Harry Up

 It was a lovely start to a day of sailing, puttering out of Studland Bay past the Old Harry sea stack.



The predicted winds took a while to pick up but eventually we had some fair sailing with easterly winds blowing on our backs. We motor sailed against the tidal flow round three minor headlands before eventually reaching St Alban’s Head on the turn of the tide. We used the ‘inside’ route close in to the shore and then began to run with both the increasing wind and the developing tidal flow to reach the famous stretch of Dorset coastline that includes the tourist hotspot of Lulworth Cove and the famous sea arch Durdle Door. Although our next obvious port of call was Weymouth, we could not resist the opportunity to anchor for the night in Lulworth Cove. The forecast was for only modest winds from the east and then the north and this is ideal for conditions for a stay in the cove whereas a strong southerly wind apparently makes for an uncomfortable night and probably a difficult exit. It is May 29th 2021.

We dropped anchor and after a session of passage planning, we find it is important to agree the time of departure in the morning before we go to the pub, we inflated the dinghy for a trip to land. We did manage to re-fill our drinking water containers but otherwise the trip to shore was primarily to feast on fish and chips accompanied by beer while sitting on a hotel lawn overlooking the cove. Our brother Aidan and his wife Gill arrived bearing gifts produced on their Dorset small-holding, packs of pork sausages and a full tray of eggs. Lulworth seemed busy but apparently it was a relatively quiet day. I calculated that I had previously visited the cove but 44 years ago on a school field trip. The cove itself does not seem to have changed very much, that cannot be said for the approach from the land side. It was brilliant to enter the cove by sea and now to settle down for the night gently rocking at anchor.

Tomorrow is a long day, with our target to pass round the infamous Portland Bill and then a long run in the forecast easterlies to reach Dartmouth. We have agreed that a rest day and a shower will be our reward if we can make it so far across Lyme Bay.

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