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.

Testing Times

The Outer Harbour.

Still Blowing Hard.


Thursday 06.40

Yesterday I Looked at the forecast  in the marina office and it gave force 4 with gusts up to force 7 for today.

That is not much better than current wind.

I decided to walk down to the beech and check conditions in the outer harbour.

A nice walk past the fishing boats unloading their catch and sorting their nets.

Then on past the redundant ferry terminal - or at least it appears to be - It looks in a poor state of repair and I haven't seen any ferries - maybe since the tunnel started?

Lots of school parties - masses of coaches - a big indoor swimming pool - very nice.

Five friterie vans in the coach park selling chips with all manner of garnish - I managed to order in French for once.

The wind increased significantly when I got to the beech - blowing straight at the beech.

The outer harbour is massive (4 square miles) and the outer wall to the left of the entrance was taking a battering.

The waves were crashing over it and shooting high into the air.

Then I noticed a big yacht (50 feet ish) it had been moored next to me last night - It was making it's way across the harbour to the entrance.

Once it got close it turned into the wind, put the sails up and sailed into the waves.

I could see that it was bouncing around quite a bit.

I don't want to be out in that lot.

I need to stay until Friday - all the forecast are showing lower winds.

                                                               More of the beech.

I walked back via a small park and came across a wonderful Merry Go Round - Beautifully made.

Cooked the chicken for tea - great  - and an early night.

Mike.

Still Too Windy

                                            The saloon - looking towards the fore cabin.

Getting a bit cabin crazy.


Wednesday 18th July - 09.00.

Yesterday was very windy - only the biggest yachts were going out.

Today is the same - wind average force 5 - gusts to force 7  - from 3 sources.

Tomorrow looks OK.

More jobs yesterday.

I think that my new phone  is finally sorted - almost.

The little shop where I bought it sorted out the registration at 6pm last night - but it takes 24 hours to become effective and after that I can put in the code number and get the credit to make calls.

Comm port.

The plot thickens - I had another go and concluded that I have connected things correctly and I have installed the right driver. - the problem is that the instruments don't like one another!!

Now I know that, I can deal with it - a multiplexer - simple.

                                                                Mainsail cover.

One of the 6mm ropes that hold up the mainsail cover and guide the sail into the bag when you drop it had become frayed through chafing.

These ropes are called Lazy Jacks and are really good.

They were all looking a bit tatty anyway so I bought a 50 metre length of bright red shiny rope on Ebay to replace them.

I waited for the sun to come out and pre made the four ropes with Nylon eyes whipped at one end.

Two ropes go up each side of the mast and go over little pulleys about 20 feet up.

Needless to say one of the ropes escaped my hand and the nylon eye ended up the mast.

Now - I have all the gear to climb the mast and I have done in the past but not in this wind.

So I made a 20 foot fishing rod out of 2 light weight rods and a boat hook with a wire coat hanger - all taped together with pvc tape.

About an hour later I hooked the eye and finished the job - it's hard to see in the photo - it looks very good.

Only little jobs today - cook the chicken for lunch - prepare for the trip - an 8 am set off will do.-
20 miles to Le Touquet.


Next post Thursday pm.

Mike.

Too Windy

                                                                  Harm and Ilona.

A strange day.


The wind was whistling through the marina - I was not going to sea today.

It was cold and overcast - raining on and off - miserable.

In stead - more jobs.

PC.

First I stripped out my computer and opened it up to replace the power supply with a new one that has a lower voltage threshold (6 volts).

This will keep the pc going even when I start the engine.

It's not a good thing, loosing your plotter at the moment you enter port and put the engine on.

Then I tried to find the new power supply - in it's white cardboard box.

After 30 minutes I gave up and put the pc back together - frustrating - but no big deal.

COMM PORT

Next job was to wire an new pc input from the NMEA wind instrument.

This is so that my navigation software can show the wind direction and strength on the plotter screen.

It will also show the course to steer allowing for leeway.

All wired up - checked the pc - the navigation software recognised the new comm port - but no signal!!

After another frustrating 30 minutes I gave up again.

PHONE

I walked into town to put credit on my new phone.

The shop where I bought it from was closed for the day.

I went to the big Orange shop - they didn't speak English.

I went to the small Orange shop - the girl there spoke English.

I bought a voucher for 40 Euros and she said I just rang 224 and put in the code number.

Back on board - NO CHANCE!!

I took the phone and vouch to the marina office - they translated the message - my phone is not registered to accept credit - AAHH!

Frustrated again - I need to go to the shop where I bought the phone on Tuesday which means staying another night.

SHOPPING.

This job went well - I stocked my fridge with fresh chicken, beef and pork.

Two heavy bags full of goodies - sorted.

Late afternoon Harm from the boat next door knocked on Blazer and asked if I would like to visit their boat - Calluna for a tour - great.

WOW - what a boat.

I didn't ask the length but I guess it to be 20 metres.

A steel boat - 25 tonnes.

!2 years old and they have lived aboard for 7 years in Holland but cruised regularly.

It was spacious and beautiful below and very well arranged.

An engine room that you can stand up in!!

I was invited to stay for dinner and Ilona cooked a wonderful Salmon pie with salad.

Over coffee we put the world right and Harm gave good advice for the trip ahead - ENJOY IT.

They left for Dunkerque at 09.00 today - Wednesday.

Good friends.

Mike.

Summer at last.

                                                            Avant port Boulogne.

What a Clot I am!


Sunday 15th July - sunny and warm - I thought I might have a lazy day - a few jobs perhaps - stock up with food - generally, brain in neutral.

I suddenly realised that boat after boat was leaving the marina for ports up and down the coast - but I still didn't think to work out why.

The weather!!

When I finally checked the forecast - very strong winds for the next few days - OH HECK.

Too late to get everything sorted by then - I stayed put.

Jobs.

I have stripped and oiled the tiller which now looks great and I've added a whipped hand grip which works well - today I shortened the telescopic extension a re-fitted it properly.

This will make helming much more comfortable - I can sit on the side deck and see around the spray hood.

I'm very pleased with that.

Next- I sorted the depth sounder.

It had become so erratic that you had no idea what the reading was - I thought that I should buy a new one.

I checked the transducer and suspected that the glycerin level in the deck fitting might be low - I recently bought a small bottle of it on Ebay.

I poured in about an egg cup full - refitted the transducer- pushed it down hard to get all the air out.

BINGO!!

The display is back to normal - I should have done this job a lot sooner.

Brilliant.

Next job - Phone.

I have attempted to adapt my iphone to work in France.

I bought a French Simm card in England  but when I tried it i found that my phone is Simm locked.

I found the Orange shop in town and they said that they couldn't unlock it.

I tried a backstreet phone shop and he said No Problem.

4 hours later - No Joy.

I bought a cheap French Phone - Simple.

Then of course - the instructions are all in French - it took a couple of hours and some Internet searching to work out the basic functions - DONE.

All I have to do on Monday is find out how to put credit on it.

Shopping
The sun came out and it was very hot.

I walked into town and found that only the bread shop, cafes  and paper shops were open.

No chance of stocking up today!

Mid afternoon a lovely, big sailing yacht moored up alongside Blazer.

The kind of yacht that could easily go around the world in comfort.

The owners are a Dutch couple who are on their way back to Holland after a 15 month trip to Portugal.

They kindly invited me on board for a drink and after that we all went out for a great meal in the town at the O Sud restaurant.

It was the best steak I have had in a long time - Fabulous.

A great Day.

Mike.

Discover Boulogne

                                               The old - walled part of Boulogne

What a find.


Today - Saturday - I Walked into town and found the old - walled part - delightful.

Lots of reasonably priced restaurants and shops.

Parties of school children - mainly British.

                                                                 The main street .

                                                         Moules and Frites.

I couldn't resist - and good value at 8.90  Euros - + the wine.

                                              I didn't have desert but came across bun shop.

                                                                      WOW!!

At 27 Euros  each - but they were works of art.

I walked back to marina and came across the weekly market - packing up - DRAT.

I love markets - must ask at the marinas in future - when market day is.

Next job - plan the next move.

Mike.

Lazy day in Bolougne

                                                       Blazer at her berth in Boulogne.

Sunshine at last!


I've still got no idea what time it is - I must be on holiday or it would matter.

                                                             The local Supermarche' 


The sun shone yesterday - Great - tidied up - used the very nice ablution block ( the French have always led the way) - emailed Mum - and then off to the shops.


I first found the chandlers - well you have to - 2 charts showing the rest of Northern France.

Then a nice man pointed me in the direction of the supermarche'.

Fantastic - not one item I recognised - stocked up on baguettes - petits pois - fromarge - and of course wine.

                                                     Fish stalls alongside the fish quay.

I fancied some fish for lunch, so I made my way to the fish stalls which were all closing!!

I bough six oysters - and a smallish flat fish - I think was Sole.

They had lots of bigger flat fish with orange spots - Turbot?

                                                                  A simple lunch.

Now that's what  I like - simplicity - Oysters -  a little lemon - bread - Muscadet.

I lazed in the cockpit all afternoon in very hot sunshine - met the nice Dutch couple on the next boat - he's a lawyer.

Put up the French courtesy flag - Installed the outboard engine on it's new mount board.

Cooked the fish for tea - delicious!!

An early night - What a \GREAT DAY.

Mike.