March 09

Went to see Nordlys in Falmouth and after a survey decided to go ahead with the purchase.

28th / 29th March 09

Roger, Josie and Keith

We travelled down to Falmouth to start our maiden voyage to Nordlys' new home port of Pin Mill in Suffolk. The delivery provided some wonderful weather and a steep learning curve in engine maintainence amongst other things! We completed the delivery in 2 stages leaving Nordlys in Lymington for a week before returning to sail her on to Pin Mill over Easter weekend. More details and pictures in the 'Delivery' section on the Home page

2nd / 3rd May 09

Roger, Josie, Erica, Sam, Rob

Sailed from Pin Mill to Bradwell Marina (River Blackwater). Went to "The Green Man" for food and beer. We weren't very impressed with either food or service. The beer was fine!

We sailed home the next day. Wind was force 5 - 6 from the west so we were well sheltered for most of the sail on a broad reach. As we turned up wind towards Felixstowe after passing Frinton on Sea the sail got more exciting. We were glad of two reefs and a No.2 jib as we tacked through racing yachts making their way to a finish near Levington marina. We had to give up sailing as the river narrowed and congestion worsened. A good time was had by all (i think!)

14/15/16 May 09

Roger, Josie, Keith and Xanthe

Spent a weekend on Nordlys. Planned to sail to Dunkerque but a serious lack of wind on the first day meant that we had to opt for the Essex countryside instead. We motored from the Orwell to Brightlingsea and stayed at the new marina there. The next day brought more wind and we sailed from Brightlingsea to Burnham-on-Crouch with a 2 reefs and the No.4 Genoa. The wind continued to pick up the next day and we sailed back in to Pin Mill under just the Genoa in a Force 7.

4th July 09

Took Nordlys to Woolverstone marina for the day so we could fit the new chartplotter and AIS

7th July 09

Roger, Josie and Liz. Pin Mill to Ramsgate

Today we set off on our summer training trip with the intention of hopefully reaching the Isles of Scilly if the weather permits. We have had to bring the trip forwards as Josie's operation was delayed and she may have to go in to hospital to have it in August (when wew were initially planning the trip). The tides allowed us to set off at the reasonably sensible time of 7am and we were able to sail nearly all of the 45 miles to Ramsgate, only motoring through the "large vessel turning area" at the entrance to the Thames and a short spell to help us out run a thunderstorm hot on our heels! We arrived into Ramsgate marina at 17:30 - a successful first day.

8th July 09

Roger, Josie and Liz. Ramsgate to Eastbourne

Our second day took us from Ramsgate to Eastbourne. With 60 miles to cover we had another early start leaving our berth at 6am. We had a lovely sail South at 7.5 knots and the new chart plotter with AIS made passing the ferries at Dover far less stressful than the last time. The lovely sail continued until Dungeness point when we had to battle wind against tide slowing us down considerably and making for a rather uncomfortable ride. With the wind directly on our nose we eventually had to give up sailing and motor-siled the remainder of the way to Eastbourne lock. Liz has put some photos of her time on board on Picasa

click here to see them

9th July 09

Roger and Josie. Eastbourne to Newhaven

After refuelling with both Diesel and supplies from Asda Roger and I set off for our first trip alone from Eastbourne to Brighton. This was an important day for us, finding out how we would cope handling Nordlys with just the two of us as until now there has always been someone else to help put up sails or step off with mooring lines. Although more hard work than usual we coped well with just the two of us and were feeling positive about the adventures that lay ahead but the westerly winds continued to strengthen and progress was slow. With a 26 knot wind against us we decided to divert into Newhaven and hope the wind would be fairer to us tomorrow. We had however proved to ourselves that we would both sail and park Nordlys alone so although progress over land may have been slow, we feel we are coming on leaps and bounds in our experience and handling.

10th July 09

Newhaven to Brighton

Wind speed has dropped this morning but continues to blow from the west so we decided to sail just a short distance on to Brighton where there would be more to entertain us and a sensible place to leave the boat for the weekend. After waiting for a large ferry to come in to Newhaven we were able to depart the marina around 9am. The sea was still quite rough and I was pleased this was only a short passage because progress was slow at around 3 knots. Once in Brighton we spent the rest of the day relaxing - took the little 1880s train along the sea front and generally became tourists for an afternoon.

12th July 09

After a weekend off to go to my brother's wedding we are back aboard Nordlys and the forecast is looking promising to depart tomorrow.

13th July 09

Brighton to Cowes

With the wind now more South westerly and forecast to pick up again tonight we thought this would be our best opportunity to make a dash for the shelter of the Solent. We left Brighton at 6.30am and prepared for a long day's sail. We sailed (and motor-sailed) with a full rig all day and entered the Solent around 4pm. We had a brilliant sail in the Solent with several tacks to avoid the ferries and hovercraft. We arrived at Shepard's Wharf in Cowes at 17:30 (just in time to see Sonya's Dad departing for the mainland on a ferry).

16th July 09

Cowes to Lymington

Yesterday we sat on the beach in Cowes watching the European Swans racing in a Force 8. We were happy to be on land! We were moored up to our identical twin (another white and blue Contessa 32 which had come over from Chichester). Today the wind is still strong but we needed to skip back over to the mainland to meet up with friends and also for Nordlys to have her 150 hour engine service. With the No.4 genoa and deeply reefed we whizzed over to Lymington. Roger learnt how to service an engine while Josie lay in a hammock strung up with the spinnaker halyards in th sun.

17th July 09 - Roger, Josie, Ruth and Tony

Cruising in the Solent

Ruth arrived in time for dinner last night and then Tony sometime later. We stocked up with some provisions and showed them the ropes - so to speak! As the forecast continued to be SW 5-7 increasing gale 8 at times we decided to go for a early day sail in the shelter of the Solent and were safely back in a pub in Lymington playing cards before the force 8 came in.

18th July 09 - Roger, Josie, Ruth, Erica and Tom

Anchoring in Newtown Creek

19th July 09 - Roger, Josie, Ruth, Tony, Keith and Ed

Day trip to Yarmouth

30th July 09 - Roger and Josie

Lymington to Yarmouth

30th July 09

Yarmouth to Weymouth

30th July 09

Weymouth to Poole

30th July 09

Poole to Lymington