Portsmouth to Cherbourg

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!