Part 1

We received an order for a Potter for Sweden in the late winter of 1964-5 after a Swedish Tanker Captain called on us. It was my intention to find time for a fairly ambitious cruise during the summer, and this seemed a good opportunity to combine business with pleasure. The Captain agreed, like the good sportsman he is, to accept the boat on arrival in Sweden.

During the ensuing six months a great deal of careful consideration was given to the requirements of the voyage. It would indeed be courting disaster merely to step into such a boat and sail away on such a voyage. Details of the preparations and the special equipment carried are described in the appendix. The original intention to set sail during June was defeated by pressure of business.

All was ready by the early part of September, but at this time a persistent spell of Easterly winds began to blow, and it was useless to attempt to beat up Channel against these in so small a boat. Eventually (as it happened, for only a short interval) there came a change of wind and I set out from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, late afternoon of the 12th October in company with friends of mine in another boat. We arrived at Cowes after dark that evening.

For the next few days the wind was back in the East again and it was not until the 14th that I was able to get under way. Even so it was a poor beginning because of very thick fog. Visibility about 100ft. Setting out from Cowes harbour, under power, at 0830 that morning, I "felt my way" from buoy to buoy, past Ryde and across to the Looe Channel at Selsey Bill with a favourable tide. At this point the fog cleared, a light breeze from the South set in and helped me slowly out across the wide bay towards Beachy Head against the ebb. I passed between Beachy Head and the Royal Sovereign Light Vessel about 0400 hours on the morning of the 15th. By this time the wind had risen to Force 4 from the West. I was tempted to think conditions showed promise for the rest of the trip.

Alas, what optimism!