Day opens with torrential rain and the sound of the wind screaming in the rigging.  Vessel rolling easily alongside the pontoon.  The forecasters have got it wrong again, it isn't blowing any more than an 8 gusting 9 never the Force 10 predicted, though when a saw a wave breaking over the breakwater that must have been a good gust. 

We had some visitors yesterday who know the local area so we have taken on a pilot cadet for the canal transit, seems to know what she is doing but she has problems with her line of sight, despite standing on a stool.