Passage 11

Final Log - Falmouth to Newhaven

Newhaven and home at last! Thirteen months away and 10,500 nmiles sailed. We completed the last stage in fine style dashing up the Channel from Falmouth to Newhaven in just under 29 hours. We had a south westerly gale hard on our heels the whole way as Kittiwake raced through the night and emerged from the gloom and driving rain to a bright and wonderful day for the final run in. A brief call to Newhaven Harbour Control from just outside the harbour wall and we were cleared for berthing. We came along side our berth and tied-up neatly with no more fuss than had we been out for the day. But this was a champagne moment quite literally. Once Kittiwake was securely moored and the engine switched off out came the Moet. It was time to make a heartfelt toast to the Kittiwake for keeping us safe and secure for the entire trip.

A pint of Harvey's Best Bitter and fish and chip from the Hope pub over looking the harbour channel was savoured while we let the joy of arrival sweep over us. Too soon to make sense of it all and too soon to calibrate our achievement. That will take time, but for now a time to celebrate and rejoin real life.