Sailing on Pinafore

Last week I traveled to Brighton to sign on as crew on the good ship Pumpkin. After being shown to my cave, I dug out my sailing togs and we duly set sail - westward ho! Great plans had been shrinking as the year went on, and plans for the Caribbean, then the Channel Isles had become as quest for west to Dartmouth and possibly beyond. A long first day; long due to lightness of wind and contrariness of same, gave us an excuse to spend a day in the splendid Chichester Marina. We escaped this haven for the delights of the Folly Inn before running under a strengthening wind for Southsea, when we were holed up for 3 days whilst gales and rain tried to do their worst. The week ended with a delightful sail back to Brighton, force 3-4 on the starboard quarter (sounds painful). Pinafore is up for sale as the Durdin clan want to move onto a larger vessel to accommodate their expanding family. Hero of the week: Sophia, of course!