17th June - Windsor

Eyes right for the Royal Salute - 17 June

We broke the speed limit today. Our humble scow came into her own as we short-tacked down the river from Marlow in the face of a stiff southerly. We made 6 knots on a 5 knot river - our first real day of sailing. As we sailed past Eton we responded to Charlie E-W's challenge and gave a fair rendition of the Eton boating song, although being sailors rather than oarspersons we decided to alter some of the more tiresome rowing references.

A major disaster occurred soon after: we hoisted the sail along with the Ship's Bimbo's 'handbag'. The sail stayed up; the 'handbag' didn't. The Master Mariner executed a superb MOB drill and the Bimbo recovered her rucksack from the river, but all was in vain: mobile, camera, credit cards, and worst of all the Chanel make-up were ruined.

Just when it seemed all was well, the temporary fix on our centreboard gave way, leaving the centreboard hanging off a single nut below the boat out of reach. We have spares of almost everything, even the Ship's Bimbo, but a spare centreboard lever is not in the box. We shall probably have to sail through London in this state.

Locks: 8, Sail hoists: 14, Miles: 22