Cool Weekend.

Our first weekend trip.

Friday - 2nd Novermber.

By way of an introduction to sailing and living on Blazer for a few days - Jackie agreed to join me on this trip - just pottering about in the river Crouch.

The forecast was for cold and wet but the drive down was great yesterday in sunshine and easy traffic!

Nigel met us with a warm welcome and helped to get our mountain of stuff on board with the comment - "that lot should get you to Gibraltar!!"

He also gave me all the membership stuff for the sailing club as I am now a fully paid up member!!

Jayne popped in on her way from work to say hello to complete our welcome - perfect.

A great sea food dinner on board last night - snug as a bug with the coal stove on tick over - wonderful.

We plan to catch the last of the ebb this morning and have a dawn sail down river to the Roach to anchor in Yokesfleet tonight.

It might be a dawn motor - NO Wind!!.

Saturday

Yes - motored down river - then unrolled the foresail as the wind freshened - then had much too much wind - 27 knots - as we navigated the Roach to Yokesfleet.

We anchored just down river from the seals overnight - very peaceful - great.

Sunday

Ran back to Fambridge under sail , most of the way - perfect.

A great weekend.

Mike.

Cruise Completed.

Tuesday 9th October.

Lovely Day.

I left Ramsgate later than usual at 09.20 in order to be on a rising tide when we cross the sand bank just North of Fishermans Gat.

The tides are neaps now but I wanted as much water as possible.

Sunny with force 4 from NE was great - all sail up plus engine gave us 7 knots past all the wind farms.

I was contacted by guard vessel Marianne - no problem he just wanted to know if I was using Fishermans Gat.

We crossed the sandbank with 2.5 metres under the keel - spot on.

Nigel met me in the Whitaker channel and we sailed then motored to North Fambridge - lovely day.

That completes this trip - three months - 550 miles - enjoyed all of it.

Wednesday was spent cleaning and tidying Blazer - ready for a visit in three weeks time with my new friend - Jackie.

Now you see why Blazer is back in Fambridge.

Thanks to all who have followed me through this trip.

Mike.

Calm weather at last.

Monday 8th October.

Eastbourne to Ramsgate.

Up at 04.00 yesterday off at 05.30 - locked out into a pitch dark and cold night.

Little or no wind so motored and saw a lovely sun rise - wonderful.

I took a route about 5 miles off shore to minimise the headland effect but keeping well outside the South going shipping lane in the Channel.

The wind picked up - almost on the nose but I put all sail up and it helped a bit.

The head sail started flogging so away it went - not another boat anywhere to be seen - or so I thought.

Ahead - I saw a Navy type boat approaching head on - I steered 10 degrees to starboard - so did he!

He approached at a good speed - went down my port side 2 cables off and did a sharp U turn behind me.

He took up station about 4 cables behind followed me.

Then he came forward and took station on my port side - very close - then a crew member held up a sign -

VHF CHANNEL 06

I used my hand held and made contact - This Vigilant - where are you heading for ( Ramsgate )

Where have you come from ( Eastbourne ) - And before that ( Alderney ) - STAND BY.

I continued under mainsail and engine at about 6 knots with the tiller pilot steering.

5 minutes later a black rib shot out from behind Vigilant with 3 crew all dressed in black with black crash helmets on.

They pulled alongside and asked permission to come aboard - I didn't argue - they had guns!!

One asked if he could search Blazer - no problem.

The other explained that they were the border protection agency looking for illegal immigrants and smuggling - drugs and Alcohol etc.

He made a thorough search then radioed in - all OK and the other guy took three pages of notes about my summer trip and studied my passport and ships registration.

Then they left - WOW!!

I didn't mind - they have a job to do.

The wind died and it was routine motoring against a bit of tide until about 13.30 when it turned in our favour.

About 12.00 a Dutch yacht came the other way - close by - with two dolphins playing in their bow wave - Amazing to see - WOW.

We negotiated Dover and it's numerous ferries without any bother then on to the Gull channel to Ramsgate

We were tucked up in Ramsgate at 18.00 12.5 hours - 65 miles - not bad.

Fish and chips and crashed out again.

One more leg on Tuesday - over the Thames Estuary to the Crouch and North Fambridge.

Mike.

Still in Eastbourne.

                                               The view from Blazer across Eastbourne marina.

Saturday 6th October.

The plan, made yesterday, was to leave today for Ramsgate - all set - route in the plotter - 65 miles -
13 hours - a bit windy and rain showers.

Fuelled up - engine checks done - tried to fix no.1 tiller pilot - no good - circuit board damaged - general maintenance - sorted.

I double checked the weather last night - Northerly gusts to 28 mph - that means wind against tide - no thanks - Wednesday was bad enough.

Another night here then - the weather looks better for Sunday and next week.

I walked the three miles into Eastbourne town centre last night - in the drizzle - OK - lots of big hotels.

A cab ride back and early night.

So it might be just two legs back to North Fambridge and with luck we will be there maybe on Tuesday.

Mike.

Yarmouth to Eastbourne

                                                        Blazer resting in Eastbourne

Windy Days.

We stayed in Yarmouth for two nights to rest and restock the galley.

Yarmouth is only small but I had a nice wander around - shame the only seafood shops were closed on Monday.

I toyed with the idea of leaving Blazer here for a month because they offered me a great deal £90!!

In the end I decided to press on to Chichester on Tuesday.

My plotter gave the best time to leave - 08.00 - so we left.

I was all set up to use springs to leave the berth due being hemmed in back and front - never used them on my own before.

In the event the wind died - I pushed the bow out and it stayed out - just motored off - good.

The tide carried us ( plus engine) to Portsmouth then foresail only - no engine - sailed to the West Pole beacon marking the entrance to Chichester Harbour - cracking!!

I anchored in 4 metres in the shelter, from the 30 knot wind , behind the sand dunes and when the anchor bit I gave the engine full astern - solid as a rock!

I cooked chicken with new potatoes and green beans - lovely.

Planning for the trip on to Eastbourne looked dodgy with high winds for Wednesday but the winds were highest in the afternoon and there was nothing above 25 knots - we went for it.

Chichester to Eastbourne.

Up at 04.00 off at 05.00 - pitch dark but the channel to the entrance has buoys that are lit plus the plotter.

Now I new we were in trouble as soon as we motored out over the bar in the last of the ebb tide - we were crashing through bigish waves then - OK it was wind over a bit of tide but it should have warned me.

We had the headlands of Selsey Bill and Beachy Head to deal with and Tom Cunliffe said in the channel pilot stay well off Selsey bill in windy weather so I did ( Selsey bill claimed Edward Heath's boat - Morning Cloud)

The wind was stronger than my phone forecast with gusts up to 29 knots but it was the waves - HUGE.

They were more like swells - not so steep as the ones in the Needles channel and Blazer seemed to cope even with tiller pilot steering but then about 3/4 of the way there a rogue wave from a different direction hit us broadside - WALLOP!!

It must have hit the rudder hard because the tiller pilot packed up - we were knocked well over - stuff all over the place in the cockpit then I looked below!!

Shelves emptied cupboards emptied - all on the floor - no time to worry about that lot - I grabbed the spare tiller pilot, plugged it in and we were off again.

The waves were never ending - so tiring - having to move with the movement of Blazer.

Eventually we turned the corner round Beachy Head and headed for the entrance channel into Eastbourne.

I called the marina and a very calm and welcome voice said that marina staff would help me to a berth - wonderful.

All tied up by 15.00 - asleep by 16.30!!

What a day - cream crackered again!!!

Three nights rest here - the winds for Friday are 50 knots! but for the weekend are light - Nigel might be able to join me for the last three legs back to North Fambridge where an annual berth waits for Blazer - She will like that.

Overall, this trip will show that the Channel islands are doable in two weeks without killing yourself.

So we can pick up the trip in the future and carry on - Nice Thought.

Planning now for the next leg - maybe Dover?

Mike

Rough Seas.

A close shave.

Sunday 30th September.

Planning for this trip gave winds for today at 15 to 20 knots in the morning and 15 to 30 knots in the afternoon. I know 30 knots is a lot - force 7 - but with is being SW it would be friendly - so I thought.

A 05.30 start - not good - a soon as I dropped the mooring rope and motored in the dark into the middle of the harbour I saw that the plotter screen was frozen.

This first part of the navigation is crucial - between rocks on either side of the fairway out to sea.

I reverted to plan B and used the leading lights to line up the track out to sea - then the plotter started to work a bit to confirm we were ok.

Once about half a mile out, I put the tiller pilot on - went below and rebooted the PC - success!!

The rest of the morning was wonderful - warm - light wind - smooth passage through both shipping lanes.

Then at half way the wind slowly picked up - I was motor sailing with full genoa and making 7 knots over the ground.

Then the waves that were overtaking me from behind started to build - 2 metres - then 3 metres.

By the time we were 8 miles off the Needles they were 4 metres!

We were tending to start broaching a bit so I put away the sail - put the engine to full.

The wind picked up to 28 to 30 knots and the tiller pilot could not cope - I hand steered.

Blazer rode the big waves as they came from behind but when on top the rudder lost it's grip and we turned sharply and slid down the back at an angle with full opposite rudder!

She sorted herself out - lined up again and same again.

As she slipped down the back of the wave she went over to an alarming angle and it took a lot to hold on and steer.

Then it got much worse - as we approached the Needles the seas built to about 5 metres and I could barely hang on! - On one broach I flew from the port coaming across the cockpit and thought - this is going to hurt.
But somehow\the deck came up to meet me and I was shaken but not hurt!!

It took every ounce of strength and skill to pass the buoys that show the Needles channel and then slowly it calmed down for the run up to Yarmouth.

In to Yarmouth at 18.00 - 12.5 hours! - Shattered.

After a good sleep and plenty of good food I'm now OK.

It looks like we might be here for a while because the wind is even stronger for the rest of this week.

We will plan more carefully this time.

Mike.

A New Plan.

Saturday 29th September

Wonderful to be back on Blazer after a month back at home and work.

Blazer has survived without any problem - apparently there have been strong North Easterly winds which makes it very lively in the harbour but no sign of trouble on board - Great.

I have decided to change plans and take Blazer back to North Fambridge in Essex.

I will get more use out of Blazer there and overall I love the area.

I hope to get most if not all the way back in two weeks and have invited Nigel to join me when we get to the South coast to help with the longer passages.

So - lots of preparation today and if the weather will let us - off to the Isle of Wight on Sunday (65 miles).

At the moment the wind is 15 to 18 knots SW which is OK and relatively calm in Braye harbour.

Last night - a meal ashore at the First and Last restaurant which was OK.

Chicken stew today - yum.

Mike.

Alderney

                                                     Little Crabby Harbour - Braye

Braye harbour - Alderney.

1st & 2nd September.

Braye harbour proper is through the gap in the sea wall above.

The photo shows the inner harbour - very shallow at low water and only for small local boats.

The main harbour is big with 70 visitors berths all buoys ( no pontoons).

Most yachts use their dinghy to get ashore but mine is a real handful to blow up and pack away.

I used the water taxi ( £1.50 each way - not bad)

The problem with Braye harbour is that it is wide open to the North east and they do get North easterly gales in winter.

It's very rolly and in a gale mooring lines can and do break.

                                                                 Braye Chippy

Exploring at the weekend I discovered Alderney to very British.

English spoken everywhere.

English currency including pound notes ( Alderney ones)

English food in the shops - no French.

Real ale in the pubs - Spitfire & Black sheep on draught!

Amazing!

                                                   The view from the saloon on Blazer.

There is one shop , a couple of hotels & a good seafood restaurant near the harbour with the only town 3/4 of a mile up the hill - St Annes.

A very nice old town - one main street - lots of small shops - I bought a big crab and good Organic brown bread great!

Sunday - planning.

I could go to Jersey next - a day sail - but I have be back home on Saturday.

I wondered about leaving Blazer here for a while - Checked with the harbour master and struck a half price deal for a month!

I doubt that I would get a deal that good in Jersey - it's a proper marina and full year round, I understand - they do't have to do deals.

I found the local airline - Aurigny - flew to Southampton every day at reasonable price.

The train from Southampton to Sheffield very cheap.

I went for it!

I had the little chandlery make up a really heavy duty mooring strop so that Blazer now has two holding her to the mooring.

I battened everything down well and Travelled home on Monday 3rd of September.

Back in two or three weeks.

As the taxi took me to the airport we were able to look down on the sea to the west of Alderney.

It's called the Swinge and is dotted with all kind of Rocks.

It is notorious for the dangerous currents and very rough water.

It was spring tides and the current could be seen flying past the rocks going North.

You would have no chance of surviving that in Blazer!

I've never seen anything like it - Wow.

When I get back it's serious planning again and I think the other side in the Alderney race might be the best bet - a lot less rocks for a start!

Mike.

Onward to Alderney

                                              The light house at Cap dela Hauge.

Saturday 1st September

Strong tides

This trip was planned and read about more than any so far - the reason is the fierce currents that run around this part of the Cherbourg peninsular.

My navigation programme said that if I left at 13.30 yesterday I would get to Braye harbour on Alderney just  before the tide turns.

I left at 13.00.

Hot and sunny with force 3 to 4 North westerly which meant we had to suffer wind against a massive tide - hang on to your hats!

It was very lumpy from the start and the wind was right on the nose  - engine on - plenty of revs and tried the foresail.

We were doing well at 8 knots over the ground but to get the sail to draw i was having to close the coast.

I persevered for an hour but in the end I put the sail away and we didn't slow down much.

I t got very lumpy off the headland in the picture above but not a problem.

I was warned from all sources not get swept down the Alderney race which runs south between Aldeney and France.

As soon as we passed the headland the full force of the tide hit us
.

Normally Blazer can manage 5 Knots under engine 6 at a push.

You can see from the photo 11.3 knots!! due West.

A few minutes later we were pointing towards a waypoint North West of Braye harbour but our track showed us going quickly South to wards Guernsey !!!

I turned Blazer North - full power - our track then was sideways at 7 knots - unbelievable !!!

We were beating the South going current thank goodness and making the proper course.

                                                        Alderney about 5 miles off

As we got nearer Alderney the force reduced and allowed me to gradually point to our destination.

We picked up the approach track in to Braye at about 2 miles off and I ran up the Q flag to say we needed to clear customs - never done that before.

The track avoids the submerged breakwater and rocks on the other side - We followed it spot on.

Into Braye 30 minutes ahead of schedule and picked up a visitors buoy first pass - great.

I was shaking!! with all the lumpy seas and pin point navigation.

It's a bit rolly here in the moorings but manageable.

In to Town today to explore.

Mike.

Still stuck in Cherbourg

Not much to report today - glad I stayed put - my wind speed recorder shows an average of force six for yesterday with one gust at force 8!!

It rained all afternoon so I didn't get many outside jobs done and no photos.

I did work on the radar - remade some connections - no improvement.
Today I will do a test procedure from the manual and see if it gives me a clue what's wrong.

I did make a cracking rabbit stew - perfect for a cool rainy day.

Sunny today - Thursday - so outside jobs priority.

Off  tomorrow - wind permitting.

Mike.

Stuck in Cherbourg

                                                            A Mc Donalds event.

Wednesday 29th August

Too Windy Again.

I checked all my weather sources yesterday - SW force 5 to 6 and rough seas.

That will give me wind against tide in the Alderney race - NO THANKS!

The forecast gives the wind easing a lot on Friday NW 2 to 3.

My pilot book says Bray harbour is well sheltered from all winds except NW!

To quote Tom Cunliffe in the Shell channel pilot only a madman would stay there in NW winds.

Well they should be light - going lighter on Saturday - I'm going.

So another rest day yesterday - Tuesday.

Read a lot - went to the little market in the big square with the fountain.

Interesting - I sat on a bench to eat my very spicy hot dog and people watched.

The market stalls were not stalls at all but boxes of fruit and veg which were raised up on two or three empty crates.

The produce was not like we see in our markets all uniform and spotlessly clean.

This was definitely locally grown and some stalls had just a few things.

There were no assistants serving and the customers, mainly women, were helping themselves - handling the produce and rejecting any that wasn't up to scratch!

Try doing that in Sheffield market !!

They then took the bags to the weigh and pay person - simple.

I'm sorry my camera batteries gave up - no market pictures.

Later in the afternoon I heard a public address system and went to investigate.

It appeared to be a sport for kids event by Mc Donalds.

                                                   Is that Ronald Mc Donald ?

It was well laid out in the park behind the marina with all kinds of sporty things set up.

                                                    Including a good sized swimming pool!

                            It looked to be well attended and  well organised with music and dancers.

                                                   
                              I then walked all the way out to the inner sea wall for a bit of exercise.

So - Not a lot to report - but warm and sunny - A holiday feel to the trip.

Jobs today -

Fill up with fuel.
Sort the radar.
Stow the solar panels
Some laundry
Cook the rabbit stew
Passage planning.

Better get going.

Mike.

Return to Cherbourg.

                                                 A fantastic bakery in Cherbourg town centre.


A restful day.

I was originally due to travel on Saturday but the ferry was cancelled due to high winds and 3 metre waves!

So I re- booked everything for Sunday and it turned out to be a long day.

Left home at 06.45 - Taxi to the station - train to St Pancress - London.

Tube to Victoria - or so I thought - WRONG!.

I was well on the way when I checked the itinerary - Saturdays said Victoria - Sundays said Waterloo!!

Panic!

I retraced my steps then set off on the Northern line but it took forever I got to Waterloo 5 minutes after my train to Portsmouth had gone!!

Then a bit of good luck - there was another in 20 minutes - and my ticket was flexible.

Then a bit more luck - I got a text from Brittany Ferries to say the Ferry was delayed an hour due to high winds in the morning.

I could relax - Taxi from the station to the ferry terminal - Then 3 hours on the Fast Cat to Cherbourg.

Statistics - 6,500 Tons - can take 260 cars - Cruising speed 42 knots - max 46 knots.
                 Cost £30 million second hand - made of aluminium - in Tasmania.

It was a bit of a sea running but quite comfy sat down but difficult to walk around.

A taxi to the Marina saw me on board at 21.00 - tired out.

Monday (yesterday) I managed a restful day - Getting Blazer back to operational and shopping.

On the way to the big supermarket I wandered around the town centre for the first time but being Monday most shops were closed.

                                                 A massive theatre in a grand square.

It is quite an interesting town and I saw enough to make me go in again today when things will be on the go.

I found the market hall which should be open today.

                                                       A big bronze fountain - no water.

I stocked up on all the usual goodies in the supermarket and ate a seafood meal in the cockpit - crab and the freshest whelks in their shells - wonderful.

So - now rested - a quick trip into town then passage planning and weather checking for the trip to Alderney hopefully tomorrow.

Mike.

Blazer Gets A Rest.

                                                     Blazer at her berth in Cherbourg.

Saturday 28th July.

Storm !!


After 3 nights in St Vast  got up at 03.30 on Friday and prepared for the trip to Cherbourg - 36 miles - and really strong tides to deal with around the top of the Cherbourg peninsular.

The previous afternoon I worked out that if I left at high tide St Vast, or a bit earlier, the tide would be going with us all the way.

At 04.15 there were flashes of lightning in the clouds but no thunder and the wind was blowing force 4.

I waited until the flashes had passed to the South and set off at 06.00 in company with a fine Swedish boat about the same size as Blazer.

When we got out into St Vast Bay - WOW - the wind had picked up to force 6 and the waves were Huge.

Blazer seemed to be coping fine and I Reasoned that it would calm down now the storm had passed.

I pressed on.

About an hour later the sky went dark the wind picked to almost force 7 and we were crashing into each big wave - then the fork lightning started way off to the West.

It started to rain really hard then the fork lightning was ahead of us - massive streaks from clouds to sea.

I'm sure I could smell burnt air.

Then there was a much closer flash off to the East of us with a terrific crack!

All it needed was the stereo playing the Ride of the Valkyries to complete the Epic.

Then it stopped lightning and gradually the wind dropped - by the time we reached the top corner we were much more comfortable.

The rest of the trip was straight forward engine on and genoa helping we were doing 9.5 knots over the ground at one stage - we got the tide right.

Lots of gannets around.

Into Cherbourg at midday  - Great.

Cherbourg is a massive port - Thousands of berths - 300 visitors berths - lots of British boats.

Now I've been working out what to do next - the channel islands are just round the corner and I would like to visit them and take my time - maybe 2 weeks.

Cherbourg would be a good place to leave Blazer for 3 or 4 weeks if it was economical -

There is a fast ferry to Poole from here.

I checked, and they give a big discount for a months stay - I paid up.

I plan to go home on Monday 30th July - ferry and train.

                                                                   My folding bike.

Today - Saturday - is warm and sunny so I got the bike out and explored.

It's not really a holiday destination but it a nice city.

There is a huge grand building on one quay that was the old transatlantic terminal were Titanic set off from.

                                           A very big bronze statue of Napoleon on a horse.

I cycled through town to the monster Carefoure supermarket and bought an umbrella - (The Umbrella's of Cherbourg) a garden one that now forms a sun shade in the cockpit  - It fits through a new hole in the table and works well.

All that's left now, is to clean up and pack - End of Phase One.

Approximately 261 miles travelled - Great.

A day of Rest.

                                              Blazer (with the orange fender) in St Vast.

Wednesday 25th  July.

Still hot and Sunny.


I cleaned up the cockpit and filled the water tank this morning - shipshape.

The marina facilities are top quality and spotlessly clean - flowers everywhere - lovely.

It feels strange somehow - the water in the marina is kept in by a lock gate which only opens near high tide.

At low tide the whole area outside dries out completely, revealing massive areas of farmed oyster beds with tractors buzzing about.

St vast is quite a small town but has some posh shops - one famous one is M Gosselin.

It is full of very high priced fruit and veg - very nicely presented groceries and a wine department to die for -
Wow!!
Room after room of wines - all in proper bins - some in locked vaults  - with prices sky high.

I bought milk.

                                   There's a surprise - a shop selling nothing but oysters - Heaven.

                                           This fish shop was beautifully laid out - a treat to see.

Needless to say I bought oysters prawns and whelks in their shells for lunch.

Back on board  - the marina gate opened and an old boat came in and moored at the side of Blazer.

The owner - a Belgian guy had sailed it around the world alone!!

We had a great afternoon talking about his experiences.

                                                      Jean Heylbroeck - circumnavigator.

His boat - Chartist Lady - a British 1974 Elizabethan no bigger than Blazer.

I'm moving on again on Thursday afternoon but probably only into the bay outside to anchor.

The next part of the coast is a headland notorious for really fast tides - I need to plan the passage to have the tide helping me - not against me.

At anchor, I can leave when I want, not when the gate opens.

Mike.

The Big Trip

                                                             Monday - wash day.

Monday / Tuesday 23rd / 24th July

Hot and Sunny.


Got the bike out and explored Fecamp - very busy - lots of holidaymakers - another pebble beach.

People swimming in the sea.

I did two lots of washing - expensive - 7 Euros a load - it's done - dried in no time.

Boiling hot - I tried to buy a beach brolly - I couln't find anywhere selling beach stuff - can you believe it.

I had a couple of hours sleep got up at 11pm and set off for St Vast.

My idea was to miss the industrial area of the Seine estuary and to miss the Normandy beaches which don't have much in the way of marinas and besides I had seen the war graves and paid my respects on a previous holiday a few years ago.

                     Night sailing - view from the saloon - that's the flag in the glow of the stern light.

Perfect preparation prevents poor performance!


Or something like that.

I motored out of Fecamp and out to sea a bit - the realised that the tiller pilot was not on deck.

I stopped - went below - got it plugged it in - fiddled with the plug - got it going - then looked around and realised the tide had pushed us North of the harbour entrance - ROCKS!

I immediately got out of there and saw someone flashing a powerful light from the cliff top at Blazer.

Then the coast guard made contact and asked if we were Ok.

You think no one is watching in the night - Wow.

I had failed to check the cross tide at the entrance - we had to motor very fast to make 2.5 knots to safety.

I got away with it - not by much!!

I was a bit shook up but calmed down and settled into a chilly night passage under engine - no wind.

It was slow going against the tide but I calculated that we had all on to get into St Vast before they closed the gate that keeps the water in the marina at 4 pm local time.

It got light around 05.30 and started to warm up about 08.00.

                           There was no traffic at all until we reached the traffic lanes into the Seine.

This container ship came at me at 15 knots and I didn't even try to work out who had right of way - We circled round a bit to let him pass.

The AIS system on the pc was great - giving his course and speed - 15 knots -(no wash?) and 295 degrees.

I set the radar to measure the bearing from Blazer to him - 295 degrees - Collision situation.

Easy to sort out - he was 3 miles away.

The great thing is that the instruments would have worked the same way in fog - always possible on night passages.

The AIS said he was bound for Southampton and had a draught of 14 metres and was 330 metres long -

That's around 1000 feet.

Clear of the lanes the passage fell into an empty sea, an odd trawler in the far distance, haze all around and boiling hot.

Loads of sun cream on - keep pushing - the tide turned in the night and we were doing  7 knots over the ground at one stage - but now the speed was dropping again in the complex currents of the bay.

I saw a Gannet fishing - wonderful how they spot fish from about 20 feet up - nose dive at high speed and just before they hit the water they fold their wings back.

The plotter did wonders again and we arrived spot on in the bay in front of St Vast - I picked out the long break water and we were in through the gate with an hour to spare.

Blazers engine has never worked so hard - near flat out for 14.5 hours  - 68 miles - that re-build a few years ago paid off.

Completely exhausted I tidied up - paid up for 2 nights and crashed out for 10 hours.

We are moving on.

Mike.

Onwards To Fecamp

                                                          Lovely blue / green sea.        

Sunday 22nd July

A day you dream of.


I decided to press on to Fecamp about 32 miles and left 09.00 in hot sunshine and no wind.

Not ripple on the sea - engine on.

About 2 miles out there is a wreck marked by a buoy and I was making sure that We didn't hit it  when I saw -

DOLPHINS !!!

There were two - playing around the buoy jumping high out of the water - I was so excited I forgot the camera.

As I got close they swan directly to Blazer and dived under the bow and away behind.

I watched them as I went on my way for about 10 minutes - Fantastic - this far North.

                                                         Nuclear power stations.

The coast here is mainly cliffs - a light brown colour  - with villages and small towns in the gaps - nice.

I have seen 3 big nuclear power stations - the French have no problem with them - this one had 5 reactors.

The sun was really hot - lots of sun cream - it works - factor 25.

                                                       The view from the saloon.

The wind picked up and I put all sail up + engine - but it was slow going against the tide - but I didn't care it was great.

when I got to within 6 miles of Fecamp  I was tired of the mainsail flapping around in the very light wind as Blazer rolled with the swell - I stopped and put the sails away.

While stopped I tried fishing with my mackerel rod - first cast - 3 mackerel - great - fish for tea.

I tied up in Fecamp at about 6pm and found my Belgian friend Gee was still there - we had a nice chat on his boat.

I went shopping and bought a warm fresh baguete at 8pm on Sunday - the French.

The fish went down a treat - cooked in foil parcels with garlic - onion and lemon juice.

Just with the fresh bread and a glass of Muscadet - wonderful sat in the cockpit in the last of the sunshine.

                                          The view across the harbour - expensive looking pads.

I'm here for one more night to explore - I might get the bike out - it's a holiday town.

What a day.

Mike.

Dieppe

                                          The huge marina at Dieppe - Blazer is out of sight.

Saturday 21st July.

A lovely sunny day.


Dieppe is great - The marina is one of the best that I have seen - in the afternoons there are three young attendants that run around showing incoming boats to there visitors berths and taking their lines - great for me - single handed.

The marina is huge - the picture above shows half of it!

The tide has a huge range here - 8 metres! - it is spring tides - they are the biggest.

                                                    The promenade next the marina.

                Hot and sunny yesterday - I walked into town and found it to be - MARKET DAY!

It is the biggest market I've ever seen - stretching over many streets - selling mainly food stuffs and clothes -
Lots of veg and local cheese.

One stall just had a big bowl of live snails and a youngster had all on to keep them in the bowl - should have taken a picture.

The fish stalls by the marina were doing a roaring trade, even at the high prices mostly 20 Euros per kilo.

I bought seafood - oysters - crab and prawns - great.

                                 I found the beech later on - all pebbles - lovely blue - green sea.      

                                    Scores of cafes by the marina  - all busy.

A nice house near the Aquarium - I visited it - a great display of sea fish - big ones too.

                                                A kite flying display on the prom. - octopus.

                                                                  A sea horse kite.

Near the kites was a show jumping event - lots going on and all very busy - great to see.

I had a fantastic meal on board in the evening - all the seafood.

Moving on today - not sure how far - not much wind.

Mike.

On the move at last

                                                   The coastline South of Boulogne.

Going For It.


Saturday - 21st July


I was chatting to a Belgian man in Boulogne and he was waiting for the better weather on Friday.

He was going to Dieppe - 50 miles.

I decided to go for it and join him.

It was cool - overcast - 07.30  start - the wind just enough off the nose to allow my course of  -
210 degrees.

It was virtually a straight run for 11 hours - but very bumpy.

I was geared up for it with the cockpit all set up.

The top picture shows my nav plotter screen - which looks blank - but it is actually showing the route and exactly where I am - and it's big enough to see from the helm.

I have my hot water flask fixed in the corner and a soft rubber bin for all the odds and ends.

The bottom picture shows my goodie box - with Bovril drinks - dried fruit - cup a soups - chocolate  - and a pot noodle.

The top picture shows the tiller pilot - which keeps the heading that I set - I prefer that to complete automatic steering the route - it would do it but I have to have something to do.

The bottom picture shows the cockpit instruments - left to right.

Radar - GPS  repeater - Depth - Wind speed and direction - Speed through the water and distance log.

And just to complete the tour - on the port side - the out board for the dinghy (with one of Jayne's smart covers) and of course my strong fishing rod in it's holder - as yet  -NO FISH.

The only casualty of the bumps was that stuff must have been jumping around in the fridge and rubbing against the thermostat - it moved to maximum and froze everything!!

A bit of sticky tape required.

I sailed close hauled on starboard tack all day but the wind picked up and we had 20 degrees of heel.

That's too much so I reefed the genoa and left full main up.

The other boat - German - had a 2 metre keel and left me standing - so I reverted to cheating and turned on the engine - I kept up.

                                                         Dieppe port at 2 miles off.

Dieppe is more of a holiday town and I'm going to be here 2 nights to recover and look around.