Backdated 31/7/23
18nm – 6.5hrs

With light heads winds and lots of showers, I ended up motoring most of the journey. I need to get this passage done soon so I can make the best of the weather window to cross the Thames.

I left Dover at 9.30 with no wind and sunshine, I motored east and passed the classic white cliffs. I spotted a beach with a track carved into the cliff, after googling it I found out I was and sometimes still is used by smugglers.

Being only 20 miles from France I got a text on my phone welcoming me to the EU and increasing the cost of calls.

I arrived in Ramsgate at 4pm, I had a very tight spot to “park” the boat but luckily a neighbouring boat caught my lines and helped out. I visited the marina office and signed in. When I got back to my boat I was greeted by an older couple I never met, she hugged me tight and said how important it is to be out here talking about mental health. She said she was proud of me and presented me with a lovely card, £20 and a bar of chocolate. They were visiting from the Netherlands. How amazingly kind.

Another boat gave me a chart of the Thames, with a passage drawn out with notes on the crossing. I’d mention it looked difficult and they’d gone out of their way to talk me through it, reassuring me it wasn’t as difficult as it looked.

I’m so lucky to get to experience such kindness from total strangers