The day dawns fine and clear and with the promised winds from the east.

We up anchor to head out for the Bill and are gratified to find a succession of boats out of Weymouth, all with the same idea. We assume that we can’t all have got our passage plan wrong.

Out of the harbour we shake out the reefs in the main and with a full genoa we are skimming along in company. Ride to the Bill is always fascinating as we are never more than a quarter of a mile (two and a half cables in very old money) from the old quarry workings and the rusting remains of cranes used to load chunks or Portland stone on the coasters. With a fair tide helping us, we race past the beach huts and the light house and the tourists….and then we’re out into the bay.

But then, just as rapidly…we see absolutely nothing. Of Portland, the tourists and the other boats there is no trace as thick fog engulfs us with visibility down to less than 50m.

Fog horn out and radar on, but then within 10 minutes the fog lifts and we are back to sunshine and clear views of Chesil beach. The only sign of the fog is a dense cap over the top of Portland.

We tack down wind in around 12 knots of wind and consider getting the cruising chute out. The latest shipping forecast for the inshore area now talks about strengthening winds up to F6 with thundery showers towards late afternoon/evening. The chute stays in its locker and the swell and wind build through the afternoon, with the sun having to work ever harder to penetrate the deepening clouds.

Steering down the waves requires more and more concentration and in what is now 20kts of wind we round up and stow the main. Continuing under genny alone makes the motion much easier and avoids the unpleasantness of an uncontrolled mainsail gybe.

We are shadowed for a time by a couple of warships on manoeuvres (we hope) and gradually by the rest of the little flotilla which rounded the Bill with us. Visibility deteriorates and It is not until we are less than a mile from Brixham that we can finally make out the entrance light.

Unfortunately the (cheap) harbour moorings are all taken already so we end up in the regular marina accompanied by some of the worst behaved and noisy seagulls imaginable. Oh well, electricity, water and the promise of hot showers soften the need to take out a mortgage to stay there.