Eastbourne was the first destination so far this trip that I haven’t even seen outside the marina. Getting there late and leaving early it felt like a transit rather than a destination. The sun is again shining. Our first milestone is rounding Beachy head . Amazing white cliffs with green fields sweeping down to the edge and A proper red and white lighthouse just off it – in the sea. The sail was lovely. Blue sky and a gentle breeze from behind us. At one point I came down and had a bit of a doze, to be woken up by a lot of clunking over the deck. It was the cruising chute being deployed! First time we’ve had light enough winds to bother. It went up for a good five minutes before the wind died completely and then came down again 😂. I didn’t even get a picture! Motored for a bit and then eventually the wind came back a bit so we put it up again on the other gybe ( other side of the boat) which meant changing all the lines around again. All good fun! We eventually put it all away and approached littlehampton. The sailing instructions are very specific… it’s another of these tidal entrances into a river harbour. We had to spot various landmarks on the approach including the two turrets of a fairy castle 🏰 on the right of the leading line in.. which was in a funfair park. There is also a tide gauge which gives you the depth of water over the bar ( but have to subtract a metre to allow for the drying land) . ‘‘Twas okay as said 4.8. Once inside the river it all went peaceful and we were instructed by HM on radio to raft up to a massive motor boat Lady Maldina. They were very fresh on board and helped us put our lines on. Once sorted we went got a stroll up the harbour and had a beer watching the local young men having fun jumping and diving into the river, and getting told off by the constabulary!
What I learned today…. that a lot of fun can be had and a lot of time whiled away putting a spinnaker up and down 🤣
Sue x
Dungeness nuclear power 
Tide gauge 
Littlehampton 
Angelique 