Back to Guernsey 4th July 217

After much thought and deliberation we decided not to go to St Malo, it was a long way to go to come back! The original plan had been to visit on the way back on a circular route but we decided it would be there another year.

We had a leisurely morning as we didn't have to leave until 2 ish. We left the mooring just before 2 as we needed fuel, John couldn't believe the price. 49.9p per litre. Sadly you can only fit so much fuel in the boat whatever the price.

We got permission to enter the main harbour and swiftly set  off on our way. The sails were quickly set and we were on our way. Before we set off, we heard a yacht getting a telling off. He entered the harbour when all the  red lights on. matters were made worse as it took ages for the harbour control to get the boat to answer it's radio. I would have been mortified, it was a good telling off. But well deserved as the condor was about to come out. The condor was on it's way to Guernsey so had to pass us.

They are quite big and fast as they over take you.

In this picture I am trying to show the size of the Condor Ferry. Here it is in Guernsey harbour with some boats moored up. It has to manoeuvre round this!

This journey gave us the best and longest sail of the trip. I was creaming along at 7.5 knots and enjoying the sail. We  sailed for three hours and didn't switch the engine on until 18.25, by which time the wind had dropped and although we could have still sailed we were going very slowly..  We knew that we would be on the outside pontoons as we would miss the sill at Guernsey harbour. This is no problem as we could still walk ashore and our wind generator and solar panel also means we can manage without shore power.

Me behind the wheel having fun but this photo doesn't show the tilt of the boat.

Look carefully at the cooker, this shows the tilt of the boat. Normally the cooker is level.

As always we were met by the dory, he declined the first gap offered to us. 'I'm not that good!' said he. we went into the second gap but asked for a push in from the harbour master as there wasn't a great deal of room to manoeuvre between the two boats on the long pontoon.

We were all moored up and on our way to the chippy by 19.45

As we were going to stay for three nights and would need to leave from the outside pontoon we elected to stay for all three nights outside rather than go in to the inner harbour for one night.

It's a heck of a climb up at low tide. But it must be good for the thighs.

We had a very pleasant time for our second stay in Guernsey. It was a bit of a social whirl as we went for drinks at the Yacht Club with Della and Geoff. Then we caught the ferry to Hern and walked round the island. (Also with Della and Geoff) and that night they came to Rascal for a final drink before we went our separate ways.

Herm

We also had a change of neighbour and the gentleman who arrived was originally from Leeds, he quickly spotted my accent and it turned out he was born in the rea of Leeds I went to school in. What a small world. He was an experienced solo sailor in his seventies but even so he was a bit unsure about casting off from the pontoon the next day as it was a bit of a squash. We knew wed be leaving at the same time as we were both going to Alderney so we said we would help him set off before we left.

Sailing information.
Journey time - 5 hours 10 mins.
Price per night same as the inner harbour (£30) but no electricity so no electric charges. There is water on these pontoon.
It is highly probable you will be rafted to other boats but as always the harbour master is very efficient.
If you have been out of the Bailwick of Guernsey you need to redo the custom form.
The pleasure boat to Herm is £13 per head, but is worth the trip.