WELCOME

Hi. Welcome to the blog pages of Happy Daze.

Ivan and Angela plan to set sail in May, from Scarborough, on the Yorkshire East coast, on a journey around the shores of the UK and Ireland. We will head south, and will travel the right way (clockwise) around the British Isles until we get back to Scarborough, but plan to take our time and enjoy the journey.

We will have our dive kit with us, and intend to jump in and explore the inshore waters at every opportunity. It may be to look at something we know is there (a wreck?), just have a look around to see what we can find, or to get something tasty for supper!

The boat has been extensively re-fitted, and work still goes on to get her ready for the off. Since we brought the boat back from Wells-next-the-Sea she has been known as Wild and Free, but our preparations for the trip will include a re-naming ceremony, and she will be known as Happy Daze.

Please keep in touch to find out how we get on in our preparations and our journey around the coast.

Angela & Ivan

Monday, 19 July 2010

Leg 16



Falmouth to Penzance (ooo aargh) Sun 18th July
We didn't need to be away too early, so had a bit of a Sunday lie in. We don't need to get to the Lizard point too early or we would be fighting tide. It was a bit of a grey day though, so as we crossed towards the Manacles, we didn't see much of the coast. The Helford River is supposed to be very pretty but we were a bit too far off to really see!
As we cam around the Manacles we got our first proper wildlife viewing - 2 wopping great Minke whales - amazing. We were really chuffed!
So headed on to the Lizard. For me, this and Lands End are the worrisome bits of this part of the journey. As we got closer to the Lizard the sea did start getting bigger, so I kept well off shore, as the almanac suggests! The anchor on the bow gets a good few dips in the sea, and at one point I look up to see a small wave making its way along the deck, over the hatch to the life raft!! Ivan at this point is below having a snooze. When he re-appears he says 'what are we doing so far off shore?' !!! No way was I going closer, with big waves breaking between us and the Point. When we did alter course to head for Penzance (ooo aargh) the wind was at last with us, and we got to sail it the rest the way - fab.
As we were going across the bay, we were joined by a pod of dolphin - what a wonderful wildlife day we were having. They stayed with us for about an hour and half. Swimming around, under and of course at the bow of the boat. Ivan got some good photos and video. Brilliant.
We got to Penzance (ooo aargh) at tea time but had to wait on swinging mooring outside the wet dock til we could get in at high water. This gave us time to properly sit down and work out the tides and tidal stream for getting around Lands End (nothing like planning ahead huh!). Unfortunately it means a stupid o'clock early start, but can't be helped. Think we will have an extra day in Penzance (ooo aargh) to do pirate (ooo aargh) type things and leave early Tuesday when its slightly less stupid o'clock!!
Well the wildlife made the day for us, when it looked to be just a grey Sunday motoring along!
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