Katie and Lara have arrived. They came down on the train and we picked them up from Brockenhurst station and took them for their first sight of Lyra. They climbed on board, had a good look round and promptly climbed into their berth at the front and immediately looked very cosy, peeking at us from under the duvet. We managed to tease them back out to go for dinner at the Ship Inn. It is wonderful to have some time with them on board. Suddenly Lyra is a home from home.

Our first part family sail turned out to be a motor, as there was up to twenty five knots of apparent bitterly cold wind blowing. The girls were well wrapped up under their life jackets.

Once more we were sailing in the evening quiet, but as we arrived back a sailing school were setting out, a small swarm with their sails glowing in the last of the evening light.