Guernsey
We departed from Treguier at a sensible 10am, we wanted to catch the flood to Guernsey as the stretch of water between can be quite uncomfortable even with no wind, the tide alone if enough to disturb the water.
As we approached Guernsey a shout when up "Dolphins" but this was immediately disputed and indeed they were not dolphins we had arrived in an area of a tuna frenzy. We were surrounded in every direction with tuna jumping out of the water and chasing fish, meanwhile the sea birds were trying to scavenge any bits of fish remains after the tunas bite. It was an incredible site and very difficult to photograph. Tuna are very fast fish and it didn't matter where you pointed the camera they would jump somewhere else. if the tuna keep running like this there will be a huge sport fishing industry operating out of the channel islands soon.
On this occasion we were really lucky we had a great trip even though some of it was under motor. It took most of the day to get to Guernsey and when we arrived the lock had just opened to the inner harbour. We are too deep for the inner harbour but when the cill is opened there is a great frenzy of boats leaving and arriving entering the harbour. The consequence of this was that when we arrived there was no one present to greet us, normally a rib would catch us on the way in and direct us to a suitable berth. We went around in circles a few times and Nick and Maz were waving frantically for us to moor up against them. I was hesitant to do so because the harbour master likes to tell you where to go.
I rafted up along side because boats forming a queue behind me were getting impatient and were overtaking us to get in. We were all so pleased to have arrived and couldn't believe our luck at being alongside our friends. We got shore lines in opened the wine and nibbles and settled down. Cue the harbour master, "how much do you draw sir?" 2.2m well who out you here you can't stay here. We had 9.5m under the keel and the range was only 8m so at low tide we should still have had 1.5m under the keel. The harbour master was insistent that there would only be 1.6m at low tide and as our keel is 2.2m we were too deep… We have all done our sums and don't understand because there is a 2m difference between the harbour master and the tidal charts.
He moved us to the cruise ship tender berth, it was horrid, we were side on to the wind and waves and snatched on the dock for two days.
Maz provided a dinner on Bolero which was very welcome after our long trip.
The next day Ian helped out Nick with his engine problems and I provided tools and containers and went to the chandeliers for parts. Then I got on with some tasks of my own as the poo pipe was blocked again. I hope I never have to deal with that again, Linda went shopping.
Maz booked a restaurant which was the best idea and neither boat was a suitable place to prepare a meal.
Tomorrow there is a weather window and the plan is for Bolero to head to Cowes and we will have to go to Cherbourg because we need to "checkout" of Europe and sadly that means we will be stuck until Saturday at the earliest unless the forecast changes.
As we approached Guernsey a shout when up "Dolphins" but this was immediately disputed and indeed they were not dolphins we had arrived in an area of a tuna frenzy. We were surrounded in every direction with tuna jumping out of the water and chasing fish, meanwhile the sea birds were trying to scavenge any bits of fish remains after the tunas bite. It was an incredible site and very difficult to photograph. Tuna are very fast fish and it didn't matter where you pointed the camera they would jump somewhere else. if the tuna keep running like this there will be a huge sport fishing industry operating out of the channel islands soon.
On this occasion we were really lucky we had a great trip even though some of it was under motor. It took most of the day to get to Guernsey and when we arrived the lock had just opened to the inner harbour. We are too deep for the inner harbour but when the cill is opened there is a great frenzy of boats leaving and arriving entering the harbour. The consequence of this was that when we arrived there was no one present to greet us, normally a rib would catch us on the way in and direct us to a suitable berth. We went around in circles a few times and Nick and Maz were waving frantically for us to moor up against them. I was hesitant to do so because the harbour master likes to tell you where to go.
I rafted up along side because boats forming a queue behind me were getting impatient and were overtaking us to get in. We were all so pleased to have arrived and couldn't believe our luck at being alongside our friends. We got shore lines in opened the wine and nibbles and settled down. Cue the harbour master, "how much do you draw sir?" 2.2m well who out you here you can't stay here. We had 9.5m under the keel and the range was only 8m so at low tide we should still have had 1.5m under the keel. The harbour master was insistent that there would only be 1.6m at low tide and as our keel is 2.2m we were too deep… We have all done our sums and don't understand because there is a 2m difference between the harbour master and the tidal charts.
He moved us to the cruise ship tender berth, it was horrid, we were side on to the wind and waves and snatched on the dock for two days.
Maz provided a dinner on Bolero which was very welcome after our long trip.
The next day Ian helped out Nick with his engine problems and I provided tools and containers and went to the chandeliers for parts. Then I got on with some tasks of my own as the poo pipe was blocked again. I hope I never have to deal with that again, Linda went shopping.
Maz booked a restaurant which was the best idea and neither boat was a suitable place to prepare a meal.
Tomorrow there is a weather window and the plan is for Bolero to head to Cowes and we will have to go to Cherbourg because we need to "checkout" of Europe and sadly that means we will be stuck until Saturday at the earliest unless the forecast changes.