The Alderney Race

Mira's Web Diary
Gordon and Catherine
Sun 6 Jul 2014 18:42

49:38.75N 01:37.23W Friday - we hear a strong wind forecast for the Channel Islands so it’s time to make our exit while conditions are favourable to tackle the Alderney Race.  Rates of tide reach 7-8 knots at springs so we’re keen to make the passage at neaps with the wind behind us.  The pilot book is full of gloom and doom so as I make the sandwiches for lunch I wonder whether we ought to eat them before we set off just in case!  In reality it’s a beautiful calm day with light winds and sparkly seas and we sail up easily between Alderney and mainland France with speed over the ground reaching 9.9 knots at one point.  The tide’s in our favour all the way and we cruise into Cherbourg ahead of time, back into euroland for a few more days.