11/05/11 Wednesday

Didn't expect to post today as we are on a pontoon outside Guernsey Harbour. Can't go in as we expect to leave at 07.00 tomorrow. Again weather permitting. (Tide wrong for timings in and out of Victoria marina.)
We left really early this morning 00.400 BST. Skipper trying the con of using French time 00.500 FST to make it sound better. We could not leave later because we needed to lock in to the end of the Alderney Race. No not an event but one of the largest and scariest tidal gates in the world.
We left without event and apparently didn't even wake Nick and Rona so we get the quiet prize.
It was still dark but Cherbourg looked as though it would have a good day. After a cup of tea and feeling more human I realised we were heading in to thick cloud and it was very cold.
Porridge for breakfast soon followed by a murky vision of the dreaded Cap de la Hague. last year we sailed both ways up and down round the Race and the Cap but not today. Motoring at  a gentle 6 knots with wind very firmly on the nose although only 10 knots against the tide we were wizzing along through the water at over 11 knots. We did a lot of bouncing but we soon got in the race proper which is less confused than the cap. I wondered where the sun had gone and where the Belle sea had gone so made a cup of coffee and fed Phil biscuits. We soon spotted Alderney but just the top of the cliffs lit by the sun ,the rest in murk.

Sun in and out and an uneventful arrival in Guernsey. I like uneventful arrivals most of all. Must close as no electricity on pontoon and battery low on computer. Lucky to have t'internet here.
Pictures of TiGrA and Stressbreaker side by side in Cherbourg
Gloomy and brooding Cap de la Hague light house
Skipper waiting for more food and drink
View of Guernsey
Beach at Herm
Jetthou. Sark too far away to see.