Back to Blighty

A grey start to today,  a tad misty and quite light winds.  As we progress the winds get fresher and we have a fine crossing.   We stayed with Sorrento until about halfway across the channel then pushed on after getting through the shipping lanes.  Eventually reaching Swanage about 1.5 hours ahead of them.The sun was shining  and we managed to unload everything on Martin Jones's pontoon with the help of Greg and Martin.

When Adrian and Jane arrived I went back down to the club to give them a lift up the hill.

In an unsettled week we had managed to have a great time away.

Next stop Alderney

It time to head back home, but not wanting to do the whole lot in one day we have decided to pit stop overnight at Braye on Alderney.  So an early start again, and as usual it's wind against.   We head off in light winds but a big spring tide under us.  It a beautiful sunrise and wer're belting along,  As we pass the Brehon Tower as expected it gets very lumpy, fortunately this only lasts about 20 minutes and the rest of the sail is very pleasant.  We get the tides spot on and it turns just as we reach the end of Alderney pushing us neatly into the Harbour.

After a spot of lunch  Adrian, Lou and myself go exploring, while Jayne has a nap(too many early mornings).

Last meal of the holiday is to be at a pub/restuarant, then back for an early night ready for the passage home tomorrow.

Guernsey Tour

We need to take a leaf out of Guernsey's transport system.   Bus ticket £1  however far you go. With a system that cheap I wonder why there are so many cars.  |Anyway  of we toddle on route 7, thats clockwise around the perimeter of the island.   The bus driver's friendly the passengers are friendly,  first  stop The shipwreck museum at Fort Grey near the infamous Hanois reefs.   Fascinating place and surprising to not how many wrecks there were but how recent some of them were.   We spent about an hour looking around before walking along the deserted beach.

Back on Billy Bus,  another £1 to an eatery  for lunch of moules and frites.  

Yet again onto the bus ( another £1 ) back to the marina for tea and planning.  Three bus rides totalling about 15miles cost us £3 each,   we'd barely get to wareham for that!!!

Off to Alderney tomorrow

Wednesday

Bit of a damp squib of a day today.   We had had a bit of a lay in this morning to recuperate from our journeying and after a late breakfast decided to explore the town,  This was Adrian and Jaynes first time in St Peter Port so all was new to them but hey when do girls not need retail therapy?

Just as we set out it started to rain and carried on most of the day..   It  is forecast for sun tomorrow so we planned for an exploration of the island. At least the cormorant doesn't mind the rain.

Off to Guernsey

Having studied the weather very carefully it looked as though today would be the only day that would be comfortable to move on from Cherborg.   The destination St Peter Port.   The plan worked ok up to Cap de Haguebut but travelling down the Alderney race with a fresh Souwesterley was always going to be lively.  Well as it turned out it wasn't too bad, a few bumpy bits but in the main a good ride.  However as we had to do tacking we arrived a tad late at the little Russell and had to fight up the last 4 miles against the flooding tide.

The bonus at the end was we could go staight in to the marina.

A day in Cherbourg

A walk round the town then to the carrefore for supplies, and on to the wine warehouse for liquid supplies.  Back to the boat for a bit of a tidy up,  the boat and ourselves then off for a meal in the Cafe Paris.  Tres bien

We're off to Cherbourg

Early start today as we had to get to Cherbourg and it's about a ten hour crossing. This was the start of a week long holiday travelling in company with Adrian and Jayne travelling on Sorrento and us on Watanga.  The weather looked nice but the wind is a tad on the strong side but was on the beam so the going was fast.  The sun shone for most of the day, and the wind varied in strength from force 4 to 6. 

Sorrento was having trouble keeping up with the Cat but as we were both ahead on time it was no bother for us to hove to a couple of times to ensure we stayed together. There weren't any other yachts about, so it was no trouble identifying each other.

The sea had quite a swell from the high winds the previous day which kept on making Sorrento disappear.  After 8 hours the wind started to calm a little and it was a pleasant run into port.

Cherbourg was surprisingly empty when we got there with plenty of spaces I guess the strong winds on the Saturday had scuppered many peoples weekend plans.  I had heard that PYRA had cancelled their Alderney race.