Supper in the Thorny Channel

Out for three of the four day weekend. Just a bit of local sailing, wherever the wind and tide takes us.
It took us to Manchester harbour this evening, where we have anchored in secluded spot in the Thorny Channel.
Saw a large pod of bottle nose dolphins on the way over, unfortunately they didn't want to play, but have a bit of video which I will put up here.

Yarmouth Gaffers

Last little Leg.

Another gorgeous morning. Shame to be heading home, but hoping for similar weather next weekend, when we shall be having a more leisurely home waters cruise.
Just a few hours with the tide up the Solent to Portsmouth now. Bit hazey and no wind, so we shall be motoring.

Almost Home

Mid Channel

Having a good crossing home. Gorgeous weather, we are sailing but a touch more wind wouldn't go amiss.
Briony enjoying it much more than way out.
Shipping Lanes crossed easily, and are now south of us.
We had a feathery hitchiker join us for a while.

Omonville la Rouge

More pics

More Alderney pics

Alderney pics

Alderney

Got my tides right yesterday, and got a nice push off Cap de la Hague towards Alderney, and not so much tide that we were sent helplessly into the Alderney Race and on to Guernsey. Have refulled, boat and us, ready for setting off across the channel tomorrow. Hope there's some wind. Amazing weather here, as elsewhere, but the sea looks so inviting with deep blue clear waters, and yellow sandy beaches. Unfortunately the waters freezing, though it hasn't stopped some. Think it could be pretty grim here in anything other than full sunshine!

Whoops!

After a slight tidal miscalculation the trip to Alderney ended in a u turn and an unexpected stop in Omonville-la-Rogue, a tiny fishing village, with not much more than a harbour wall, a few fishing boats, and some cows on the hillside next to us. But very pleasant it is too.
We've eaten dinner and are now gently rocking on a buoy in. The trip to Bray will be easier from here so hopefully we'll be able to enjoy a sunny morning here before setting off.

Fwd: (No subject)

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Harry" <07976237476@orange.net>
To: "Blog" <hazzerb.liz30@blogger.com>
Subject:
Date: Tue, Apr 19, 2011 16:03


Picture of us here. http://www.boatphotos.co.uk/portfolio171428p3.html

Sent from my HTC

Briony Recovered from yesterday crossing doing what she likes best.

----- Forwarded message -----
From: "Harry" <07976237476@orange.net>
To: "Blog" <hazzerb.liz30@blogger.com>
Subject: Briony Recovered from yesterday crossing doing what she likes best.
Date: Tue, Apr 19, 2011 15:58



Arrived in Cherboug at 9pm last night. An 11 hour trip, not helped by French customs joining us, so they could ask lots of questions to fill in boxes on their forms.
I tried to get a picture of the bizarre situation of random armed people climbing aboard our boat on the middle of the channel, with nothing else in sight, but they refused, and spotting the guns we didn't push it. Shame as not much else to photograph mid channel.
Off to Alderney this afternoon, having stocked up with wine, here.
Hot now, but will cool down on the water. Should arrive early evening.

Approaching Cherboug, 6 miles off, still can't see land, bit hazey, but viability doesn't seem that bad.
Good crossing weather wise, have made reasonable speed, but Briony has been a sick for quite awhile. Luckily she recovered in time for a mid channel boarding by French customs, and wasn't sick while they were on board!
They were with us for about half an hour checking are documents, filling in forms, and looking over the boat.
Fortunately all was in order, but they did slow us up a bit.

After setting off at 5.30, we returned to our anchorage, as we had problems with the newly repaired alternate not charging. Turned out to be a blown warning light bulb, so with this fixed we set off again at 8am.
Heading for Cherboug, and have great conditions, as long as the wind picks up as expected. Bit hazey but visability still reasonable.

Sent from my HTC

Totland Bay

We are finally ready for the season. After being stuck in Portsmouth for a couple of days, servicing the engine, and trying to find a non existent nut for the new alternator pulley, we are ready for some sailing.
We have motored down to Totland bay with a big tide in just over two hours. Not much wind but got the sails just to check everything out, just in time to have our photo taken by boatphotos.co.uk coming through the Hurst Narrows.
Now making a plan to cross the channel tomorrow. Have a good forecast, sunny again, with a decent wind to get us across.