Cherbourg
It is very important to leave Guernsey with the tide because the tides runs strongly on the French side and so you will need a whole tide to get from Guernsey to Cherbourg without running into foul tide. At 7.10 Bolero cast off and at 7:13 Sea Crusader cast off.
As we left the harbour we pulled out the sail and set off up the little Russel. Bolero was three minutes ahead and leading the way. We were very evenly matched, but I think that the Swan had us in the conditions not that it was a race you understand. As we reached the top of the Little Russel the water became a confused mess with tide from the west meeting the tide running north and the boat was rocking. Luckily this didn't last for more than a mile and soon we were back in the tide and progressing at more than 9 knots. We passed Alderney and at this point Bolero was heading North to the Needles and we were veering off towards Cherbourg, we reached the top of the race and it was just like the little Russel all over again, rough water where the incoming tide from the west met the north going stream. This time the rough water was for about three miles and we were really glad to be out of it. We sailed right through the entrance of the Harbour and found a nice spot on the long pontoon and best of all it was walk ashore.
The next day we decided to get a bus to St Vaast and go to the museum on Ile Tatihou so when we arrived we went to the tourist office to buy tickets only to be told that they were sold out for two days. So we decided to have a quick drink and a walk along the coast to the La Houge and then to return to the town for lunch and some shopping. As we were returning to the town disaster struck and Gwyn hooked a small stone and down she went with a dislocated and fractured hip. The emergency services arrived within five minutes of the 112 call but they are not paramedics in France, if they need paramedics then they are called once the emergency services have triaged the injuries. Linda and I returned to the boat with Ian and Gwyn traveling to Cherborg hospital separately.
That evening Ian returned to the boat and started packing. Ian was trying to get the insurance company to repatriate Gwyn to the UK for treatment.
The next day I had to do some work and Ian was not allowed to visit until after one so he had lots to deal with and Linda went to the supermarket. That evening we went for a meal in the newish harbour restaurant and Ian told us that they are being re-patriated by lear Jet!
We told him that we would leave the tomorrow at 5am. The choice for us was to go on Saturday in the rain or leave it until Tuesday.
As we left the harbour we pulled out the sail and set off up the little Russel. Bolero was three minutes ahead and leading the way. We were very evenly matched, but I think that the Swan had us in the conditions not that it was a race you understand. As we reached the top of the Little Russel the water became a confused mess with tide from the west meeting the tide running north and the boat was rocking. Luckily this didn't last for more than a mile and soon we were back in the tide and progressing at more than 9 knots. We passed Alderney and at this point Bolero was heading North to the Needles and we were veering off towards Cherbourg, we reached the top of the race and it was just like the little Russel all over again, rough water where the incoming tide from the west met the north going stream. This time the rough water was for about three miles and we were really glad to be out of it. We sailed right through the entrance of the Harbour and found a nice spot on the long pontoon and best of all it was walk ashore.
The next day we decided to get a bus to St Vaast and go to the museum on Ile Tatihou so when we arrived we went to the tourist office to buy tickets only to be told that they were sold out for two days. So we decided to have a quick drink and a walk along the coast to the La Houge and then to return to the town for lunch and some shopping. As we were returning to the town disaster struck and Gwyn hooked a small stone and down she went with a dislocated and fractured hip. The emergency services arrived within five minutes of the 112 call but they are not paramedics in France, if they need paramedics then they are called once the emergency services have triaged the injuries. Linda and I returned to the boat with Ian and Gwyn traveling to Cherborg hospital separately.
That evening Ian returned to the boat and started packing. Ian was trying to get the insurance company to repatriate Gwyn to the UK for treatment.
The next day I had to do some work and Ian was not allowed to visit until after one so he had lots to deal with and Linda went to the supermarket. That evening we went for a meal in the newish harbour restaurant and Ian told us that they are being re-patriated by lear Jet!
We told him that we would leave the tomorrow at 5am. The choice for us was to go on Saturday in the rain or leave it until Tuesday.