Yesterday I sailed from Plymouth to Dartmouth, a distance of some 35 miles. I started off a little late, because I first went to QAB to see some other boats. So I finally left at 3 PM. Dartmouth is a wonderful place. It is situated at the mouth of a river (the Dart). The very entrance is quite narrow, and guarded by an ancient castle on either side. As it was around sunset that I came in, and floodlight was just being lit, it was a marvelous sight. I tied up to the city wall, and rushed off to take a taxi to a nearby village called Stoke Fleming. Peter Crowther is landlord of the local pub, called The Green Dragon. Peter (67?) is in his fourth decade of sailing ostars. He also holds the record for having done the most ostars, and also for the slowest time (89 days). He always enters, and, except for this year, is always last.

For anyone interested in
a) OSTAR
b) a decent English pub
The Green Dragon is highly recommended! The place was established in 1168 (!!!), and records of the landlords go back to 1607. Peter and his family run the place for the last 16 years now, and when I was there (OK, a saturday night), was loaded with people. I was too late for dinner, unfortunately, as the card looked good and looking at other people's plates made me even more hungry!

Today was true Gentleman's sailing. I started off after a decent breakfast and some shopping. Oh, the luxury of coastal sailing! I just finished my supper, which consisted of a shoulder of lamb, a full pound of it, cooked medium rare. With a sliced courgette, a handful of mushrooms and small fresh potato's. Only a good bottle of Bordeaux missed. I finished it with a delicious pine apple. I am now having a cup of tea with some chocolate... All the while the boat was sailing at 7.5 to 8.5 knots, under spinaker, and passing Portland Bill on it's way to the Needles (Isle of Wight). I will miss the tide at the needles, so it will be early tomorrow morning that I get there. But after this meal I will survive a couple of hours!

Bart

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