With "Bonita" to Ramsgate non stop!

After a successful and enjoyable Falmouth Classics and Helford Rally, "Bonita" had to return to the east coast. 
To get to Falmouth, Mike had left "Bonita" at Dover, Eastbourne and Lymington, while alternating slogging against the prevailing southwesterlies with attending the D Day commemorations at Arromanches and supporting his two, soon to be three, grandchildren! So, on the Wednesday morning, after the dinner and prize giving, at Port Navas Yacht Club, Julie ferried David from "Susan J" to join Mike on "Bonita" and bring Deidre ashore to return to London by car.

Mike wasted no time in hoisting all sail to take full advantage of the gentle westerlies.

Several dolphins were sighted off the Dodman.

A splendid sunset over Start Point as we crossed Lyme Bay in the short 4 hour night and passed Portland Bill well to the south at daybreak.

The second afternoon was spent fighting the tide past St Catherine's Point and across the eastern Solent.



While passing the massive wind farm off Brighton, Jupiter and our Moon provided a spectacular display but masked the limited phosphorescence.

By Friday morning we were passing Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters, on past Dungeness by lunchtime.

Just off the eastern entrance to Dover the three section jib pole gave up, with one end lost overboard.  An imminent ferry put paid to any retrieval!.



The decision to stop at Ramsgate, for crew to return to Somerset (and lack of provisions, made up for by a meal at the Royal Ramsgate YC!), proved a wise move, as the trip up the Thames, for Mike and Deirdre, on Saturday was assisted by a change to easterlies!

  "Bonita"'s AIS track as recorded by Trevor in Canada!