Carra Tidings

With the part on the bow thruster now fixed, all the cat’s cradle of ropes for the storm removed, we were ready to leave, just not in time for a 60nm sail and arrive at a time to ensure a berth in Klintholm. So we decided to leave the next day. At which point Constance turned up and moored next to us.

A day of boat jobs followed, including servicing a jammer which was getting stuck, then Roz invited us to join them for supper – another enjoyable evening. Mags felt her visitors book entry was rather lack lustre, in comparison to Tom’s amazing drawing of Hirta in ours (their previous boat) – I could see her mulling over ideas….

Another 5am stream of boats set off out of the harbour and soon Constance had overtaken us – all of us were motor sailing and she was faster than us. We resigned ourselves to tall end Charlie, and soon we were a couple of miles behind.

Carra – getting closer

and closer

Constance

Gradually the wind filled in, a close reach. All three sails up, Carra picked up her skirts and we were cracking along at 7.5 knots – effortless….ok with a fair bit of tweaking of sails going on. Thanks to the electronic gadgetry that is called AIS (you can see other boats speed and direction) we could see Constance doing 7 knots. Slowly we were gaining on her…. and then the sun came out just as we were overtaking them – so now we  have both video footage and stills with all of Carra’s 3 sails up.

We reciprocated with photos  and video of Constance sailing – she is an elegant yacht with fine lines.

Landfall in Denmark was some spectacular white chalk cliffs. It was quite thought provoking, as I have a picture of my Father sailing past these cliffs, during his National Service in 1956. He too had visited Klintholm, our first Danish harbour. So after 3 years of trying to get to Denmark…the Covid/ dodgy back years – we have finally made it!

Finally, it was getting hot  – and as soon as we were in, our shorts were on and it actually felt like summer. Mags normal activity during sailing is doing her puzzle book – but this had been replaced by testing her poetic skills. Her poem crafted, she went off to complete our entry in their visitors book,  Roz and Tom appreciated her literary skills.

Moments later a boat asked to raft up to us. The skipper on seeing us, wanted to know “were we really just 2 women, there is really no one else on board?”  He didn’t even seem embarrassed about asking the question! I have often wondered how on earth Ellen MacArthur, Isabelle Autissier, Naomi James, Dee Caffari, Sam Davies, Pip O’Hare, Suzie Goodall managed without a man on board – a total mystery….