Tuesday 30 April – Brighton to Rye

After spending a day in Brighton, we set off along the coast past Beachy Head towards Dover with a rather brisk wind from completely the wrong direction and a fairly lumpy sea!

We were easily persuaded to divert to Rye, which is a delightful spot, and was sheltered and sunny, even quite warm.  We meandered up the river, which is only just deep enough for us ….

…. dredged through the mud for the last part, and tied up right in the middle of the old town ….

 …. with its quaint cobbled streets and timber-framed houses.

Sunday 28 April – we’re off – at last!

Getting up by moonlight ….

Anchor up at dawn ….

We had a lovely, gentle sail along the coast with sunshine and blue skies, and tied up in Brighton Marina in time for afternoon tea!

Thursday 18 April - Going back into the water

Well, at least the boat is back in the water!  Here is Astraia being lifted by the crane ...

lowered into the water ...

 and back alongside the pontoon

We still have one or two things to sort out before we can leave, such as some vibration in the propeller, but we are hoping to be off in the next few days.

Day 1 – 15th April 2013

This is supposed to be the day we set off, but this is what the boat looks like …..

….. still out of the water!

and this is what the Baltic looks like …..

….. still frozen!

We are a bit behind with the painting and polishing due to the bitterly cold wintry weather, and obviously the Baltic isn’t ready for us yet either.

We’re hoping to set off in the next week or so – watch this space …..

Planned Route and Itinerary

Brighton > Eastbourne > across the Channel > Dutch Canals > German Frisian Islands > Helgoland > Eider > Kiel Canal > Denmark > Sweden – Stockholm

Week 22-29 April (approx) – Depart

Early May – Holland

Week beginning 20 May (approx) – German Frisian Islands

End May – Helgoland

Early June – Eider River and Kiel Canal

Mid June – Denmark

Late June – Sweden

Early July – Stockholm