We left the port of Bristol on 4th May with two Peters and Ian from Lancashire and Allan from Bristol as crew. The Avon is straightforward, with no surprises, but then the true pilotage started in earnest, Navionics coming in to play along with everyone else's smartphones and GPS gadgets . But you just can't beat a proper paper chart, kindly lent to us by Keith from the sales brokerage.

We broke the Severn Estuary journey in Portishead Quays Marina - a soulless but very conveniently placed haven to shelter us from the fierce overnight tides.

The next day we were on course for the Second Severn crossing - the newer, Southern bridge Alan took the helm again ready for "The Shoots"  a patch of seriously troubled water which is bent under the Severn bridge towards Chepstow All eyes were on the leading marks on the ground which were very clear to see this day.

Straight after the bridge we went very close to the Welsh shore whilst Chris watched us with alarm from dry land

We then needed to slow down considerably or we would have been swept straight past the entrance to Sharpness docks, ideally we would have arrived at slack water, but we were still a bit too early, but the trusty old Leyland engine powered us into the flood tide and round into the dock entrance.

Very relieved to be in sheltered waters again!- on to the Gloucester & Sharpness Ship Canal

This was the view I had across the River Severn in May 2014 towards Westbury on Severn, where our friends, Lynne and James Garside live, James is one of the sons of Harry from whom we bought the farm in Huddersfield about 40 years ago. Chris's brother, Neil and his family, are still farming there. This is the area where the Severn Bore starts to form as the broad river dramatically narrows into an inland river. .