A little look back

The wanderings of Ciao Bella

Time for a little look back at 2014, and what a bumper year it was. The weather was unbelievable which led to a fabulous years sailing.  So here it is....

• 575 is the number of nautical miles sailed.
• 26 is the number of days on-board.
• 14 is the number of nights on-board.

Favorite Cruise: Has to be Dartmouth for the adventure, rounding Portland Bill, seeing Dolphins and just having a jolly good time.   Dartmouth Cruise Part 1  and Dartmouth Cruise part 2

Dolphins in Lyme Bay

Biggest challenge:  Beating past St Aldelm head when we should really have gone out past the outer mark.  Portland Cruise.

Best race:  Only one contender here as I entered my Maiden race :)  Bart's Bash

Crossing the finish line with a Contessa 26

Best mooring: Dartmouth Yacht club,  Right in the town, friendly club, good facilities.

Worst Mooring:  Lyme Regis,  Expensive, uncomfortable and a long way from the facilities.

Best Anchorage:  Warbarrow bay, Quiet, sheltered and good for a swim.

Swimming at Warbarrow bay.

Worst anchorage:  Didn't really have a bad one but if I have to choose... Brownsea island, only because the mud is particularly muddy and gets everywhere.

Best food cooked on-board:  A poor show this year,  the best I could do was tinned sausage and beans.

Worst food on board:  Porridge with water and nothing else :)

Biggest success: Passage plan in the dark back from Studland.

Biggest cock up: Oh so many to choose from... Probably going aground on the River Frome on the way the Wareham and luring in Liam to do the same :)

I've had so much fun this year,  Going to Devon was a highlight but some of the best days were spent inside the confines of the harbour.  There's a lot of work to do over the winter to get Ciao Bella back into shape and continue her long road to recovery and I am really looking forward to next years adventures.

Cheers for now

Phil