LUNDY ISLAND

I was sorry to read of Edwin Dewhurst's criticism of Roger Barnes on his decision to go to Lundy. I was the only other member besides Roger and Alan Glanville in Ilfracombe. I heard the early morning forecast and I decided it was not suitable for me or my crew to go. The idea of diverting to Clovelly had been discussed the night before.

I was more afraid of thunder storms than not landing on Lundy. I have been through two bad ones, one on the Exe in my Mirror when I dropped all sail and rowed back, and the other one in a 27 foot yacht, eleven and a half hours under bare poles between the Solent and Dartmouth.

Neither Roger nor Alan commented on my decision or pressed me to come with them. They did get back safe and sound with no outside help so how can it have been a bad example? Their going did not affect my estimate of the situation. Maybe I should have tried to stop them going, so it's me that is at fault perhaps. Jim Vallis