02/07/24
36nm – 7.5 hours
Northerly force 2/3

I had planned to set sail on Monday, but despite setting my alarm for 7am, I couldn’t get up until after 10. Even after a shower, I just wasn’t feeling it. I woke up feeling really low and lacking energy. So, I made the decision not to sail.

There wasn’t a specific trigger; I was just feeling down. I’m out here living my dream, but I still have bad days. It’s important to acknowledge that struggling is okay. I’ve learned to manage these moments better now, avoiding things that make it worse and focusing on what helps me.

Sailing was off the table. I’m not going out to sea alone when I’m not in a good headspace.

Instead, I put on my noise-canceling headphones, did the dishes, tidied the boat, and took the ferry into Plymouth. I went food shopping, had chips for dinner, and then returned to the boat. I curled up in my electric blanket and watched TV for the evening. Taking the day slow really helped me feel better.

The next day was much better. I was up bright and early, ready to sail. After some last-minute passage planning, I waved goodbye to Plymouth.

Once past the breakwater, I turned into the wind to raise the sails. With a northerly wind mostly behind me, it was smooth sailing. In the last hour, the wind died, so I motored up to the River Dart. The river was somewhat hidden until I got close and saw boats coming in and out. It was stunningly beautiful, quite different from the coastline I’d seen so far. Green trees covered the rocks right down to the water’s edge, with castles and ancient buildings scattered about.

I motored up the river and found a spot on the visitor’s pontoon. I motored past it twice before finally securing a spot just as another boat left. It was a great place to be; I could walk to shore, and with poor weather inbound, I was glad for it.

I ended up weather-bound for five days. I made the most of it, meeting up with friends, catching up on admin I’d been avoiding, and exploring a new place.