Farewell

[Elemental]

After 13 years on the East Coast - 2 at Woolverstone and 11 at Shotley - Seaspray (my first big boat) has now been sold to new owners on the Crouch.

Our new boat - Elemental, an Arcona 435, is arriving shortly and will be based in Portland Marina, Dorset. Julie and I are moving that way also.

We've had a fantastic time here, sailed to some beautiful spots and met some excellent people. From early adventures at Pirate Days with the likes of Morgana/POH, East Coast Bernie and many others through to modern day heroes like Paul Rainbow (who has got me sailing whenever I've had any electrical issues and we've made long lasting friends ...

We've loved sailing to Wells, down to the Swale and all ports in-between. Some of the anchorages are world-class... Longer cruises have taken us to Holland, Belgium, France and the Channels Islands.

So, we'll miss the East Coast, but we're really looking forward to discovering the South Coast (we'll even miss the shifting sand banks...)

 

[johnalison]

Portland is a good place to get stoned. Good luck.

 

[Chae_73]

Lovely new boat and lovely new cruising ground - fair winds!

 

[Tradewinds]

Arcona 435 - lovely boat.

Lend us a fiver.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Portland is a good place to get stoned. Good luck.

Why isn't there a "GROAN" icon on the "Like" button? ??

 

[PaulRainbow]

Congratulations on the new boat Mark, very nice. Hope you both have a great time on her and in your new home. It's been my pleasure to know you both, say "hi" to Julie for me. ?

 

[johnalison]

Why isn't there a "GROAN" icon on the "Like" button? ??

The trouble with a medical training is that it teaches you to enjoy inflicting pain.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The trouble with a medical training is that it teaches you to enjoy inflicting pain.

I'm reminded of when I had orthopedic surgery in the late 80s. I was in the same ward as elderly gentlemen who were having hip replacements. The consultant made a point of coming to my bed first because he knew I'd answer truthfully to the question "Does it hurt?", to which the truthful answer was along the lines of "You know perfectly well it does!" As I was at the time in my 30s, the consultant knew I wouldn't try and hide the pain - as, of course, the elderly gentlemen would! He was trying to gently tell them that it was OK and rather more helpful to him if they a) admitted it hurt and b) told him where!

Mind, when it came to inflicting pain, the physiotherapists were worst! The nurses came an honourable second - they controlled the TV (only one in the ward in those days) and had "Neighbours" on twice a day!

 

[Major_Clanger]

Portland is a great base with excellent facilities, but I'm sure you already know that..... Make the effort to walk up the hill to the prison; there's a café there run by the inmates and it's very good. Interesting Georgian/Victorian fort too.

 

[Marmalade]

We anchored for a couple of nights in Portland harbour on our way west earlier in the year - lovely stretch of coastline

 

[johnalison]

It's also handy for the Channel Isles and Brittany. I've only done North Brittany. Although enjoyable, I wasn't carried away by it and tended to prefer Normandy, where at least the cheese is better.