Heading North

After lenghthy and careful consideration I have decided to turn around and head home. I am gutted. So disappointed. I feel am not making the necessary progress to get round in time and the long range forecasts continue to dismay. I've been so unlucky with the wind strength and direction since I started out. Frustrating moments aside I have had an incredible time. I know I am going to look back on the last couple of months with great nostalgia. I have met some wonderful and generous characters on my travels. I don't know why but this makes me feel sad. I am sure I would have continued to meet similar people on the rest of my journey south. But now that opportunity is gone. People have been so kind, eager to help out and offer valuable advice. That more than anything else will be the lasting impression I have of this trip. The people - and then the dolphins leading me to the Caledonian Canal. I am so sad I am actually finding it difficult to write this. It feels like the end of an era. Hard to explain. If I ever tried to do this again I wouldn't do it alone and I would go clockwise. It's hard work on your own and perhaps the scary moments wouldn't have been so scary if I'd had crew with me. Perhaps I would have had more confidence and in turn got much further than I have done. But then again I would still have had the elements against me. Perhaps I am too cautious. Nevertheless I do believe I have made some very sound calls regarding whether or not to leave port given the sea and weather conditions. I am at the end of the day a fair weather sailor. I think being cautious in certain situations can only be positive. There's absolutely no point in scaring yourself.

Thank you all so much for your support and your donations for the Ellen Macarthur Trust. When I had the dolphins off the bow leaping out of the water and showing off I thought afterwards how fantastic and beautiful it would be for kids who have been through serious illness to experience something like that. It makes it all worthwhile even if I didn't achieve what I set out to do. I think sailing can offer so much to these youngsters. Please please please give something to the Trust if you haven't done so already.

So now I head north - that is if I can get out of Portpatrick without running aground again! I'm heading for the Forth Clyde Canal via Glasgow and Edinburgh. I am actually really looking forward to sailing down my beloved Northumberland coast. It does take some beating. In a way there is some comfort in the knowledge I am sailing for my home port once again - good old familiar Blyth. I now feel focussed on getting home and anchoring in some of the beautiful places I didn't have time to drop anchor in on my way here. Sorry - I tried my best.