A quick dash across the Thames Estuary yesterday turned into a two-stage 50-mile marathon as Geoff Holt arrived in Dover and could look forward to setting his next course to the east for the first time since rounding Land’s End 80 days ago in early June.

The day started in Lowestoft and was supposed to end in Ramsgate, however lovely sailing conditions prompted Geoff and his support team to push on well into the evening, arriving in Dover at 2015. The good conditions look set to remain in force for the rest of the week, meaning an arrival date back in Hamble is approaching fast.

Geoff’s circumnavigation, the first by a disabled sailor, has been severely hampered by bad weather this summer forcing a week-long layover in Brixham in June, three weeks in Abersoch in June and July and a change of course to use the Caledonian Canal – still a recognised UK circumnavigation route – rather than sail all the way around the north of Scotland.

The sudden on set of hot summer weather led him to ask on his blog, whether summer had been in force down south the whole time he’d been away.

Not likely!

He hopes to be displaying his Challenger dinghy at the Sailability stand at Southampton Boat Show next month.

Keep track of Geoff’s progress on his website: www.personaleverest.com