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.