Channel crossing to Hythe

Motoring away from Dielette.

We left Dielette at 06.30h to have enough water under the keel and hit the Alderney Race at the turn of tide.

Au revoir France

The sea was flat, with just 5 kts of wind on the nose. So we motor sailed to the the Race, and powered on through to the channel at up to 11kts.

Essential to time the Race

With tide in our favour we made sold speed eastward, making 50 miles in 7hrs.  But when the tide turned the pace dropped with the wind and the engine employed for the final 20 miles.

Flying across the Channel at 9kts SOG with 12kts of wind

Arrivng at the Solent the wind had dropped off completely, we had a really calm motor on mirror flat water, we entered Southampton Water at about 21.00h and finally arrived at Hythe 22.00, with 104 miles behind us.

Southampton Water

Next leg Round the Island Race 1 July.

Mr Blue Sky sporting RTI race stickers

Dielette - last Port of call en France 🇫🇷

Last voyage for Jim & Taff

This was to be the last voyage for our two furry ship mates, as they are to travel back to the UK by car and recognised carrier, as it is against the law to repatriate dogs on private vessels.

We left Granville Harbour in a bit of a blow, and short chop over the shallow water. The temperature had dropped by half  to 15c Which was bit of a shock. We had a 50 mile passage north, through shallow water and rocky reefs, that would require some precise navigation, a task not helped with the conditions.

Brrrr it’s a bit chilly.

It got worse, the sea got angry, the wind blew harder and it was right on the nose, so the engine remained on until we were able to escape the clutches of the Normandy coast.

Holiday over, lets go home!

As we ventured further north the wind continued BFT 4-5, but backed from NW to W which allowed the sails to take full power and engine off. We made good progress with tide for the next 5 hrs, but inevitably the tide turned and we were battling against 3kts, but at least the sea flattened and we were sailing.

EDF Nuclear Power Plant at Cap de Flamanville

After 10 hrs of rocking and rolling we arrived at the Cap de Flamaville, and the port of Dielette.

Tied up in Dielette, exhausted!

The Port is a remote half comercial and half marina, although neither seemed to be doing much trade. Dielette also has a drying entrance which made timing essential HW +-3 hrs to have sufficient water under the keel.

Dielette, a remote port under Cap de Flamanville

Saturday, and the wind has increased to BFT 5-6, a bit gloomy but the sun is forecast for later. Josh & Sally arrive today to collect Jim & Taff, we hope the weather improves for them.

Josh and Sally arrived

The weather didn't improve or worsen, still blowing BFT4 increasing to 5/6 at times, but made little difference as our new arrivals were glad to be on their holibobs.

Won’t be sorry to leave the tides behind

Sunday we took the car to Carteret, a small Harbour we had passed by as only a few miles from Dielette. Lovely little Harbour, wished we'd gone there instead really as a bit more to see and do!

Time came to say our goodbyes to Jim & Taff, quite an emotional time having your shipmates drive away.

Bye Jim & Taff, see you the other side.

Decided to delay our departure for England until Monday 06.30h as the weather looked more appealing, didn't fancy Alderney Race wind over tide at dusk.

Granville

Entrance to Granville LW. 12.5m of tide to follow in 6 hrs

Granville our penultimate stop before we cross back over the channel and into the Solent.

Relitively easy entry, just need to get the tide time right or it could be embarrassing.

Narrow streets of Granville

Met with Sue's Brother Mark, his wife Sarah and her parents for dinner as they're staying just down the road, very nice surprise.

Granville street Café’s

Went to see the old town before marching 3 miles to the Vet, so Jim & Taff could get their worming up to date and so be allowed back into England.

Last leg to Dielette tomorrow, 50 miles due North where we meet with Josh & Sally, who very kindly volunteered to chauffeur Jim & Taff back to England on ferry.

Isles Chausey

Hendrix a spec in the hazy distance

Mr Blue Sky bid farewell to Hendrix and crew as they set sail for the Guernsey and then on home to Brixham, a forecast of strong wind at the end of the week forced an early retirement.

Mr Blue Sky on the other hand set a course ENE for the Isles of Chausey, a small rocky Island ten miles WNW off the coast of Granville in Normandy. There was only 2 kts of wind so it was engine all the way, one benefit of the glass top sea was we were able to spot a pod of dolphins, and they were the largest we'd seen to date.

Good for rowing not for sailing – glass sea

Chausey is nothing more than a few fishermans cottages similar to a Scottish Croft, a Hotel and a light house. There are no motorised vehicles, just Shanks Pony for transport.

Approaching Chausey, looks like the Chinese Navy are in town.

With a twelve metre tide flowing we were not able to stay long, so just caught a mooring bouy for lunch, then set sail for Granville, this time with some wind and boat speed of 5 kts SOG, perfect to time our approach 1.5h before high water.

Leaving Chausey

Granville came into view about three miles out through the sea haze, as always a welcome sight after a day at sea.

First sight of Granville

Return to Saint Cast

Locking out at Paimpol

Necessary to cross our track but just the once thankfully, so we chose the all tide Port of Saint Cast, as enjoyed the first stop and with such great beaches and 30c+

6.5kts SOG against 3kts of tide, great close haul for 35 miles

We got our walking flip-flops out and marched over to the adjoining beach for a dip in the opal sea.

We bumped into David Hasselhoff (breathing in) & Pam An!

Not much to add really as this took most of the day,.

Miles of golden sand to ourselves

We had enjoyed an exilerating crossing from Paimpol and so we're ready for an easy day.

Hard work this sailing

Off to Granville tomorrow for Mr Blue Sky, and this could be au revoir to Hendrix, as business beckons so the fleet will set different course out of Saint Cast.

Paimpol - ha ha....it just had to happen!

Mr Blue Sky beating to windward.

We knew it was important to arrive at Paimpol +- 1hr high water as the approach dried to 5.5m above chart datum, so we required the 8m of neap tide to prevent grounding.

We also had to leave Tréguier no later than -1hr low water as the flood running against would make the slipping of lines and leaving the pontoon impossible.

Hendrix motor sailing

At 09.00h we left Tréguier as planned, motored down the river into the estuary,  even had a short sail until the wind died, but most importantly we were on target for arrival just before HW Tréguier 14.15h.

Navigating the tricky deep channel out of Tréguier

On the final approach rounding the wave screen we noted the lock gate was closed, a call was made on VHF CH9 to the lock master who informed us of a 10 minute wait - so we circled.

Hendrix increased the size of his circle until he strayed out of the deep water channel, you guessed it he ground to a halt. The crew of Mr Blue Sky enquiried whether he was beached, to his reply; "I'm beached broo - beached as" Mr Blue Sky... " you're beached broo, beached as!!

You’re beached broo?

Tow rope deployed and Hendrix tugged unceremoniously back to the channel by Mr Blue Sky

Just before the lock at LW, if you look closely you can just see Hendrix skid mark left of the white bouy.

Hendrix & Mr Blue Sky tied up in Painpol Harbour

Reflecting

Sun set at 23.00h

After that we negotiated the lock and found a suitable berth dock side in the picturesque harbour centre, lotus grill fired up and cork popped.

Excitement was all too much

Painpol is a shoppers dream, everything to keep a girl amused for hours - but that's enough about that.

Finaly before we leave Paimpol, if you can't beat them join them.

Skipper sporting a Breton hat

Time to catch the tide back to Sain Cast.

Tréguier

Rocky outcrops to avoid in the Jaudy estuary

We left Lezardrieux and the River Trieux, for the hop west to Tréguier which 6 miles up the River Jaudy.

Breton trawler

6 miles up river, destination on Port bow

Timed to perfection – slack-water G&T

Tréguier town centre is steeped in history with architecture dating back hundreds of years, we however only stepped into the Cathedral for a few moments, the rest of Saturday morning was spent in two bars and restaurant.

Tréguier river pontoons, trick mid flood with 3 kts

Tréguier Cathedral

One old relic gets into another old relic in front of another old relic in Tréguier town centre

Hottest day of the year 32c – lads in their fat suits putting up the shade on Hendrix

Tréguier is a beautiful old town well worth a visit, we will return.

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Lézardrieux

Hendrix leading the way under power

After the disappointment of St Quay, we slipped our lines at 9am to head further west in hope for a more tranquil mooring.

The journey was to be nothing remarkable as with just a few knots of wind the sails remained in the bag, with the drone of the engine for the 15 miles west. But it was a sunny day so no one was complaining, summer is here st last.

I’m ready for a dip, anyone else coming?

Bubbles are chilled

Sharing a mooring bouy for lunch at Bréhat

We opted to pick up a mooring bouy at Bréhat, an island at the mouth of the River Trieux, with an ebbing tide we only had a few hours at most to soak up some sun, and a bottle of bubbles.

Motoring 5 miles up river to Lezardrieux

There are worse places to unwind

Lezardrieux has become our favourate Port so far, with its tree lined River Dart like approach, kids playing in dinghys dodging river boats, and a welcoming yacht club to end the day.

Still waters run deep – last flood of the day.

The tides are a major factor navigating Brittany with HWS up to 11m, below there are two pictures showing about 4 hrs difference in water level

Lezardrieux to Paimpol bridge over the Trieux

Lezardrieux high street

Saint Cast to Saint Quay

The passage from St Cast to St Quay was always going to be a gentle affair, with just 7 knots NE. So once we were around the first headland, the cruising chute was out the bag towing us along at a respectful 6.5 knots SOG.

Nothing much altered for about 5 hrs, the time it took to travel 28 miles along the Opal Coast to Port Armour.

Entering the Harbour was a mixed blessing, nice to be in and tied up safe, but the town is a little disappointing, most of the architecture seems to have its origins in the 1970's - boxy and concrete.

Hendrix finally got the chute aloft, without a dunk in the sea this time

Mr Blue Sky is the red pointer

Best part of the day

Tied up on visitors pontoon St Quay.

Down wind with the chute

Saint Cast le Guildo

  10 miles west of Saint Malo we found the hidden treasure of Saint Cast, another gem on the opal coast. Saint Cast is another deep water all tides haven, which are incidentally few and often far between as we will discover as we journey further west.

We arrived at around low water after drifting with the tide for several hours, fishing line deployed but again no success. Easy to enter and this time we could take our pick of cosy berths, so Hendrix and Mr Blue Sky snuggled down next to each other for a relaxing few days.

No sooner had we tied up, Bob decided it was time to start scrubbing and polishing his boat, so Sue and I took off with Jim and Taff to explore the golden sand of the beach, before we felt peer pressured into doing the same.

A mile of empty golden sand

Second day in Saint Cast the sun was out early doors, so we agreed a cycle excursion was the order of the day, and went about making a plan, well Lisa made a plan, and a very good one it was as well.

Tuesday morning time to move on, after discussing tide tables and tidal streams, Sue proved me wrong and we could have had another hour in bed. Cast off 10am not 9am, the Skipper had been looking at Jersey time not France.

The fishing rod is bated with a nice new shiny leur, and we have a recipe for a nice meaty fish for dinner, and with only 5 knots NE we should have plenty of time to catch.

Saint Malo - first taste of Britany.

Mackerel Sky’s and mares tails tall ships set small sails.

After much deliberation, should we or shouldn't we, cross the remaining stretch of the channel that is, due to wind over tide conditions that the crew were not relishing after the last passage.

Anyway at 11.00 with the tide in our favour we set off to round the Plateau Des Minquiers (Minkes). We found with drift we were just able to hold a close haul giving us up to 7.5 knots SOG, but mostly 3-4 knots as forecast the wind died. Finally after rounding the Plateau the wind deserted us altogether and the iron sail was deployed once again.

Dusk in Saint Malo

Pan-Pan! Hendrix felt a vibration, then a shudder. Skipper Bob sprung from his slumber to stop the engine, with some forward and stern thrusting the remains of a pot bouy rope spat out the back, a relieved Hendrix motored on, very close call.

Finaly arriving at Saint Malo at 20.00, top of the tide as planned, we searched the marina for a suitable berth, but due to a YC rally all visitors space was taken, so we rafted on a hammer head and settled down to a few cold ones.

More Gold Coast than opal coast

Saint Malo was virtually destroyed during the war, but rebuilt stone for stone back to the original condition, a really remarkable town and definitely worth a visit.

RAF at their best – bang on, taste of Spitfire

Nice interlude from sight seeing

Travelling on a freedom berthing agreement called Passport Escales, we can stay at certain marinas along the coast FOC for just 2 nights, so we slipped our lines and headed west the next morning toward Saint Cast.

Jersey 🇯🇪

The passage across to Jersey was an interesting one, we started off with BFT 3-4 SW and light to moderate sea, but after leaving the lee of Guernsey East coast we were soon exposed to strong SW 5-6 and an Atlantic swell of 3m. Boat speed was good at 8.5 knots so at least we wouldn't have to tolerate the constant roll for too long.

Hendrix just out of St Peter Port, with Sark in the distance.

After approximately 15 miles the wind decreased and veered,  the sea levelled to a gentle swell of about 1m, 8-10sec intervals and we settled down to a broad reach, still achieving 6 knots SOG. Once we reached the shelter of Jersey the wind had all but gone and the sea became calm, so motor on - what a difference a few miles can make.

Condor Fast Cat leaving St Helier as we arrive.

Having arrived just in time for the best weather so far on this journey, we decided to take a cycle tour of Jersey to see some of the less known tourest spots.

Tour de Jersey on the fold up bikes + Jim & Taff in the basket.

We managed about 10 miles of up hill and down dale, before deciding it was time for a Jersey style lunch, so Bob booked us into the best in town. ( 2 x bottles of wine, fish, oysters, lamb and Jersey royals)

Guernsey 🇬🇬

Calm before the storm

Lady Luck had been on our side with a favourable wind to cross the Channel, that however was about to come to an abrupt end. There had been a gale warning issued, with winds of 60 knots and heavy rain due to cross the Channel Islands during Monday, and this time the weather forecasters were spot on. Our second night in Port was to be a long one, with the noise of the wind in the masts, the banging and squeaking of fenders and warps was just too much to sleep through.

The following Day, Tuesday, still confined to Port with the wind still gusting 40 knots   and waves of 3-4 metres , Mr Blue Sky and Hendrix were going no where. So we decided we'd take a Land yacht (bus) around the Island.

Hanois!

A must visit for the two crews was the Hanois Light House on the SW point, as this had been our nemesis since the fateful  crossing two years previous. Although we had our feet planted firmly on terra firma, the sight of the rocky outcrop still sent a shiver down my spine.

More of the Hanois

Anyway with the Hanois behind us for now, we set off to a more tranquil location for lunch, so back on the bus and set off for Fermain Bay, which would be on the sheltered side of Guernsey away from the tiresome South Westerly.  Half a Lobster and chilled bottle of Sav Blanc, combined with the best view on the Island made up for a sleepless night.

View of Fermain Bay

Channel crossing 4th June 2017.

Hendrix under reef, storm brewing to the SW

We cast off at 07.00h for our channel crossing on Mr Blue Sky, along with Bob and Lisa on Hendrix.  Bill on Black Pearl was to meet us later in the week, as was waiting for essential  supplies and crew to arrive.

Our first destination was to be St Peter Port, Guernsey  approximately a passage of 70 miles. The approach to St Peter Port was through the Little Russel, a channel where the tide can run up to 6 knots, so arriving at the right time was crucial. The tidal stream ran in our favour at 19.30, we duly arrived at 20.00! So far so good, but this is the first of many, plenty of time for that to go wrong.

Entrance to St Peter Port

In hind sight we would have left an hour or so later, as both yachts had to reef down to reduce SOG, with wind SW BFT 4-5 we could have concluded the passage in 10 hrs or less if we had unleashed the full power.  But an average of 5 knots was planned so we stuck to it, as last time we made the same voyage we arrived early and were forced to circumnavigate Guernsey via the west coast to avoid the race, a memory we shall not forget!

Mr Blue Sky & Hendrix moored in Harbour

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2017 - Mr Blue Sky Tour of Brittany

Mr Blue Sky is busy passage planning for this seasons voyage. We plan to leave the West Country at the beginning of June, head South for a stop over in the Channel Islands, and then on to explore the North Brittany coast of France. We will be accompanied by "Hendrix", an Oceanis 41 last seasons cruising partner crewed by Bob & Lisa Wheeler, and Bill (Aussie) King on "The Black Pearl" his Oceanis 38, for some or all of the voyage, depending on how long his patience lasts!

Ad, Bob and Lisa on MBS planning next voyage.

Our plan is to be back in The Solent for the Round the Island Race on 1st July. We will be joined by race crew Tom, Josh, Sam & Bally, for the first taste of competition on MBS.

last leg...."Night boat to Brixham"

Time to slip the lines for the West Country, goodbye Hamble thanks for having us but Brixham is calling. We decided to sail through the night as busy social lives and work schedule were preventing us from committing to a whole weekend. Saturday at 20.00 we sailed out of Southampton Water, into the Solent and through the Needles Channel. Night fell and it was a dark night, we hoisted the sails and settled down for 15hrs and 100 miles due west.

A NW of about 15 knots and neap tide made for a pleasant close reach along the Jurassic Coast,  Mr Blue Sky heeled over, stretched her cloth and cut through the black night at 9 + knots, seeing us to Portland Bill at slack water. Dawn brought an appropriate blue sky in Lyme Bay, with Hendrix close on our stern we eased the main sheet and snoozed the final fetch into Torbay.As had happened so many times before during our passage from the Baltic, the wind deserted us so the iron sail was cranked up to finish the final leg.

Sue had drawn the short straw and had driven down to Brixham from Hamble with Jim & Taff,  as we entered Brixham Harbour at 10.00h on Sunday morning a welcoming committee was waiting on the pontoon.

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Its good to be back, wonder where we'll go next.

A few days on the Solent...

Our journey from Breege to Brixham had a short interlude on The Hamble River, where our cruising companions "The Wheelers" joined us on Hendrix, their Beneteau Oceanis 41.

Our pause on the Solent allowed us to watch some real Yachties displaying their craft, as the Around the Island race was on the next weekend. On race day after the 1700 or so, competitors had begun, we ventured out from Hamble to get a glimpse of them disappearing through the Needles Channel, our eagerness found us mixed up with the stragglers, so got a close up and learned a few manoeuvres from the late starters.

Having decided to swap Port Hamble for Yarmouth on the Isle Of Wight, we tacked across the Solent in 25 - 30 knots of wind over a short steep chop, entered Yarmouth harbour and rafted up along side other visiting boats.

Having decided to remain on the Hamble for a few more weeks, we were fortunate to also witness the Portsmouth leg of the Americas Cup from the seaward aspect, good old BAR came up trumps winning the weekend overall keeping the team at the top of the leader board.

The Solent is not just the spiritual home to regattas, yachty types and Howard's Way, but also the cruise liners have a long history in the inner docks of Southampton, ships of all shapes and sizes depart weekly for remote destinations, filled to the brim with expectant tourist.

Selsy Bill & Southampton Water.

The last leg of this stage of our voyage was to Port Hamble, Southampton, where we intend to leave Mr Blue Sky for a few weeks to explore the Solent. So we were up with the sparrows fart again to ensure we had enough depth of water to exit Brighton Marina, at 05.30 we were ready to cast off and head west for Selsy Bill.

The wind was blowing 15 knots from the South West so we were able to hoist the sails and enjoy a close haul in the general direction of Selsy Bill.  Three hours later we had tacked 20 plus miles but only 10 miles closer to our destination. A decision was taken to drop the sails and start the motor to ensure we hit the Bill at slack water. Timing was perfect and we arrived as the tide turned and enjoyed a smooth passage.

Once on the approach to Southampton Water we were able to hoist the sails for a second time, the wind had increased to 20 knots so decided to tie in a reef and enjoy 8.5 knots SOG on a close reach to our destination.

Heeled over, just a view of blue sky from the lee side

The Solent; such a great place to be with craft of every shape and size and the back drop of  The Isle of Wight to port and Portsmouth to Starboard.

Finaly made it to Port Hamble and tied up for the last time, for this part of our journey anyway.

Courtesy flags – Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium & France, what a fantastic experience.

Final leg in a few weeks when we complete our journey, Breege to Brixham.

Thanks for your support.

A few miles more...

With the thunder and lightning passed and a sunny evening forecast, the remaining 2 crew decided to hop from Eastbourne to Brighton, just 20 odd miles west along the coast, this would ease the final leg to Southampton to just 50 miles. So we entered the Eastbourne lock and readied for sea, 20 minutes later and we were on our way.

The evening started out with patchy cloud and sunny spells, but was not long before the fog descended around Beachy Head reducing visibility to 1 cable.

Light House on Beachy Head under a shroud of fog.

A blip on the radar screen caught our attention, which was definitely getting closer and on an opposite bearing to Mr Blue Sky.  This was not a time to panic, although it did cross my mind. A decision to turn 90 degrees to port and make some space for what ever was approaching at speed was taken, and glad we did.  The sound of a powerful Diesel engine thundered by approximately 1 - 2 cables astern of us was heard. Soon after leaving the head, the sky cleared and we had a reasonable passage to Brighton Marina.

A call was made to the Brighton Harbour Master to alert him to our pending arrival, he suggested given our 2m draft that we did not enter until after 22.00h on the rising tide as heavy silting obstructed the fairway. At approximately 22.00h we entered port and tied up as instructed. A most welcome refuge after the eventful passage.

Brighton Marina

🎶There's a pea soup over, the white cliffs of Dover

Finally there was a weather window, so we began our journey across The Channel. Our new crew member was keen and raring to go at 5 in the morning and to begin with certainly showed promise

The novelty seemed to wear off pretty quickly though

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Negotiating the busiest shipping lanes in the world was pretty straightforward and the skipper was soon lowering the last courtesy flag of the voyage

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Our initial heading was for the white cliffs of Dover, but as they were hidden in the misty, grey sky we altered our course for Eastbourne. This decision seemed to encourage some sunshine, but the wind was still blowing straight into our faces and against the tide, so we had a fairly bumpy ride!

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At precisely 6pm we found ourselves tied alongside in the lock to Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne

And in no time at all, in spite of copious advice from a Dutch neighbouring yachtsman, we were safely moored back in English waters.

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While Jim reflected on his trip of a lifetime, Taff was just excited by the amazing variety of pebble on the beach!