Crossing

We left Dartmouth at 0415  which happily was pretty light, and had a 14 hour crossing with much checking of our position, as we motor sailed much of the long 74 miles to Alderney. There was some proper sailing later and some quite mountainous seas where the horizon became nothing more than a frilly line, so you couldn't see the container ships approaching on the marine motorway that is called a Traffic Separation Scheme.

Alderney, we discovered, was a charming small island. (See pics) On our day off we walked around the main town, visited its splendid church known as the Cathedral of the Isles and bought some lovely artisan bread. Later we fitted in a swim from a white sand beach and had drinks at the yacht club and dinner in a local restaurant. 

Today we made the 4 hour trip from Alderney to Guernsey through the notorious Swinge, part of the racing tidal madness that surrounds the Channel Isles. It was something like being in a washing machine but more like steering a ten tonne washing machine that leaps up and down in a confusion of waves. After that we did have some fine gentle sailing.

We arrived at the same time as lots of other yachts on the same rally, and when the tide rose enough for us to enter the marina, there was another queue to moor. We are third boat out from the pontoon, attached to two other boats with a long cable to link us up to electricity. 

Tonight there is dinner at the local yacht club. Lesley has a sunburnt face which is tomato red( the factor 50 didn't cut it) and we are tired but still up for it.