Big One today

Andy Riches

1st September Tues Up at 0600, Nik a bit earlier. Coffee and sorted lines for leaving reversing into a strong incoming tide. Motored in reverse out of berth into the tide. Good boat behaviour! Reversed into fuel pontoon and out of Harbour. 0655. Checked out with Douane yesterday for 0700. 5 knots of wind. Motored out . Main up motored with good tide with us SOG 8knts . Bit of swell. Lovely sunrise. 0900 altered course 10 to stb to clear Les triagoz light and rocks 0920 altered 10 back Motored mostly but managed to sail about 2 hours in between 8-10 knots SW just off a run. Managed between 3.5 and 4.5 SOG. Tide 1.5-2 against. Tide approaching Guernsey from SW: Reduced to 0.5 against 8 miles sw of st martins light by 1645 bst. Had been fighting up to 2 knots previously. By 1700 only 0.2 against seemed to increase to 0.5 as we closed17.05 ) seems to go slack 1720 (HW Dover + 3) 1730 Definitely a bit of tide with us 0.2? 3.5m sw of st martins light HW Dover 1427 bst 6.96m 2 days after springs 1745 Dolphins off St Martins! Lots! And 1 knot with us 1800 at st Martins 2 knots with us Once around st Martins slack 1810 1 knot against us off fernaine bay