In the afternoon Pelican leaves Poole to head out to the bay for science and dive surveys. I’m on the helm as the captain directs a tight pirouette to turn the ship. The directions come seconds apart: Port 10. Starboard 10. Starboard 20. Starboard 40. It’s quite a workout for several minutes until we’re into the more open water.
We anchor in the Studland bay near Old Harry’s Rocks. I join the scientists in the Rib as we head to the beach to conduct a plastics survey. It will be a wet landing and I’m glad I followed the packing list and bought those wellies. However the water proves to a few cm too deep so it’s wellies off to wade to shore. We spend a few hours counting plastic on the beach. I find a lone blue nurdle: a pea sized piece of plastic that is the input material for plastic injection moulding.
The RIB is meant to pick us up after it comes back from supervising the divers but the engine develops a problem and can’t collect us just yet. We castaways venture into the wilds to fend for ourselves and survive until we can be rescued. A tough ten minute walk up a gentle road brings us to a local establishment where we barter for beer and chips.
We’re finishing our pints when the ship calls: Patrick the engineer has replaced the spark plug and the RIB will be back to collect us soon.
Ian has kept back portions of our proper dinner of pork stew which is just what I need as I join the first watch. We leave anchor at 10pm and sail off into the moonlight, the stars getting gradually brighter as we head for Dartmouth where we’re going to ride out a storm.