Graham Hathaway

The passage was much slower than expected due to lower than expected wind. Consequently, we missed the west going tide as we had planned. Aiming directly for the entrance, rather than upstream, the east going tide at Cherbourg entrance pushed us further east towards Barfleur! Not what we wanted! As darkness fell we were still 5 -10 miles out of Cherbourg, but while looking for the entrance, but we managed to spot fishing vessels returning into the western entrance. With patience, reliable engine, excellent crew sight on the bow with powerful flashlight, and careful reading of the leading lights, we just managed to slide into the western entrance, after eschewing the eastern one due to the rocks just downstream. We had an eerie motor across the outer harbour and then the inner, before dropping at the surprisingly poorly lit visitor’s pontoon about 23:30. First channel crossing, first proper night sail, survived!

After the wind backed overnight, leaving us moored in a very rolly Studland Bay all night, we had pretty big seas across the bays back to Hurst. Shot through Hurst at 7-8kts SOG and past Cowes maintaining excellent speed and were back in time to watch the Sail GP in Portsmouth! Excellent day!