For many years we had planned to sail around the world. We first started with dinghies, then a 17ft Skipper Mariner. 3 years ago we bought a 25ft folkboat and sailed to Holland. We attended night class to gain the RYA Offshore and Ocean Certificates, as we searched for the right boat for us. We wanted a long keel boat with an after cabin, and finally decided on Blue Spurr a 1972 Nicholson 38. She came equipped with a liferaft, radar and Avon inflatable. She had bad osmosis and we commissioned Clapson's of South Ferriby to do the work. In the meantime Dave fitted headsail roller reefing, an Aries windvane self steering, new VHF radio, mast steps etc. By August she was ready for a shakedown cruise to Holland.

Our niece Angela wanted to try sailing so we took our daughter Sarah and a friend Steve to Holland for a week. Sailing in through the North Sea Canal and out past the Frisian Islands a week later. We practiced lying a-hull, and flying the spinnaker. We had an uneventful shakedown and a week later arrived back in Hull marina, finally buying our provisions and stocking up with a year's supply of tinned food.

Thursday 13th September. We prepared to sail and at the last minute Steve turned up and helped finish the loading. We asked if he wanted to come with us to the South coast, he only had the clothes he stood up in but agreed anyway. We set sail with the tide at 11.30am there was no wind so we had to motor down the Norfolk coast. The wind came up during the night and we had to reef down. During a tussle with the sail Steve accidentally dropped the roller reefing handle overboard, luckily we have another one.

Saturday 15th September. We had a close encounter with the Hovercraft Channel Ferry today. He was heading straight for us and we had to fire a white flare, he change course immediately, and them a ferry boat called us up on the radio to see if we were okay. The wind has increased and the weather got worse so we decided to put into Dover for the night.

Sunday 16th September. Steve, Angela, Sarah and I went ashore to explore and found a yacht club with free showers. So we rowed back to the boat for towels. Dave slept all afternoon as he had been on watch all night. We planned to leave at 7.30am, but Dave found that the rivets on the crosstrees were loose so we didn't leave until 8.10. We were charging the batteries as we approached Royal Sovereign light vessel and the fan belt broke. Dave repaired it with a piece of rope that I stitched together into a circle, and we decided to head for Newhaven to replace it. I called up the Harbourmaster to explain we may have to go in under sail as we have engine problems, and he told us to stand off until the ferry left. We went in under headsail and a pilot boat came out to escort us in. Steve has to leave to go back to work, so disheartened, we walked him to the station and then went to a pub for a drink. We will miss his help and his relaxed company.

Tuesday 18th September. We couldn't find a fan belt and had to order it. We took the alternator to a foundry and had the bolts freed off. The belts finally arrived and we managed to leave on Saturday to sail to Brighton.

Monday 24th September. We were stuck in Brighton by gales. While here we met and talked to Shane Acton on Shrimpy, his 18ft Caprice he sailed around the world with. He said he is thinking of setting off again.

Tuesday 25th September. Set sail for Cowes and had a rough trip, but finally arrived at 11.30pm. We struggled in, in the dark and headed for the first marina we came to. We were welcomed by eager hands as they took our lines and helped us tie up.

Friday 28th September. We left Cowes at 2pm and set sail for Dartmouth, arriving on Saturday morning. The weather got worse and we had to go up river to avoid the gales. We anchored at Diddisham. The local ferryman took pity on us and drove us into Paignton for the day in his car.

Saturday 6th October. We moved down to Dartmouth and met an American boat called Rosinanthe, they have an 11 year old girl, the same age as Sarah and they played all day. Dave worked on the boat all day and Angela and I filled the water tanks using a 5 gallon container.

Sunday 7th October. We set off for Biscay but the weather was really choppy so we headed for Falmouth. We waited for better weather then filled with diesel and set off for Spain at 4pm on 10th October. It was a lovely starry night, and dolphins followed us for a long time. We had 3days of very calm weather but on Sunday 14th October the wind got very strong and we had to reef down. We made a great landfall on Monday 15th at El Ferrol on the north coast of Spain. The American boat is here and we can't clear customs until tomorrow, so we went to the supermarket. Bacardi is only £2 a bottle. Hurray!!!

There were gale warnings for 5days and when they finally stopped we sailed around the coast to La Caruna. We met another English couple Ian and Sarah, on a boat called Grants Freedom, and they are heading for the Caribbean. There are still gales forecast. Gipsy Moth 3 arrived at the marina bound for Portugal. Finally on 26th October the gales abated and we set sail at 11.15am.

Saturday 27th October. We saw lots of dolphins, but it has become very foggy so we have decided to sail directly to Lisbon.

Wednesday 31st October. We arrived at Lisbon entrance in thick fog and used the radar to enter the river. We anchored for lunch until the tide turned and then motored up river, past the Belem Tower, and took a berth on the wall at Port Tago. The paperwork took hours and then we went for a walk around town. Sarah decorated the boat for Halloween.

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