The wind eased to a moderate hooley around 04:00 and neither of us slept soundly.

We're up at 06:30 and ready to leave at 07:15

Ali stands by with the mallet while Nick prepares to try and start the engine. The battery has dropped a little, to 11.8, in the cold. Should be enough, and if we're nervous how on earth (moon) did Armstrong and Aldrin feel when they pressed the start button on the lunar module?

Thankfully there's no drama, she starts normally and the light stays off, but we leave the engine running while we slop out and again all the way through check in at the port.

After yesterday's storm there is a lovely sunrise behind the Pont Aven. Slight confusion on the car deck; the van in front is similar to ours but sporting a Devon green and white sticker. We get waved ahead of him in the shoreside lanes but then on the car deck we are held while he's put ahead. Cream first, 'ta'int right!

As soon as we can we are in the restaurant for breakfast, during which we see the Armorique plough past us in the swell. Then it's down to the cabin, free with our new Club Voyage membership [although we pay the £5 upgrade fee for an outboard with window]

The sea smooths out half way over and by the time we approach Plymouth it's flat calm and sunny.

After starting the engine, the mallet is required this time to put out the relay light. As we queue for passport checks Ali phones Grete to say we'll meet them in Saltash. They are already there with the kettle on when we arrive. We sit and chat for just over an hour and then it is time for us to finish our journey homeward. Traffic is light all the way and we are parked in the drive at around 17.30.

We find a little bag on the doorstep from Chris and Michael which turns out to contain scones, cream and jam so that we can make our own cream tea. Sweet.