Braye, Alderney to Yarmouth IOW

Jonathan Harwood

Left mooring in Braye harbour at 0615, had great sail for first five hours under main & cruising chute. Then in middle of west-bound shipping channel had to take down the cruising chute due to squall & high winds; then take avoiding action from a container ship and a tanker. Used engine to get back up tide & out of shipping channel before hoisting main & jib. Fast sailing, increasing winds forced second reef in main & jib. Hit very bumpy tidal conditions entering Needles channel but then sea settled and had very pleasant evening sail down to Yarmouth Harbour, picking up a berth outside at approx 1900. Good sailing but the day was a bit of a ‘curate’s egg’.