Page 20 - Yachter Autumn 2020

20 CRUISING REPORTS
EXPLORING DEVON AND DORSET
ON LA INA
‘Right we’ll give it another go!’ says Nathan.We are on a mid-river pontoon in Dartmouth and the engine is not starting.‘Glow for thirty seconds and then try to start her again’, Nathan instructs from the bowels of the boat.
He currently has his head stuck in the engine bay, spanner in hand as he has just bled the injectors. I do the thirty second countdown and then turn the key.The engine cranks again but does not catch.‘What can it be
this time?’ says Nathan popping his head up on deck.We have tried everything that was suggested to us last time we got it fixed, but alas it is not starting again!
It is Sunday, so when Nathan calls Seastart he is informed they will not be able to get an engineer out to us until the following day.‘Looks like we’re staying put for another night’ says Nathan despondently.‘Never mind’I say,‘there could be worse places to be than Dartmouth!’.
We are spoilt really.We are moored on Deep Water Mooring pontoon three, with an uninterrupted view upriver. It is only a quick run ashore in the water taxi to the town quay from where we can explore the delightful town with its narrow streets and old houses. Nestled in the back streets are lots of quaint old pubs offering a range of traditional Devon Real Ales and dishes featuring locally sourced seafood.
Ten days previously we left OceanVillage on a sunny Friday evening for Beaulieu River.We were hoping to set off for Dartmouth on Sunday after attending the Summer Party at Gins on Saturday night. However, the engine had other ideas, and
after having issues with it not starting in Beaulieu River, we then had an issue of it not starting after filling up with fuel at Port Hamble.After being towed into Port Hamble Marina we then had an unscheduled stop there for two nights to fix it.
On Tuesday we finally headed out past The Needles and made for Salcombe.
Well that was our intended destination. However, due to the unscheduled delay with the engine the wind was now not in our favour, so we were continuously tacking overnight and into Wednesday. In the end we decided if we wanted to be in before nightfall onWednesday that we should head to Dartmouth instead.