Friday 28th December 2001 12.01pm
Gale force winds blowing north-northwest down the Channel, the boats gritting their teeth and holding grimly to their moorings. There are reports of 65 mph winds here last night. South of the bridge one of the larger yachts is in trouble; her genoa has worked loose from the roller reefs and now flaps torn, wild and loud, while onshore three of the Channelside flags are in tatters, torn apart by the strength of the wind.