Well we started off the day with good intentions, with the alarm set for 05:30 to allow us plenty of time to be up and away for Germany. However the wind had other ideas and despite last night's forecast of a shift in the wind to a more northerly quarter, it hadn’t happened and it was still blowing quite strongly from the west. There was nothing realistically for it then other than to turn over and try to sleep some more.

The day passed – we did chores, I finished the remainder of the winches and Julie sorted stores, making sure that anything we leave on the boat over the winter will still be within its’ use by date upon our return. In the afternoon we had another little stroll and that was about it for the windy day apart from the pleasant surprise of the arrival of Chi Chi, the catamaran we first encountered last year, owned by Graham & Claudine Garnar. They were sailing with their friends Trisha & John and we were duly invited over for aperitifs, which we enjoyed as well as their company, of course. They will not be attending the Rally and this is likely to be the first and only time we meet them this year, which is a shame as they are good company.

We had another session with 'Mama’s Meat Balls’ and watched a Yes Minister and then had an early night, 05:30 start again in the morning.