Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure

[goosehd]

@Giles one final push home or another stop planned?

[Giles]

We're trying for a final push....But the sea state is shit and we are limping along at 6knots. We may have to abort if it does not get better....

[Twistlock]

Plus lots of traffic ahead

[Giles]

The weather is bad and predicted to get worse through the day and night. It would be foolhardy to continue and put SAKURA through a lot of stress (we are slamming into big seas), so we are running back to Brest. The weather across the channel is forecast to be awful for a week or two. so we will get home without SAKURA, and come pick her up as soon as we can.

[Daniel San]

now that’s not a happy ending

[Twistlock]

Bummer, sensible decision though.

[Giles]

They say there are two kinds of sailors, those who have hit another yacht, and those who lieWell, thank Christ, I longer have to lie.....

I misjudged the crosswind today and sideswiped this.

The British captain was awfully nice. When I went onboard to apologise and assess the damage. He seemed to be more concerned about me and the damage to SAKURA. I said that I was not sure what to do in this situation, he told me to relax, fuck off and not to worry....

Go large, or go home.....

[Nik]

This first journey keeps getting more epic. Sakura is giving you the full experience.

[Matt]

Have you gotten to the pirates yet @Giles ? Just checking to see how many boxes you can check off your list before you make it home.

[Giles]

Paula and I have decided to stay in Brest and have some downtime, just the two of us. The weather in The Channel looks good from Sunday for a couple of days, so we'll keep an eye on it and make a dash when we can. It would be good to have another person or two with us, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can find one or two people with time on their hands....

[Twistlock]

Would be tempted to join you if not for other travel arrangements already made. Any specific skill set required?

[endo]

@Twistlock said in Giles and Paula's Great Retirement Adventure:

Any specific skill set required?

mixing dry martinis?
I can do it

[Twistlock]

[Giles]

We have some friends coming to help us....And the weather is looking good in about 4 days. Think we are sorted....

[sabergirl]

Glad to hear you’ve been able to make it work! Hope you enjoy the R&R.

[Giles]

An unexpected stay in Brest has led to unexpected benefits….

[Nik]

Good to know where to look when in need of a quick fist.

[Matt]

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[Giles]

We had a wonderful impromptu drink with the Graeme, the captain and Alex the stew (she's a delightful girl of 20, and I think stew is the woke-approved designation) of Lethantia (the crash victims) on SAKURA last night.

In this marina, there are probably only 2 boats worth over £2million, I chose the one that is worth well in excess of £10million to have an altercation with, Graeme missed no opportunity to remind me of that.

I managed to get rid of them at 10pm because Paula and I had not eaten, and were starving. When we got to the restaurants, the kitchens were closed. Luckily we had a bunch of empañadas in the fridge which we heated up upon our untriumphant return.

Lethantia is moored just behind us (also waiting for a weather-window), serving as a constant reminder of my carelessness....

[goosehd]

@Giles Don't want to raise the blood pressure, but I'm interested in how much damage there is to Sakura and Lethantia. Just a little rub that will buff out, dry dock and repairs, or something in the middle.

I was reading about the Lethantia and see it's an aluminum hulled boat and imagine it would be a little paint to touch up, if the damage is minor.

Also wondering if you've been aboard her. From the pictures, it is definitely something to see.