ups and downs; the tears and laughter; the extraordinary kindness shown by complete strangers who offered a tired sailor in their midst refuge, solace, warmth and company; their generosity often humbling. My hormones were, I'm sure, in a mess making me perhaps rather vulnerble; as just six months earlier I'd endured the surgical removal of a cancerous prostate gland; laprascopically - a six hour procedure that left me physically weaker than before. You can read the background to the illness and the reasons for the challenge - to raise awareness of this terribe disease; that could have so easily have killed me elsewhere on this blog.

I am indebted to many; and recorded their names elsewhere; but as I reflect on the voyage many months later, I have not fully sung the praise of Cornish Crabbers, the builders of my sturdy little yacht and Roger Dongray the yacht's brilliant designer who drew upon a hull shape that had developed over hundreds of years by men who worked and fished at sea and whose very life depended on their vessel's seaworthiness. It's long keel, sail configuration and weight distribution in seemingly monsterous seas; quite incredible for a yacht so small. A Crabber 24 is not the swiftest yacht to be had for her size, for sure. But what she lacks in that respect she makes up for by her abilty to take heavy weather and harsh conditions in her stride. Built solidly without compromise, Equinox delivered me safely home after a voyage of well over 2500 miles in some of the most hostile and dangerously tidal waters you can find anywhere in Europe. In Wales, for example, the RNLI were phoned by an experienced commercial fisherman watching Equinox from his harbourside office; reporting to them, that a yacht was struggling in heavy seas and a F7 a mile outside the harbour entrance. By the time the lifeboat had been launched, I was tucked up in Aberystwyth marina; a little bruised and battered it has to be said, but safe and sound; I never even saw the lifeboat!

I've recently set up the blog so that readers can cover numerous diary entries in one go. To access earlier diary entries just click on the link 'Older Posts' at the foot of each page. Only a few clicks are needed to get to the entries at the beginning of the voyage and my preparation beforehand.

I hope you enjoy reading it; and if you do, or have done, please be kind enough to leave me a message. For which, in anticipation, I thank you.
The voyage also raised over £10,000 for the Prostate Cancer Charity - not my main goal but those who donated on my 'Just Giving ' page made a huge contribution too; as I was notified by email of each donation as it was made; each raising my spirits immeasurably. My main goal was to encourage 2500 men to get PSA tested - one for each mile sailed; and I beleive that goal was achieved too. And finally, I would also like to thank the growing number of men who have, both during and after the voyage ended, taken a PSA test, as a result of the publicty the voyage attracted; been diagnosed with the disease and taken the time and trouble to email me.

Saturday 5 June 2010

2 scortchers and a wet one.

June 1st - D Day - was a washout. A local photographer met me, as arranged, on Equinox at the marina and we both got wet - me in just a Charity T shirt! After drying out I locked out of the marina at 1:15pm to a rather bemused lock keeper whose jaw dropped when I answered, 'Up to 4 months' to the usual. 'Are you back today, Sir'?  A damp night at East Head in Chichester Harbour was followed by two stunning days sailing to the west end of the Solent and a date at the Yarmouth Old Gaffers Festival. I was joined by Peter Moore and his submariner chum Ian, in Peter's Crabber at Newton Creek. A serious Chili, made at the cost of the tip of my finger - I blame a new knife! More wine than was sensible and much laughter! With rather subdued reflexes we sailed in convoy to Yarmouth under Jib and Staysail in a brisk 3 knot following tide, the following morning. The fine weather remains imppresive.  Tanned like a lobster, I'm told!
The Accelerators a local band, scrumptious fish and chips, more beer and a tender ride with a rebuilt Seagull (now run in) up to Freshwater filled the day. Perfect! The harbour looks wonderful with all the Gaffers 'Dressed Overall'. It could be 1910.  So many familiar faces and Yachts. One doubt has crept in 'Can I keep the pace up'?

Today's Saturday and it's already getting blisteriningly hot, as I scribble this at 7.15am!
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3 comments:

  1. Gordon Foster6 June 2010 at 18:29

    This is such an inspirational challenge, Simon. You've chosen the most important unspoken topic for men - their health. It deserves all the support and awareness it can get. I run two websites, one for business and one for pleasure (clock repairing!) so by next weekend, I will have established a link to this blog on both of them. I'll check out your entries as often as I can. Keep it up to date; tell us your feelings, the ups and downs, as well as your landside experiences. And stay in touch.

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  2. Tim & Angi7 June 2010 at 09:14

    Hi Simon
    Wonderfull to be able to follow your progress we have been thinking of you so much and are so impressed and proud of you. Keep it up and keep enjoying it all.
    Love Angi and Tim x

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  3. Gordon Foster8 June 2010 at 08:20

    Simon. I have now added a link to one of my sites, which you can read at http://www.horologica.co.uk/D_Fun/men_only.html and I hope it broadens the number of visitors to your blog.
    It's chucking it down in Essex today so I hope you're having a drier time (except in the evenings, that is!). Gordon

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