Sun 20 May (Falmouth) Back to the Boathouse for Sunday lunch, and then the Star and Garter in the evening, for an excellent blues band, The Devil and Me. Met interesting local sailors and fishermen, and sampled the last of my Cornish ales tour (Lizard Point and Sharp's Cornish Coaster). Tomorrow is preparation day for the Great Departure.

Saturday 12 May (Falmouth) Nick packed and left on the 8hr journey home by train. Further disaster struck with the death of my mobile phone, taking with it all my numbers! Bought a cheap temporary one in town, and got numbers from Cath, Lucy and Frankie, and some from my old emails, retrieved using the WiFi at The Boathouse, over a couple of beers and a baguette. Doesn't make the prospect of recruiting new crew any easier. Hey ho! 

Wednesday 9 May/Thursday 10 May (still Falmouth)On Wednesday Nick went to town, while I awaited the plumber. He came about lunch time and successfully ripped out the foul octopus from the boat and came back later to fit a new length of pristine piping, which will NOT get blocked again!! I serviced the rest of the heads mechanisms and we ate (again) at the Marina Restaurant (good job it's so good) and sank a few pints of Doom Bar Ale, an excellent brew from th...

Tuesday 8 May Falmouth Marina (picture shows Vega behind the�Fuel Berth!).A bit of a low day: weather still sh*tty, as is boat plumbing! Engaged Mary of Seafit to come and replace whole outlet pipe (about 4metres of it), pleading urgency, but nothing possible until tomorrow. Bernard set off on trip to visit friend in Tavistock for a night, and Nick and I had a soggy walk (about 20mins) to the Maritime Museum, where we had only an hour to spend. The Mus...

Sunday 6 Fowey to Falmouth (St Anthony's Head�light) Should have been a short passage (22nm) but actually took about 7hrs, due to awkward winds and tide. Our sinking mood was lifted by a family of dolphins, who swam with us for over an hour, jumping, sometimes in close pairs, in an elegant arc only a few metres from our boat. The approach through Falmouth harbour up the Penryn River was very attractive, with views of delightful waterside cottages, ...