Guernsey
20 August 2010 49:27.18N 02:32.04W Left Braye at 10.30, through the Swinge (a tidal race) at
12.00 with BIG overfalls, Robbie helming. He likes that sort of thing, also
helmed through the Portland Race a year ago. As we approached Guernsey, we
realised that a thick mooring line used at We radioed St Peter Port, telling them we would be coming in
under sail, and tacked up the Little Russel against the tide. Slow progress,
but we got there eventually, early enough to drop sails and be towed once in
the harbour by a RIB over the sill into Victoria Marina. They suggested us
drying out on a concrete pad, but got the depth wrong and we grounded half way
onto it. The tide was going out quite quickly, so rapid action required to
avoid many hours of embarrassment if not damage the old bird. As two
harbourmasters RIBs were trying to pull us off a Frenchman above me on the quay
called la drisse (the halyard)
and of course he was right. We shackled a long line to the halyard, asked one
of the RIB guys to take it to the pontoon opposite where the Frenchman had
gathered a small group of volunteers. I got all of us leaning out on that side
of the boat, the Frenchmen (and some locals) hauled on the halyard, pulling the
top of the mast over while two RIBs pulled like hell. With a nasty grinding
sound and well heeled over we came free. Once on a pontoon, we could see the
line round the prop, but decided a slap-up meal at Dix-Neuf in St Peter Port was
required. |