Day one, Saturday. All in good spirits, six boats: Aegis, Rice Pudding, Penny Diamond, Billy Ruffian, Nyoka and Strider, set off for Piel. Nothing too exciting, Derek, Dennis' crew, was feeling a bit rough. We had a few pints on Piel and then a quiet night.

Sunday morning. Forecast is not good, force 4 - 5 occasionally 6. Myself and Lynn decide to wait until Monday to head to Whitehaven. Dennis has to return to Glasson as Derek has a tummy bug, Strider goes back with them. Rice Pudding, Billy Ruffian and Penny Diamond go off to Whitehaven.

Monday. Forecast 4 - 5 so we set off. The normal mad sea at Half-way Shoal but a good sail after that. We made it to Whitehaven, in the rain, after eight hours. Met up with the rest, had a meal, a drink and bed, absolutely worn out.

Tuesday. Forecast 4 - 5 northwest, left for Kirkubright. Had a good sail, very foggy, a little lost, but it was o.k. On the way in we saw a whale at the entrance to Kirkubirght, we didn't know what type it was, it was only there for a few minutes.

Wednesday. Rice Pudding decides to go to Whitehaven on their first leg back, they had to be back by Friday. Myself, Billy Ruffian and Penny Diamond decide to have a rest day, we enjoyed a nice, warm, sunny day and a walk around Kirkubright.

Thursday. Forecast 4 - 5 occasionally 6. For some strange reason we decide to head to Piel. Once out of the Solway the sea starts to build, we were reduced to foresail and staysail doing five knots. We rounded St Bees' Head, then it kicked off, the wind was about 26 knots but it was a big sea, at least three metre waves and swell. The autopilot not working and with Lynn unable to steer in a heavy sea I was stuck with thirteen hours on the helm. The sight of the Walney channel was a fantastic one. We had a bit of trouble mooring in the dark but we finally made it, and fell into bed thinking, "Yes the canal is looking very inviting"!

Friday. Rice Pudding and Penny Diamond head for Glasson, but due to 6's in the forecast, ourselves and Billy Ruffian decide to wait for a better one. We tidy up the boat, have a couple of meals and plan to head back when we've got a decent forecast but by quater past seven the forecast had changed again, giving 5 - 7's, so we decide to stay again at Piel.

Saturday. Gusting to 7's at Piel, we will try to return on Sunday morning. By 2 o'clock in the afternoon Slippers is living on 'Pringles' with crisps for desert. "For how long can you live on 'Pringles?" He wants to know. Our food is running low, Lynn is starting to look at me strangely. Half past seven, just had the forecast, the wind's coming down to 4's and 5's tomorrow, at the moment it is blowing an 8 and we have just made a sacrifice to the wind God - a tin of 'Sainsbury's' chicken curry; Well it might work!
We sat up until 2 a.m., on watch, then fell asleep.

Sunday. 7.15 a.m. We've got the forecast, it's still not brilliant, 5's - 6's, so we decide to make a run for it, we got out into the Walney, still a bit rough but it was o.k and we got back to Glasson, it was really nice to be back. Not a brilliant trip but interesting.

Mick and Lynn
'Aegis'