Gentle start to Day 1 letting the mooring lines off at 1000. Across the harbour for a look at 'Mirabella V' with picture duly taken. Remarkable design and engineering, though, on Easter morning next to themes of mercy, hope, peace and resurrection, then 'Mirabella V' can only raise major questions to which I don't suspect she is the answer. We move on with our Passage planned to sail to Portsmouth ahead of the forecasted Gale Force 8 SW winds due from Monday morning onwards. Lots of places on the way to moor if needs be. Great start in sunshine with a gentle SW Force 3. A pod of dolphins joined us for an hour and played off the bows whilst passing the Eddystone Lighthouse off Plymouth, about 50 miles in to the voyage . Saluted Plymouth which is the first of a dozen of my 'Pass the Ports' sponsored by Sally & Roger helping me support the CofE Climate Justice Fund (one answer to some of those 'questions'!). All going well as crew grew in confidence with the boat 'Wheal Go'. Skipper put us in to pairs, as watches, to sail through the night; could not complain with my first watch being 2100 to midnight. As darkness shrouded the craft I noticed effervescence of plankton in the wake; imagine fairy dust in the water! Motorsailed through the watch as we made passage across 50 miles of Lyme Bay from Prawle Point to Portland Bill. The lights of some Portland development above site of Olympic sailing village showed for a significant period of approach until we saw the scan of the Portland Lighthouse from about 24 miles off. Making great progress at over 7kts through the water: 9 kts with tide, 5 when against. Went off watch at midnight to go to bed until 0500. Heard the weather increase and felt the sea state rise as, with all the noises and being tossed around as the warm front pursued us; there was little sleep whilst wearing my sailing base layers before the next watch. I took great courage knowing my sons had all sailed through much worse and were fine; they always say I worry too much!
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