The clock on Britannia Royal Naval College struck seven bells, and Liquid Asset slipped her mooring lines. In the previous hour the crew were busy clearing the decks, dismantling shore power, slipping the lines and dressing the yacht by raising the ensign.
Dartmouth Harbour was quiet and still asleep as we moved slowly through the marina, then into the main river and then past the castle towards the open seas. Winds were light in the sheltered bay.
It wasn’t long before the winds started to increase so it was time to set the sails. Main sail first then the head sail was raised in full to catch all the wind from the west. The automatic pilot was set to a waypoint just north of Alderney. The instruments calculated a 13 hour passage with ETA 20:00.
A Code Zero sail is an enormous headsail. It is made of a light cloth and balloons out allowing it to catch any light winds. It is a new addition to the wardrobe and we’ve never raised one before now.
“Shall we get out the Big One?… Within 10 minutes the ETA dropped to 17:00 and we were ‘flying’ at 7kts
A simple breakfast on deck and we settled down to appreciate our new surroundings – nothingness, empty seas, wind pressing against the sails, sheets tight against the winches and the yacht cutting through waves.
The shipping lanes are highways of the sea created to keep ocean vessels apart. The English Channel lanes funnel tankers and cargo ships from all US, Mediterranean Sea, and Africa into Europe. It’s busy, it’s very busy. Fortunately we have experience and instruments to cross safely.
The greater challenge is avoiding French fishing boats that ply back and forward in the separation zones.
All good. The winds were steady, the boat speed was at least 7kts (max 8.5kts) and Alderney appeared on the horizon at exactly 15nm distance.
We lowered the ‘Big One’ and sailed on to within 1.5nm of Braye Harbour. On arrival, every mooring buoy was taken, so we anchored in the sheltered bay, ate on deck and watched the sun set.
Music wafted through the evening air. Our french neighbours were on deck and one person had started to play on a button accordion. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and from a distance it wasn’t too bad! Slowly, one by one, the audience began to go below deck. It was a sorry sight to see the accordionist all alone as she played her favourite french tunes. We retired below deck and the music wafted through the evening air.
Until tomorrow… Zzz
Experience Sailing 