Awake at 5am… the docks opposite began a days work unloading containers with a noisy crane. As the crane jib lowered…. whiny noise, then as the cargo was lifted…. screeching sound… so woke me up!! Today is our first rest day. So no sailing. Have a break and catch up on jobs…. and a tidy up!
Grey morning, very hazy… and after showers across the road, all the commercial activities of Poole Harbour commenced. Watched all the comings and goings at the stern of a massive 40 meter Sunseeker motor yacht.
Observed the owner and crew get on …. the Elysium … bought second hand for £6.9 million… the departed soon after. Poole is the centre and HQ for the manufacture of Sunseeker motor yachts…. as well as the RNLB….an interesting mix. Oh…. and the SBS are based here too, just round the corner… Special Boat Service… Brit version of the American Navy Seals?
Breakfast aboard, microwave porridge, cornflakes, meusli, fruit and toast. Then sat down to do “paper work” type jobs and the heavens opened . Fancy that lovely man in Bexleyheath saying we were on a “glorified pub crawl”…won’t be buying my second hand “S” class Merc from him! Cheek of it!
Late lunch “Cafe on the Quay” for a drink and sandwich…. having made aquaintance with the local Force 4 Chandlery. Walked along the quay up to the Sunseeker factory… must have been many, many millions of pounds worth of mega sunseeker motor yachts moored up on the other side.
Speaking of motor yachts…meaning of “Elysium”…. Greek… something to do with happiness in the after life… so rough translation…. go to heaven in a Sunseeker!
Rained for about 3 hours, and amazingly the sun came out mid afternoon. This evening we will pitch up ( as my brother John ) puts it…. Pizza Express… so not a pub crawl Simon… courtesy of Christine’s Gourmet dining card ( 25 % off )…… might have a Peroni though! We are on a gourmet culinary voyage around Britain. Pizza in Poole time.
Toby's sailing boat Poli Poli 