The GPS Blog| Activity | Activity date | Activity description |
|---|---|---|
| Exe Regatta Committee boat | 2016-07-16 | On a rather nice Westerly acting as the Committee Boat for the catamaran racing of the 2016 Exe Regatta. Knowing nothing about dinghy racing, we were pulling up and down various flags at the request of the endlessly patient PK. No real idea what most of the flags meant and I suspect a very goodly proportion of the competitors don't (I think they just listen for the alternate sound signals).
Still a very pleasant way to while away a Saturday afternoon on the Exe.
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Exe Regatta 2016
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| Exe Regatta canoeing | 2019-06-09 | A paddle from Generals Lane slipway in Starcross up to the Turf. Stopped at SYC on the way back to watch some of the Exe Regatta and to let the tide get a bit stronger to help us back against the wind.
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Exe Regatta
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| Bike ride to the Double Locks | 2016-07-17 | A bike ride along the Exe Estuary and canal to meet up with Rose and Midge for the first time in ages.
Wobbled back along the cycle path and stopped at SYC for a quick view of the 2nd day of the Exe Regatta.
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Exe Regatta
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| Blackthorn Farm | 2016-09-14 | On to Blackthorn Farm campsite.
A nice spot just outside Holyhead,
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Dunbar and Belhaven | 2016-09-08 | Up to Scotland and to Dunbar.
Found a good campsite and Belhaven Bay just to the west of Dunbar.
The campsite backed on to Belhaven Bay - another excellent beach walk (not shown on the GPS track) for Scooby - his first Scottish one!
Watched a group of Scots getting married on the "Bridge to Nowhere" at Belhaven Bay.
Then an evening cliff top walk into Belhaven, past the harbour and then on to The Volunteer for a smoked haddock and mashed potato dinner.
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Llanddwyn Bay and Island | 2016-09-14 | The stunning Lllanddwyn Bay on Anglesey at low tide.
.
A heatwave hit (for one day) and we went along Lllanddwyn Bay with the mountains on Snowdonia in the misty background.
On this day, with the heatwave, it was as good as any beach either Liz or I had wandered along anywhere in the world. And it was on Anglesey!
Skipping on past most of Ynys LLanddwyn island (dog ban until end of September) we wandered on a little to the next huge bay.
Wow!
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Dunstanburgh Castle and Craster | 2016-09-07 | Another day, another Northumberland beach for Scooby.
A great walk along to the evocative ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle and then the excellent beaches at Embleton Bay.
Back via Craster where the famous smoked fish shop / restaurant was advertising an interesting take on Cullen Skink soup. Unfortunately, they were shut at the time...
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Lligwy beach and Moelfre | 2016-09-13 | On to an Anglesey and the rather excellent Lligwy Beach.
Scooby happy that the "beach quotient" picking up again.
Then along the cliff top to the pub in Moelfre and back again.
The campsite we were staying at was good with a gate right on to the beach. However, the rules and regulations were a little OTT
Actually, we'd recommend the place but they do themselves no favours with their rules and regs so we went on looking for the more liberal parts of Anglesey (well - one can live in hope).
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Lindisfarne - Holy Island | 2016-09-06 | A walk around the island of Lindisfarne.
The journey there was as expected with the road being a causeway accessible at low tide.
Once there though, any thoughts of peaceful contemplation etc were blown away by the huge crowds.
Skipping swiftly on past the priory and the castle (not least because we'd forgotten our NT cards), we yomped on to the north of the island which was much more pleasing.
Scooby's second Northumberland beach well up to scratch apparently.
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Conniston, Wray and Windemere | 2016-09-12 | Via Kirkstone Pass and Connistone Water and then on to Windemere.
An NT campsite on the shores on Lake Windemere.
A lovely campsite and a walk along Windemere and back past Wray Castle
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Seahouses to Bamburgh | 2016-09-05 | First walk along the Northumbrian coast.
From just north of Seahouses along to just south of Bamburgh.
The Northumberland beaches are just as stunning as expected.
Scooby very impressed if this was to be the quality of the beaches for the next two weeks.
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Skyside Campsite | 2016-09-11 | No doggie walk here but an absolutely stunning setting for our anniversary dinner outside a pub in the Lake District.
I thought the Lake District was about, er, lakes. This campsite was surrounded by crags and pikes and, let's be honest, mountains. A stunning setting.
Now known as Skyfall to Lizzie and Aidan (rather than the slightly more prosaic Skyside).
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Aidan's fall on Hadrian's Wall | 2016-09-04 | A march along some of the best bits of Hadrians Wall. Sheltered behind the wall from a sudden rain/hail shower and felt very "Roman Centurion" like. Didn't feel quite so Centurion like when I slipped coming down one steep part of the wall and bounced badly on my side buggering up my back for much of the holiday!
Stunning walk though.
Then on to Vindolanda.
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Kielder Observatory | 2016-09-11 | Into Kielder Forest and up from Kielder village to Kielder Observatory.
Stunning view - but not of the observatory which unsurprisingly looked at little like a wooden box from the outside during the day time,
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Hadrians Wall Campsite | 2016-09-04 | A comspite near Hadrians Wall - the middle bit!
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Demense Farm In Bellingham | 2016-09-10 | Heading west, we were back just below Hardrians Wall at Demense Farm campsite in Bellingham.
A campsite on another working farm, Lizzie may object to me mentioning that she complained about the cow mooing overnight.
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Summer holiday 2016
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| North Lees Campsite | 2016-09-03 | An over night stop in the peak district - near Kinder Scout - on the way up north.
First injury to my back falling over pushing a stalled motor home out of a rut.
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Alnwick | 2016-09-10 | A short walk around Alnwick,
Again, we were too tight to pay the entrance fee for the castle.
Mainly we wanted to see "Barter Books" - the second hand book shop in the old train station.
An excellent, excellent shop. Long may they flourish after Starbucks, Next and all the others have fallen out of fashion and had a quick bankcruptcy.
One can but hope - I could have spent hours in the place!
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Three Cliffs Bay | 2016-09-17 | The last of the beaches on Scooby's "Tour Of Britain's Best Beaches".
After 1650 miles and 16 days and ten beaches, our final beach was was at Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower.
Not quite all to ourselves and there were several thousand people doing a 14 mile walk for Macmillan Nursing.
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Walkworth to Amble | 2016-09-10 | As Scooby had seen the signs to the beach when we were in Walkworth the previous day, we had to come back to try the beach out.
Unfortunately, as we were heading on later in the day, it meant that we had to be on the beach before low tide.
To be fair, Scooby didn't complain too much but the "tennis ball bounciness" was below par compared to the rest of the holiday.
Walked as far as Amble looking for a breakfast egg & chips but reluctant to swim across the harbour just for a second breakfast.
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Rhossilli and Llangennith beach | 2016-09-16 | In a holiday of stunning beaches, this was probably the best. Or was that Llanddwyn Bay? I don't know but this was a sure fire entry into Scooby's all time top five set of beaches. Or probably even higher.
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Warkworth | 2016-09-09 | Stayed at a lovely campsite just outside Warkworth - Walkmill Campsite - recommended.
Walked into Warkworth and had a look at the outside of the castle - my do English Heritage know how to charge!
Then tried a couple of the pubs in town.
The GPS looks as though it went a little crazy while we were in The Sun in Walkworth - that's understandable as the decor is really something. Not sure how to describe it - maybe a mix between Camelot and your favourite local. Still - surprisingly - a big "thumbs up" from us due to its friendly staff and the (huge) size and quality of our dinner!
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Exe estuary to Brixham | 2016-05-27 | A sail down from SYC on the Exe Estuary to Brixham ready for an early morning start across to the Channel Islands.
The ship shown in the photos (the THV Patricia) was doing buoy maintenance on the buoys marking the wreck of the MV Emsstrom off Torbay. Wierdly, we saw the same ship come in after us to anchor off Dixcart Bay at Sark two days later.
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CI & France 2016
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| Brixham to St Peter Port, Guernsey | 2016-05-28 | A very foggy sail from Brixham in Devon to St Peter, Guernsey in the Channel Islands. The photos give an idea of how foggy it was.
Left at the hideously early time of 03:30 (to make the tidal gate for the Little Russel channel off Guernsey).
Left in thick fog that continued all across to the east going lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme off Casquets. This would have been more scary without the two AIS sets and radar spread across the 3 yachts. AIS data meant we had to alter course for unseen ships before the TSS but not actually in the TSS. By the time we got to the east going channel the fog had lifted to maybe a mile or two's visibility. This visibility continued until we started the tide assisted "sleigh ride" down the Little Russel at which point the fog came in with a vengeance. At this point the two, independent GPS chart plotters we had on board (one a hand held Garmin) were very reassuring. Roustel Tower came into view exactly where expected with just 100 yards visibility. The "pier gates" for St Peter Port harbour weren't visible until we were between them! Twenty minutes after tying up on the SPP waiting pontoon, the fog lifted!
In time for dinner at La Scala. The SYC "cruise in company" events are getting popular - there were 16 yotties from SYC at La Scala.
Tags:
CI & France 2016
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| St Peter Port to Sark | 2016-05-29 | A lovely sail from St Peter Port, Guernsey across to Dixcart Bay, Sark.
Having seen, from the sea, the high, narrow path from Sark to Little Sark (La Coupee - Google it) I'd never have thought that I'd actually walk across it. Worth it though for some of the photos taking looking back to Guernsey and Herm. The ship that can been seen in some of the photos of the yachts at anchor is believed to be the Patricia seen two days previously off Torbay!
Tags:
CI & France 2016
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| Sark to Treguier, France | 2016-05-30 | A long downwind sail from the overnight anchorage at Dixcart Bay, Sark to Treguier in Brittany, France.
The wind was just about dead aft so lots of goose winging (with preventer set) and running.
We were going to go south of both the Plateau des Roches-Douvres and Plateau de Barnouic but Julian P on Kinfolk had the good idea to go between - there was lots of room for this when we looked at the charts.
This meant that we got to Treguier quicker than expected so we abandoned the plan to anchor in the lower reaches of the river and continued all the way up to Treguier. Treguier Marina has a fearsome reputation for cross tides causing havoc but as it was quite neapy we all moored up safely in the marina.
The pilot books make the approaches to Treguier sound very complicated but the "Grande Passe" route in was very straightforward - we'll leave the Basse De La Gainer route for another time!
Simon T's cat was attacked by dolphins just inside the fairway - I'm sure there's a Sun headline in there somewhere...
Tags:
CI & France 2016
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| In Treguier - avoiding the winds | 2016-05-30 | In Treguier marina avoiding the forecast force 6 winds. Wandered around the rather lovely town of Treguier and bitched about the rather small marina showers!
Lovely crepes and galletes at, I think, Creperie Des Halles. First taste of the splendid Kir Breton
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CI & France 2016
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| Treguier - day two | 2016-06-01 | Second day in Treguier - preparing for the sail back to St Peter Port.
Moved the boat to a different pontoon to ensure an easier exit early the next morning - which wouldn't be at the recommended slack tide and now we were getting closer to Springs.
Provisioned at the local Wednesday market and even prepared a lunch on the boat (see the photos for proof). Still bitching about the size of the marina showers! I guess that means there really wasn't much to complain about in Treguier!
Top dinner - set menu - at the Auberge Du Tregor - recommend. As is their Kir Breton.
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CI & France 2016
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| Treguier to St Peter Port | 2016-06-02 | A long, hard "slog" back from Treguier to St Peter Port. The trip started with some wind against tide coming back down the river/estuary from Treguier to the sea. After this, the progress past Ile de Brehat was, as expected, very slow as we fought the now Spring tides (needs must to make the Guernsey tidal gates). The plan had been to again go between the Plateau des Roches-Dovres and the the Plateau de Barnouic. However, as we got close another look at the tidal atlases led to a re-plan and we eased off to go north of them and, as the wind picked up, we flew along with the stanchions and toe rails under water. With the wind just off the nose we didn't want to reef the genoa so we bounced along happily making progress towards Les Hanois. Getting close to Guernsey we changed to motor sailing to "make" St Martins Point and then up the Little Russel to St Peter Port. A long day's sailing!
Met up with Jonathan G (back from Gorey and St Helier) for a second night at La Scala. SYC yotties will be shocked to hear that the owner is selling up!
Tags:
CI & France 2016
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| In St Peter Port | 2016-06-03 | After the previous day's exertions, this was a "rest day" in St Peter Port ahead of the next day's early set off back to the UK.
Did the one-pound-round-the-island bus trip and got off at the south west corner to have another look at the fearsome rocks near Les Hanois light house.
Dinner at The Boathouse - top fish soup.
Tags:
CI & France 2016
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| St Peter Port to SYC | 2016-06-04 | Up at the hideously early hour of 03:00 to catch the first of the tidal flow up the Little Russel at 04:00. A lovely clear night at 4am with all the navigation lights clearly visible. After Platte Fougere we "turned left a bit" to allow for the strong Spring tides. For much of the time the weather forecast was correct and what little wind there was was on the nose. However, the visibility was good making crossing the shipping lanes a lot easier than on the way out.
The photos of the Channel Light Vessel show an absolutely flat sea. The wind did pick up for a bit after this which made for a lovely sail with flat seas. A while north of the shipping lanes we were joined by about 6 to 8 dolphins for about 20 minutes. An hour or so later a much smaller porpoise made an appearance.
Amelie's engine held up well and we were back on the mooring at SYC by about 19:30.
Tags:
CI & France 2016
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| Kennexstone Camping | 2016-09-15 | Down from Anglesey to the Gower Peninsula in south Wales.
Kennexstone Camping was a lovely spot on the south west side of the Gower.
The camp site and the Gower were so nice we slowed down a bit a stayed for three days,
Tags:
Summer holiday 2016
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| Cheswick Beach | 2016-09-09 | On the advice of Scott C from work, we took the back roads to find Cheswick Beach.
Another top Northumbrian beach according to Scooby hound.
The beach was pretty much deserted.
May be that was due to the warning signs about unexploded ordnance and areas of quicksand?
We took the view that that was just the locals trying to keep the grockles from their favourite beach (is grockle the correct term up north?).
Anyway - we didn't explode or sink but maybe we turned round slightly earlier than we would normally have!
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Berwick On Tweed | 2016-09-08 | A quick walk round Berwick on Tweed - the last English town before heading into Scotland.
Probably didn't do it justice but saw some of the town walls that Elizabeth I spent so much on!
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Summer holiday 2016
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| Up and down the Exe Estuary | 2012-04-01 | Down towards Starcross a couple of times and up to the Turf on a gloriously sunny April afternoon. Lovely F3 to F4 wind. An average speed of 4.5 knots in a 30 year old Wayfarer is none too shoddy
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter bike ride | 2021-10-20 | Liz post work
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Mill On The Exe
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| Work cycle ride | 2017-05-02 | Cycle ride to work and back. Not that windy but the wind was against on the way to work and against on the way home!
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Exe Estuary
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| Exmouth and back | 2016-12-28 | A slightly longer cycle ride than usual. Average speed would probably have been a fair bit better if it wasn't for a strong wind right on the nose for the last 6 miles.
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter and back | 2017-01-21 | Cold days cycle ride into Exeter and back. Just above freezing. Very gentle ride with Liz - reflected in the somewhat slower than usual average speed.
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Mill On The Exe
Exe Estuary
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| A perfect summers sail | 2012-07-22 | With the first spell of decent weather this summer the dinghy cruise down to the Beach Cafe and back had an excellent F3 southerly sea breeze and lots of sunshine. Marvellous.
All the best photos courtesy of Lizs brother Julian.
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Exe Estuary
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| A sunny Monday evening sail | 2012-07-23 | A great Monday evening sail. The tail end of a F3 sea breeze and a strong incoming Spring tide. The average speed over the ground may not win any prizes but a cracking sail down past the floating cafe and through the moorings
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Exe Estuary
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| Exe estuary paddle | 2022-09-20 | A short paddle across the Exe estuary.
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Exe Estuary
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| Lympstone and back | 2017-04-29 | Dinghy cruise was cancelled because the winds were too strong so Liz and I went cycling. Doh! Hard work on the way back from the Swing Bridges as it was straight into the F5 winds.
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Exe Estuary
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| Into Exeter and back | 2017-08-05 | Too windy for sailing so we went cycling. Quite a big bit windy said Liz after her first time on the bike for quite a while.
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Mill On The Exe
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| Lympstone and back | 2017-10-15 | Round to Lympstone and back again. Choccie bar near Lympstone Sailing Club, said 'hello' to Graham A at Topsham Sailing Club (who was putting Celtic Breeze to bed for the winter) and then round to Starcross Sailing Club for a coffee and a look at the Topper Open Meeting. A bit slow as Liz had some aches and pains and the wind was starting to get up.
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Exe Estuary
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| Autumn estuary sail | 2012-10-06 | An end of summer sail down to the beach cafe and back. Fairly light and variable winds. Six SYC boats.
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Exe Estuary
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| More rowing than sailing | 2012-10-20 | The last SYC dinghy cruise of the year. Varied between next to no wind and no wind at all. Rowed about two thirds of the way. Lovely morning to be on the estuary though.
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Exe estuary
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| Pole Sands Paddling | 2020-08-31 | An ideal days paddling. Wind and tide with us on the way out and on the way back!
Liz fell in when getting out of the kayak on the Pole Sands.
Much screaming from Liz and Scooby when we came back round the outside of the Pole Sands.
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Exe Estuary
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| Cycle ride to work | 2017-06-13 | One of those "head wind in both directions" rides. Wind against on the way out and then a sea breeze against on the way back.
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter and back | 2016-12-18 | Foggy ride into Exeter and back
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Mill On The Exe
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| And another twenty miles | 2016-10-21 | To the Mill On The Exe and back again.
This one was very slightly easier than yesterday but that's probably because it was such a still day.
Average of 12mph!!! I don't think I've ever averaged that before.
Cheating slightly by stopping to read a chapter of a book at the Exe Quay (safe water mark) and at the Turf Locks - as it was such a nice day.
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Exe Estuary
Mill on the Exe
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| Exe Estuary dawdle | 2013-05-12 | Not quite the F4 gusting F5 that was forecast. That and the fact we managed to get the furling line wrapped round the head sail furling drum means that we didnt go very far.
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Exe Estuary
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| Super summer sail | 2013-05-18 | A lovely sail up to the Goat Walk at Topsham. We had planned to go as far as the motorway bridge but the wind didnt have the west in it that the forecast said it would. Met Malcolm and Graham at the Goat Walk. The max speed of 6.9 knots isnt bad given that there was no tide to speak of.
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Exe Estuary
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| Short Wayfarer sail | 2023-05-07 | Not much wind so just a short Wayfarer sail up the estuary a little way.
Docking arms now fitted to new launching trolley.
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter and back | 2017-04-16 | Into Exeter and back. A fair old head wind on the way out but speedy on the way back. Not a bad average for me given that I'm still not fully over the lurgie I've had for the last couple of weeks.
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Exe Estuary
Mill On The Exe
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| Exeter and back | 2016-12-17 | First ride in a fortnight - work and the weather put paid to the previous weekend.
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Exe Estuary
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| Liz, Jill and Ben stroke Agas | 2013-07-05 | Liz, Jill and Ben cycle to Darts Farm and lust after the Aga cookers. Jills son probably not so impressed. Back via Topsham.
Average speed severely affected by taking GPS with them when Aga stroking.
Rather unbelievable max speed generated when Liz heads towards the till mistakenly believing she can actually aford an Aga.
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Exe Estuary
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| Scooby's first canoe trip of 2013 | 2013-07-07 | Up river to the new wreck just north of Starcross and then back down to the Bull Sands where Scoobie ran non stop (when he wasnt digging). Luckily we were too early for the Olly Murs sound check!
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Exe Estuary
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| Drew Trophy - SYC to Brixham | 2019-07-20 | The Drew Trophy from the Exe Safe Water mark to the breakwater entrance at Brixham Harbour. A marvelous sail albeit the wind didn't veer as promised later on meaning that we had to put in one short tack in to make the finish line. Still - 2 hours 24 minutes from the Exe SWM to Brixham breakwater is none too shabby!
Everybody (well - all 3 boats that took part) claimed they didn't want to win it as they'd then have to store the humongous trophy in the loft for a year.
So a result of first across the line and second on handicap could be claimed to be ideal! But I'm sure Julian P on Kinfolk will find the loft space somehow. Either way, with all three boats finishing within about 5 minutes, it was a very pleasant way to spend the day.
Then dinner at SYC with sailors from Topsham Sailing Club.
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Exe SWM
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| Exeter and back | 2016-12-29 | Into Exeter and back. Moving average a little disappointing given how hard I pedaled!
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Mill On The Exe
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| Another 26 miles | 2016-11-06 | Round to Lympstone and back again. Another windy ride.
Stopped at SYC for the AGM.
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Exe Estuary
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| Drew Trophy race from Exe to Brixham | 2013-07-27 | A very slow cruise from the Exe to Brixham for the SYC Drew Trophy race. Came 2nd! Partly due to some boats giving up and motoring due to lack of wind. The photos show the flat as a millpond sea at the start of the race.
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Exe
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| Brixham to the Exe | 2013-07-28 | A windy sail back from Brixham to the Exe after the Drew Trophy. Winds didnt quite reach the forecast 24 knots but were mostly between 10 and 20 knots. Lovely sail back under full head sail only.
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Exe
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| Work cycle ride | 2017-06-16 | Into work and back
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter and back | 2017-08-26 | Into Exeter and back. On the posh bike but far too many blind and deaf walkers, kids and doggies on the paths to be able to go too fast.
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Mill On The Exe
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| Cycle ride and SYC | 2014-01-26 | A basic cycle ride to the A379 and back again with a stop at the sailing club to watch the death and destruction. Some very big gusts of wind going through led to a few capsizes.
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Exe Estuary
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| Basic bike ride | 2014-01-27 | Along the estuary to the A379 and back
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Exe Estuary
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| Newport Trophy race | 2023-06-17 | An SYC yacht "race" in Derek H's rather splendid Westerly Fulmar from the Exe to Dartmouth. Very gentle winds. So gentle, in fact, that the race finish line was moved back to Hope's Nose. We gave up sailing about 3 miles short of Dartmouth and then motored up to Dittisham for an evening meal in the Red Lion.
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Exe
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| Lympstone and back | 2017-03-12 | Round to Lympstone with Liz. Watched the channel to Lympstone being deepened. The port hand channel mark at the Turf shouldn't be relied upon by mariners - given that it sits on a mud back - see the photos.
Windy from the north.
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Exe Extuary
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| Exeter and back | 2016-11-28 | A windy ride into Exeter and back. Luckily the wind (F5 to F7 on Met Office forecast) was mostly on the side,
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Exe Estuary
Mill On The Exe
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| Brixham to Exe | 2024-07-28 | Back to the Exe from Brixham. With only a couple of knots of wind we motored back all the way. A lovely sunny day. Spotted one dolphin way off and no fish on Derek's fishing line.
There was some sort of rowing race / event round the Ore Stone and Thatchers Rock.
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Exe
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| Push The Boat Out at SYC | 2014-05-26 | SYC's "Push The Boat Out" day to offer people a taster of dinghy sailing. A very successful day - about 70 people got to try sailing and the winds were an ideal F2 to F3.
Liz got to try helming a Topper on dry land!
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Exe Estuary
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| Squires Cup safety boat | 2014-06-08 | Safety boat duty on a rather damp and drizzly Sunday in June. Free tea though!
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Exe estuary
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| Exe to Dartmouth | 2018-08-13 | A lovely sail down from the Exe to Dartmouth.
Wind ranged from very little to about 22 knots.
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Exe
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| Exeter and back | 2017-03-10 | Into Exeter and back. Average speed not too bad given that there was quite a strong headwind on the way back.
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Exe Estuary
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| Topper Open At SYC | 2016-10-09 | Junior Topper Open event at Starcross Yacht Club.
Safety boat crew for the 4 back-to-back races for the 23 boats at this open sailing event.
Decent winds all day between F2 and F4 from the north east.
GPS battery ran out after only a couple of hours so most of the track is missing.
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter and back | 2017-12-26 | Easy ride on teh way out. Wet and windy on the way back. Stopped at SYC on the way back to fix the webcam and weather PC. Weather station recording 20 knots of wind right on the nose for the remaining part of the journey home.
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Mill On The Exe
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| Bart's Bash | 2014-09-21 | After ten year's sailing at Starcross Yacht Club we've completed our first ever dinghy race (we did start one about five year's ago but got bored half way through and sailed off up-river).
This race was in memory of Bart Simpson who died in America's Cup practice last year and to raise funds for his sailing academy.
Amazingly we weren't last - but pretty close. On the plus side, 68 boats in the water and we didn't hit one of them!
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Exe Estuary
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| October beach cafe sail | 2014-10-11 | Good winds and big tides for a late season sail from SYC down to the beach cafe. Some excellent winds round the Warren and the Docks. Died away a little bit for the last mile back to SYC.
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Exe Estuary
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| Exe SWM dinghy sail | 2023-08-30 | A lovely sail with Malcolm B in the Wayfarer. Out to the Exe Safe Water Mark and a little way beyond. Lunch on the beach and an ice cream at the Beach Cafe. The wind was mostly F3/F4 with occasional gusts to F5. A lovely sail.
And then used the new electric winch at SYC to retrieve the Wayfarer.
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Exe Estuary
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| Exeter and back | 2017-07-16 | It was going to be a longer ride round to Lympstone but it started raining and the wind got up.
Still - first time ever with an average speed of over 15 mph! Would have been faster except for having to slow down so often for huge numbers of kids and walkers. They are also digging up the cycle path at Exe Bridges which meant walking round various diversions and not getting the full 20 miles in.
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Exe Estuary
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| Work cycle ride | 2017-08-04 | Into work and back
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Exe Estuary
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| Free Sailing Safety Boat | 2016-08-13 | Doing safety boat for a Free Sailing at SYC on a lovely summer's afternoon. A pleasant F3 with the occasional gust made for almost ideal sailing conditions with just a few things to keep us slightly busy. A surprising overall distance as we spent the first 15 minutes at anchor (and expected to remain there for much of the afternoon!)
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Exe Estuary
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| SYC beach cafe sail | 2015-08-01 | We haven't been out on the Wayfarer for quite a while. That sounds bad given that it's the height of summer but a quick check shows that I've actually sailed over 490 nautical miles since our last Wayfarer trip so I haven't exactly given up sailing!
A breezy sail down to the beach cafe - we put in a reef for the way back which wasn't too cowardly as there were a couple of capsizes on the way back.
Big tides which is the main reason for the quite fast average speed.
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Exe
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| Pole Sands picnic | 2015-08-15 | Sail down from SYC to the Pole Sands. A bit of everything wind wise. From nothing to about a F4 and quite a lot of gusts in between, Put first reef in for the trip back which made things easier
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Exe Estuary
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| River Exe Cafe | 2018-04-08 | Birthday treat at the River Exe Cafe
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River Exe Cafe
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| Exeter and back | 2017-02-21 | Another "fast for me" ride into Exeter and back. Fast - as in more than 14mph average. There was a sod of a headwind on the way out so made up time on the way back (although I could swear that the wind changed direction just as a I started back from Exeter).
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Mill On The Exe
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| Beach cafe paddle | 2024-11-01 | Too little wind to go sailing so Malcolm B and I headed down river in the Sea Eagle kayak
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Exe Estuary
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| Jim Vallis Cruise | 2016-08-06 | The first Jim Vallis Memorial Cruise. A dinghy cruise in memory of our friend Jim Vallis who started up the organised dinghy cruises at SYC. A lovely sunny day with the wind varying between nothing and about force 5 - but with no big gusts so very sailable. Joined at SYC by many from Jim's family and Sandra joined us on our Wayfarer for a sail.
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Exe Estuary
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| First dinghy sail of 2016 | 2016-04-02 | Weather forecast was for F5 gusting F6 and that was about right when we got to SYC.
As this was the first dinghy cruise of the year, it was cancelled and replaced with a sail near the club.
Put lots of reefs in so the crew didn't mutiny and then banged about across the estuary and back a few times. Turned out to be a fun sail.
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Exe Estuary
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| April Free Sailing | 2016-04-16 | A pleasant sail back and forth across the estuary. Started about F4 gusting F5 so we went out with one reef. Wind eased so we shook out the reef. The offshore lifeboat came up the river.
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Exe Estuary
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| Wayfarer sailing | 2024-04-27 | A free sailing event at SYC. About F3 to F4 but quite cold and overcast.
Turned the Wayfarer over to check its buoyancy and to have a look at the centreboard (which seems to still be in quite good condition).
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Exe Estuary
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| Lympstone and back | 2017-02-19 | Round to Lympstone and back with Liz
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Exe Estuary
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| Up river dinghy cruise | 2016-07-02 | An up river dinghy cruise. The weather forecast was about right with its F4 gusting F5.
The "fleet" got spread out quite a bit and, as the weather wasn't great, we headed back to the club quite early.
The camera was on the wrong settings when the photos were taken so they've been over HDR'd to see if they can be made slightly interesting.
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Exe Estuary
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| SYC Mystery Dinghy Cruise | 2016-07-13 | "Officer Of The Day" for the SYC "mystery dinghy cruise". What the mystery was to be was, er, a mystery to us.
So we decided that it would be cricket and drinkies on the Bull Sands in the middle of the Exe Estuary at low water.
F4 gusting F5 a fair bit of the time but it seems a good time was had by all.
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Exe Estuary
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| Lympstone and back | 2017-07-23 | Round to Lympstone and back with Liz. Liz's first time back on a bike for about a month.
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Exe Estuary
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