Chichester harbour : Monday 18th July

Leaving Brighton marina there was very little wind and warm, hazy sunshine for most of the 40 or so mile passage to Chichester harbour, a motor sailing day it was! 

An easy day at sea.

Approaching Chichester harbour.

The weather was pleasant and with good timing of the tide we decided to dry out 'Norman James' on East Head, just inside the harbour, and scrub the beard of weed that was growing along the water line. 

'Norman James' on the beach.

 The anchorage off east head was busy, but we worked our way through the boats and ran up onto the beach with the keel raised, then dropped the keel to anchor the boat in position. It always seems a little bizarre watching the water disappear but we were now on the beach, and projected to re-float just after 19-00. 

We worked quite hard for a while cleaning the hull, after which I had a swim which was very refreshing. 

Moby Dick? A Beluga Whale? No, just me!

We didn't actually re-float until 20-40, but then just motored the short distance to Pilsey Island, where we anchored for a very peaceful night.

Peacefully at anchor off Pilsey Island.

Moonlight on a calm anchorage.

In the morning we got a message to say that Sue's mum had been taken into hospital, so we moved into Chichester Marina, and organised a hire car to get home as quickly as possible.