DAY ONE: 16/04/12

Jean says: My parents came down to Berthon marina at 8.30 this morning to wave us off, and take photos of us wearing our "Round Britain" caps that Sue and Richard had made for us. Tres chic! At 9.00am we finally sailed out of Lymington and turned right, headed down the Needles Channel, across Poole Bay and then on to Portland Marina. We were whooshed along by a fair tide that just happened to be going to Portland as well. There was no wind at first, but after St. Albans Head, we switched the engine off, and sailed peacefully the rest of the way.
Portland is a strange place. There used to be a naval base here from the 1800's, when they built the long breakwaters to keep out first the French, and then the Germans. Now that we're all big mates, it's just the waves that need keeping out, although there are some very suspicious characters lurking around the motor cruisers. Some of them may even be foreigners.
When the Navy left, the marina was built, and the area has been designated as an official Olympic venue for water sports. Apparently it was the first Olympic venue to be finished, but we can't see any evidence that anything has changed since we first came here three years ago. I don't know what we were expecting, perhaps a large dome of some sort, or even a ferris wheel?
We've also been told that the Crown owns the seabed under the pontoons, which is a very odd concept. Perhaps the Queen comes sometimes to shoot a few pheasants when they're running a bit low at Balmoral.
The shipping forecast predicted gale force winds tomorrow and maybe Wednesday, so we are tucked up in the marina for at least two nights. We said we were going round Britain, but did we ever say it was by boat?