Shut out from Littlehampton

The plan was to leave Shoreham by Sea and the row 13 miles down the English Channel to Littlehampton, the next port.

As I set off the coastwatch were looking at me through their binoculars.

Frustratingly, my VHF was flat because I left it on and I could not communicate with them. I had to consider whether to carry on. I still had my flares, a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and my personal locator beacon. I waved and went on my way.

A motorboat was living it up it up as a I departed.

Down the coast there were two fishing boats to avoid as they came up the English Channel. One passed me quite close.

I passed Worthing, normally a grey blur from out at sea. Close up there were some good buildings to view.

Finally I was at Littlehampton. But the harbor was in full ebb and churning up the water outside. I went in for a closer look. It was a bit threatening if I am honest.

A yacht that had been tailing me turned to go in under motor and hit the strong tide, slowing to a crawl. A fishing boat turned in as well.

I realised that there was no way I would be able to get in. I was bouncing up and down already and it would get worse going nowhere very fast.

So I gave up and rowed another five miles down the coast to Felpham where there was a sandy beach and slipway.

PicoMicroYacht safer than my job?

Apparently, sitting too much is dangerous but not necessarily when rowing PicoMicroYacht. 

The Port of London Authority were interested in my safety as I finished my voyage to Gravesend.

(Tim took a photo - a bit cheeky to include this without permission but Tim has twittered it, so I hope it is ok. He was tweeting to @girlaboutthames who was curious about PicoMicroYacht. Nice photography).

Tim from the Port of London Authority decided to quiz me from his launch.  He was polite and pleasant, checking me out to determining whether I was at risk and warning me of the river dangers. 

Tim's Port of London Authority catamaran launch -stylish boat in my view

However, it turns out that one of the most risky things I do is sitting at my computer desk at work.

According to the Guardian newspaper:

'Office workers should spend a minimum of two hours on their feet at work – building up to an ideal four hours – in order to avoid the ill effects of a sedentary lifestyle, according to a study co-commissioned by Public Health England.....Research has long linked excessive time spent sitting to increased risk of morbidity or premature death.

Guardian 1st JUNE 2015

Nobody at work quizzes me about that!