Three Old Gits on a Yacht

The cast in order of importance   Robin Seed   John Seed   John Hughes

The cruise of a Sadler 25 called Pelerine. Falmouth to L'aber-wrac'h and back.

Sailing at night. Homeward bound The Catch. The Moorings. Looking Seaward.

Sailing Job 2005 (Umpteenth attempt by Skipper to get across English Channel) Skippers Log. February 2005 Emails suggesting dates for the voyage were bandied across the ether only to be parried by..."No sorry, second daughter's Graduation, VE Dance and I'm the chairman of the Parish". Responses met with similar obstacles involving Skipper's daughters Gymnastics Competition, Musical Festivals, Rose Queen Fetes, business meetings and anyway I'm thinking of cutting a) my lawn b) my toenails c) my throat etc that weekend.! Eventually sensing that a mutually acceptable date for all four participants would probably be the third week in November, the skipper drew a line at the 27th. July to 2nd August. Sadly this cut out John in Lancaster who could not move a business meeting and who had dutifully agreed to take his family on holiday to Madeira. Having threfore removed the only crew member who had actually sailed across the Channel this left Brother John (BJ) in Cheshire and Little John(LJ) in Wales both of whom bravely volunteered. Skipper has had several shots at The Channel having entered the L'Aber-Wrac'h Race from Helford but having retired due to Southerly Winds Force 7 with rain and fog patches. A year later the weather again predicted southerly winds Force 7 with rain and fog patches. On each occasion it was necessary to go out of Falmouth and turn left with a view to undertaking a serious survey of Public Houses between St Mawes and Newton Ferrers, which in retrospect compounded by the activities of HMS Gloucester undertating a live firing exercise, was probably rather more hazardous than heading out in the direction of La France.It is perhaps quite amazing how just a few fluffy little spouts of water appearing in the sea amongst plain thinking sailing folk going about their daily business can produce so much traffic on the radio! 27th July 2005. Weather forecast. Force seven winds rain and fog patches! Skipper and Johns repaired to the Pub and consoled themselves by pouring an adequate supply of Doombar down onto empty stomachs. Felt considerably better. Half way through the fourth pint a loud crack announced the arrival of an old git as he banged his head on the beamed ceiling of the pub built originally for horizontally challenged Cornish Folk. Recognising in Little John his obvious ability to negotiate Cornish ceilings ( he being Welsh and only a crab's claws width over 5 feet tall)a conversation ensued with the taller person who announced that he was indeed an old git, did a lot of sailing with another old git, and recommended that we view their website 2oldgitsonaboat.co.uk Rapidly draining the remaining drops of Doombar we headed for Pelerine ( now rafted up agaist a French Couple's Boat) where after several large whiskies and a number of interesting fried sausage sandwiches lovingly prepared by the skipper the ships company (save for one) fell into a deep reverie. 28th July Awakening the next day to the tumultous screaming of the local flocks of seagulls ("Falmouth doublexlsizedbowelshitehawks "- to give them their more accurate description) it was clear to see that the other side of Falmouth Harbour was no longer visible having disapeared under driving blasts of low cloud and drizzle.

Saturday 30th July ...... stepped ashore on French soil.

Above is the Ile Vierge light, and the very rocky coast line. And right, the Pot de Beurre.