Sailing downwind into the Moray Firth. Enjoying some good wind.
Lat: 57.7149 Long: -2.7749 

We have sailed 500 miles and we will sail 500 more, to be the sailors that would sail 500 miles to get back to that muddy shore! (Lat: 57.6713 Long: -1.8284 )

Today, I’m afraid, has not been very exciting.  We left Gourdon this morning at about 5:30am, and motored for a couple of hours, as the water was glassy-flat.  Once the wind picked up a little we were able to make 4 knots upwind (fairly respectable for our little JF).  However, a while later, the wind dropped and the tide turned, so it was back to petrol power. And that was the day really.

Except when we got into Peterhead! I made a complete fool of myself by tripping over and failing to throw the rope just two meters.  Oh well, the lad greeting us on the pontoon admitted it was his second day, and so we just hope he doesn’t know how yachts people are meant to behave!

So now we are moored for the night in Peterhead (Lat: 57.4964 Long: -1.7912) with another early start tomorrow to get to Buckie.

We are having to motor on our way to Peterhead. After a misty start the sun is trying to break through. (Lat: 57.0524 Long: -2.0689)

We arrived in Gourdon earlier today having left Anstruther at 4:30 in the morning.  Sailing was mostly downwind with a fair breeze so quick progress was made.  Most notable on the trip was a large number of Jellyfish, several hundred we think which we sailed through, all looking very beautiful, perhaps more beautiful that the Jelly Fish.
Gourdon is a very small harbour entered between two reefs of rocks, and still used by fisherman.


Moored in Gourdon
Lat: 56.8274 Long: -2.2873

We have decided to continue our journey through the Caledonian canal having looked at the extended outlook for the weather in the next two weeks.  This includes two frontal systems and a lot of wind, force 9/10 possible 11!  We managed to glimpse the surface pressure chart on the TV whilst waiting for our Fish and Chips in Anstruther, sound not included!  We hope to be safely in the Canal before the worst of the wind.

Early start again tomorrow.

Just left the fish and chip capital of the UK. Tide taking us out of the Firth of Forth. Sailing Lat: 56.2707 Long: -2.5739

It's alright, things haven't gone disastrously wrong, but we do want to remind you why we are doing this crazy sailing thing!

Fellowship Afloat have a bursary fund, which enables the people that can benefit most from all that FACT has to offer, to come and experience the activities, the environment and the fellowship of living onboard.  For some testimony as to how the bursary fund is used, click here and scroll down.

We want to raise £10,000 for this fund, and this is why so many people have put in so much time in getting both of us, the boat and this blog ready for this adventure.  So far we have amazingly raised over £3500, so thank you to all those who have given!

Just a reminder, that if you want to give you can click here, or on the 'Donate Now' box above, which will enable you to give online (with the added benefit of FACT reclaiming gift aid if you are a UK tax payer).  If you don't want to give online but would still like to help us reach our total, give the FACT office a call (number found here) and they will be able to explain more.

Finally, keep looking on here for regular sailing updates, we are now in Scotland and still on our time schedule!

We arrived in Anstruther late last night. Ahead of schedule so will have a break from sailing for a few days. Moored Lat: 56.2212 Long: -2.6986

Just sailing round St Abbs Head and entering into the Firth of Forth Lat: 55.9425 Long: -2.1798

Just sailing past Berwick-upon-tweed with two reefs and a jib. Windier than forecast. Lat: 55.7962 Long: -1.9348

We have survived our 29 hour sail from Scarborough to Lindisfarne.  The sun shone the whole time, even to the extent of it not actually ever getting dark! 

The highlight of the sail for Becky was the wildlife, particularly the dolphins, I was trying to ‘sleep’ at that time, which is quite tricky when every noise is amplified about 10 times in the cabin of Jelly Fish.

We have enjoyed a lovely evening moored in Lindisfarne and hope to continue sailing tomorrow into Scotland.  We can’t quite believe we are this far north and it is only the accents of the people on the Radio and the Harbour Masters we call that convince us it is true.

Lat: 55.6659 Long:-1.7945

After more than 24 hours sailing we have spotted our first buoy of this sail. However we remain on the same course! Sailing 330 degrees. Lat: 55.5989 Long: -1.6205

Sailing along at 2knts and had 5 dolphins playing around us. Water so clear could see them swim under boat! ( Lat: 55.3207 Long: -01.2781)

We are drying off our cruising chute by sailing downwind from Scarborough. Sea breeze about to come. Lat: 54.3070 Long: -0.3627

Despite our plans to sail non-stop for 40 hours or so, we managed 8 and realised that it would be better to stop and sleep while the wind sorts itself out, than to battle through the elements.  Therefore we are now moored in Scarborough (Lat: 54.2850 Long: -00.3864) and have had our first showers in 8 days!

As for the sailing, getting out of Bridlington was wonderful, but we were then faced with what the Met Office describes as 'rough' seas.  I found this quite scary, but Mary was loving it and JellyFish could more than cope.

There was high drama when the cruising chute (for non-sailors a big sail for going away from the wind), which was in it's bag and clipped on the foredeck, slipped outside of the guardrail.  Before Mary could move her clip from the cockpit to the safety lines, the clips on the bag broke, and the sail went overboard!  Very quickly, the size of the waves paled into insignificance, as we turned ready to do our man overboard drill (practiced hundreds of times on every RYA course we have ever done).  The practice payed off, and we picked up the sail at the first attempt. Praise the Lord that the bag floated for that long!

After that excitement the rest of the journey was simple, but characterised by really quite big waves.  The weather is meant to be much better tomorrow, with the wind in the south, and so we plan to keep going through the night, but let's wait and see!

Spinnaker went over board, but MOB perfectly executed under sail in difficult conditions. Lat: 54.1690 Long: 00.0739 (Sailing)

Becky has just been on the radio again this morning. She was on the BBC Radio Essex Weekend Breakfast show, talking about our sailing trip so far. To listen to the interview try iP(ayer (at about 8.30), or I am sure someone will comment with the link on here.

The wind is dropping off, so we are hoping to set sail on the lunchtime tide, and head all the way to the Farne Islands. We will try to keep you updated as we sail, but may be out of mobile contact for a while.

The wind is still blowing up to a gale force 8 at the moment, so we decided to stay in Bridlington for another day. However, the wind should be dropping over night, and the sea state improving, so we are considering a trip of over 100 miles to the Farne Islands. This would take in the region on 40 hours, but would put us on schedule (even with a 3 day stop for Mary to go to her graduation).
Today we went for a walk along the harbour wall and saw a lot of Brownies about to go for a boat ride. We didn't envy their leaders and all the seasick children they would have to deal with! We also looked into a couple of charity shops for some reading books, the one thing we didn't think to pack.
We have been able to charge phones on the boat (the wind generator has gone crazy in the wind) so calls, texts and messages here are all greatly recieved. Thank you all for your support so far, and keep checking for updates!

The North wind is set to continue tomorrow so we may be here an extra day. Hoping it blows over quickly.
Lat: 54.080465 Long: -0.1918

We have finally found some internet access and can upload our pictures.  We have almost been sailing a week, and are still shocked that we are in Yorkshire!  Here are our best pictures.


Dried out in Blakeney Harbour after our 96 mile sail from Walton Backwaters









Picture courtesy of Norfolketc.  Leaving Blakeney harbour between some vicious sand banks.  Thanks to Norfolketc for a Rib trip to preview the conditions just before we left.

Lovely sunset over Tetney anchorage.  Only just managed to locate the small unlit water cans that constituted the buoyage across the sand banks before the sun set.


Tied up in Bridlington Harbour with lots of fishing boats.  Very odd feeling being on land again.  Had a McFlurry in MacDonalds just so that we could use the loo.  However sitting still to eat the Ice-cream was too taxing and we had to get up and start moving, lest we felt too land sick!  Back on Jelly Fish we regained our balance.


So far unsuccessful at finding showers so we have done it Jelly Fish style!  Unfortunately while I was head down (thankfully Hair not full of bubbles!) the Harbour Master passed on his Tractor asking us to fill in some forms!!


A day off in Bridlington enabled us to find a petrol station and fill up with fuel.  However we forgot one piece of equipment, a funnel.  Half an hour later, our fuel was nicely flowing from one can to the other through a small pipe, and I was feeling slightly 'high' on petrol fumes.  At least we have the method sorted now!

Just spent half an hour trying to refuel. Siphoning one container into another was tortuous but we got there in the end. Might buy a funnel!

We have arrived at bridlington where we hope to stay for 2 nights. Just washed our hair in our cockpit using a bucket!

We are now just settling down for a night on a mooring. Lat: 53.5289 Long: 00.0206

Sent via mobile phone.

We have finally discovered where gibraltar point referred much to in weather forcasts is. Had some good sailing and lovely sunshine. 3 hours to go hopefully! Lat: 53.4400 Long: 0.2257

Sent via mobile phone.

We have just left blakeney. Sailing across the wash. Lat: 53.0008 Long: 0.9414

We had a nice day and walked ashore to Morsten. Had a chat with the local sailing centre who gave us some advice about how to leave. May try leaving tomorrow, aiming for Grimsby.

We arrived at Blakeney yesterday and now are moored. We will be here for a while as the northeasterly wind makes leaving hard. Have just watched one boat try and turn back! sorry for delay in blog. still working out how it all works. (Lat: 52.968905 Long: 1.000099)

We left Walton 9am Sunday morning, sailing through the day and the night, downwind for 96.1 miles, probably the longest sail we will do.  We even got the cruising chute up for a while, and tested out our watch rota. All going well so far!

Having left at 12:40 (only 10 minutes late) we sailed of up the Blackwater and out of sight of Bradwell power station.  We had a lovely sail, averaging 5 knots, and are now anchored (Lat: 51.884597 Long: 1.246261) in Walton Bckwaters for the night, anticipating a very long sail tomorrow.  Will up date you soon, Becky and Mary.

 (Lat: 51.760381 Long: 0.854744)

We are close to departure! Just one night stands between now and setting sail, and there has been much activity.  The boat is in the water, the kit has been stowed (I can't believe the huge pile in the workshop has disappeared into the boat!), and JellyFish is on the pontoons.

A couple of notes for your attention.  Firstly a correction, the Maldon and Burnham Standard featured an article about JellyFishAdventures, but said that we were rowing around Britain- just to confirm, we are very deffinately sailing around Britain!  Also, a reminder, that we are leaving on the tide tomorrow at noon, so come down to the Lightship of refreshments and to wave us off.

Finally, the TRACK OUR TRIP button is now live, so you can follow our progress and see what we have been up to, and where we are.

Next up date will come from the boat!

Becky and Mary

So, university is over and we are in Tollesbury!  Monday was spent picking Mary up from Cambridge, and sorting a few bits in London.  Tuesday was filled with packing- deciding what we needed to take and removing all those non-essential items that I was trying to take.  Wednesday was an early start- waking at 5am and arriving in Tollesbury, unloading the car, and emptying the boat, and that was all before breakfast! We also cleaned the boat, inside and out, polished the hull and collected the new engine. Our liferaft was delivered, as was our PLB- so the only piece of equipment we are waiting on is some of the charts.

Today will be spent wiring in the engine and collecting all the other little bits and bobs we need, like spare shackles and tape, as well as re-packing the boat, and attaching stickers to the sides.  We hope to have some photos of it all by the end of the day- so keep an eye out.

That's all for now, thank you all again for your support

Becky and Mary

With 4 days until departure, we have both left university for the last time and are currently sorting through our accumilated belongings, working out what to take on the boat and what can be left behind!

Jelly Fish is being lifted out of the water so we can clean her inside and out, as well as fit the new engine (thank you Honda!), attach the life raft (thank you Premium Liferaft Services!) and stock her with lots of food and water.

We are just about to inflate our tender in the garden, and then get on and make the huge list of everything we need!  So, with everything beginning to fall into place,remember that you are welcome on the FACT pontoons at 12 noon, Saturday to wave us off.

Becky and Mary

p.s. we have reached 32% of our target, so thank you to all who have donated to FACT's bursary fund. (Find out more at www.fact.org.uk).

With 1 week left before we go, I have just finished my final exams and am ready to start sorting out all the last minute preparations.  Becky has just been on the radio again this morning, if you missed it try  2:22:00 here.
As Becky said on the radio, were are both feeling excited and a bit nervous.  We have a full week ahead of us, packing up our uni lives and then getting Jelly Fish prepared for her 10 week voyage.

Time to get busy!
Mary

It is not long now until we set sail (have a look at the clock on the top right and see it counting down the days until departure).  Everything is beginning to fall into place: the engine (from Honda) should be delivered next week, and we now have the promise of a LIFE RAFT from Premium Liferaft Services!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over these next ten days or so. Mary is in the middle of her finals, and seems to be coping well while I am trying to pack up life in Eastbourne.

Thanks for all your support so far, and please continue to help us by passing on the message of our trip and of FACT.

Becky (and Mary)