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Dolphin spotting

Seeing dolphins is something special. It’s especially amazing when a pod follows your sailing boat and plays and jumps and is quite obviously saying hello.

We’ve had this experience a few times, but one place in particular has never failed to bring about our favourite team of dolphins. The stretch of coast between Berry Head and Dartmouth is great for dolphins. I’ve circled in pink on the map below.

Map showing area to see dolphins near Torbay and Dartmouth
Best place to see dolphins

I managed to get this film, showing one doing a jump just off the stern of our boat. Other times I either haven’t had my phone or not been quick enough. But most of the time I just don’t want to take my eyes off them whilst getting my phone out. This time I was lucky, I was taking some photos and they just popped up.

For more films and to subscribe to our Tea on the Sea YouTube channel head over there.

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A tour of Lady Jo by Claire

Hello, come have a look around our 30 foot (9.12 metres) sailing boat, Lady Jo. She’s a Hunter Legend 306 twin keeled, single rudder monohull with a large roached mainsail on a backstayless B&R rig, she is steered by a wheel and has a max speed of around 7 knots (I think we got 7.5 out of her once).

Sailing boat interior

Here’s a few photos of the inside. I’ve spruced her up by adding in a few pictures on the walls, a throw and cushions.

Sailing boat exterior

On the outside my favourite bit is the cockpit with the dolphins seats – the best place to sit when cruising along.

Continue reading “A tour of Lady Jo by Claire”

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Things I’ve learnt from seven months of sailing: zero to sailing

Part of the sail diagram

Eight months ago I’d never been sailing. I had been on a sailing boat once (on a holiday in Greece, where I mainly read my book and waited for the swimming opportunities), but I’d never pulled a rope, studied a chart or opened a seacock.

Claire's first time on a sailing boat
First time on a sailing boat

I really didn’t think we’d get a boat this quickly. But a bit of luck, combined with us throwing caution to the wind (ha!) meant on the day of our wedding we had our offer accepted on a 30 foot sailing yacht. For our honeymoon we went on a sailing course and ended up completing the sale on the boat a month after getting married.

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Bon voyage!

Tea on the sea sailing

Hello, thanks for stopping by this new blog all about sailing our 30 foot boat from Torquay and making tea, lunch, dinner – just about anything – in our very teeny kitchen abroad.

sailing in Torbay

I’m Claire, I just started sailing. A year ago I’d never pulled a rope, put out the fenders, or made an entry into a log book. That changed when I meet Ollie. He’s very into sailing boats. So much so, that for our honeymoon we somehow ended up going on a week’s sailing course, with me getting Competent Crew and he Day Skipper.

Continue reading “Bon voyage!”