RTW, Leg 1: Cherbourg to Gibraltar

Well, we’ve been on Broadsword for 3 and a bit days. The captain has been beside himself with excitement! Broadsword is looking wonderful and most of the things that were needing fixed have been done. We have a new crew mate…First Mate Ronnie. The Second Mate has been outnumbered again!

Home life has been a bit haphazard, a fantastic couple of weeks in our new home on Coll, sorting out bits and pieces in the run up to Harvey and Sara’s wedding. Spending lovely evenings and shopping trips with Lily and generally getting to see as many friends as possible. Squeeze in a fantastic 60th birthday party with maiden voyage crew member, Mark, and it was all a bit mad.

We left Edinburgh at the crack of dawn, headed for London, then onto Paris, hired car and then to Cherbourg. Unfortunately, the Second Mate fell asleep for a wee while and woke up to find that the Captain and First Mate had taken a slightly more scenic route to Cherbourg. Getting to Gibraltar, should be interesting!

Ronnie, who is our newest member of the crew is joining us on the Cherbourg to Gibraltar trip. Ronnie is currently studying to get his Yacht Master Ocean and was very keen to join us to do his qualifying passage (which is a minimum continuous off shore distance of 600 nautical miles, so our 1200 nautical mile passage to Gibraltar should tick that box!!). He has been sailing a lot more than us, so his knowledge is sure to be a blessing to the trip. The second mate is also very pleased because it means that after the Oban to Cherbourg trip, it will mean easier night watches and more hands on deck!

We took Broadsword out yesterday. Mainly to check everything was in good order but also to practice Man Overboard Drills. This was done quite a few times but the second mate did have a wobbly bottom lip during most of it as she doesn’t really want to be reminded of what can happen when it’s just her and the Captain on board!

Lots of shopping has been done to replenish the stores. Two meals out in Cherbourg and we had a wonderful steak and salad cooked by Ronnie.

We are really going to miss Cherbourg. It has been a lovely place for John and I over the last few years. We can navigate our way round boat yards, laundrettes, shops and restaurants and bars. The second mate will, especially, miss being able to galivant round town with her Breton top, baguet and her beret set at a jaunty angle!

Any way au revoir mesa mis

Next news will, hopefully, be from Gibraltar. With daring tales of bravery, hardship and scurvy. We’ll actually only going to be gone for 8 days ……but who knows!!