26th May
The morning was bright and after a shower we walked into Brixham where I got a new weight for my fishing line. We found a fishmonger and bought a live crab for our tea and cooked it before we set off.
The weather forecast was not looking good with the wind F5/6 increasing to F7 to gale 8 for the next few days. We knew that if we did not leave Brixham today we would have to stay there until Sunday. We left Brixham about midday with a gentle wind in the bay. I put out the fishing line with my new weight. I checked it a few times, then Carole checked the line pulling it in and out. I could not believe it when Carole caught the first fish on my line –a small mackerel. I took the hook out of the fish and thought it a good idea to put it in the sink down below. I knew Carole said something as I went down the stairs but I did not take much notice. I then found out that I had put the fish in the sink with a cloth soaking in washing powder. After a brief discussion it was decided that the fish would be thrown back.
Soon we were out of the bay around Berry Head. The wind started to pick up and I rolled some of the Genoa (front sail) in and soon after we had to reef the main sail as the wind had increased to about 20 knots. The sea was also starting to get a bit lumpy but it was as we expected. As we rounded into the river Dart the wind whipped up being assisted by the high headlands at the entrance. Our speed increased to 8.5 knots and we started to surf on the waves. We had too much sail out and had to get some sail down quickly. Carole volunteered to get the main sail in, by going to the mast to wind it in. A great job in bringing the boat back to full control, but not an easy one when the wind is howling.
Once into Dartmouth harbour everything calmed down and after a tour of the river we eventually found a berth for the night and ate our crab we cooked earlier.