Across to France and along the coast.

Ti Gitu sailed down to the Colne river and we went up the river to the free pontoon at Wivenhoe but Ti Gitu is just too big and there we met Graham who lives in Rowhedge and helped us go there where we dried out alongside the quay and spent a couple of days looking round Colchester.

It was then across the Thames estuary in fog with torrential downpours and incredible thunder and lightning to Queensborough for a couple of nights so that we could visit family.

Queensborough is expensive for what you get mooring wise so after that we went through the Swale and anchored at the Western end for a few days waiting for the fog to clear and the wind to turn. From there it was straight round to Dover avoiding Ramsgate which we really do not like.

A few nights in Dover and then across to Boulogne where we visited the old city. We were amazed at the yachts that simply visit for one night without visiting the old city which is spectacular.

Along the coast is Le Treport which has a difficult, tidal, entry and a lock to enter the marina which is very full with just a few places for visiting yachts. It is a very 'kiss me quick' sea side town with just a few proper attractions and we have no idea how they work out the marina prices, suffice to say that the prices are 50% more than the published ones making it a very expensive place to stay.

Ti Gitu is now in Dieppe and as the wind has gone fresh Westerly we are waiting here for a few days when it should give us a fair slant to get further along and hopefully reach the Channel Islands by next weekend.

Sailing West along this coast is not the best direction, as to take the up to 2 knot tide with you means leaving at high water. That means that you arrive at some of the harbours at low tide when the entrance is dried out. In general this means that the harbours that don't dry are favoured and some interesting ports are missed.