Casting off the lines from the Mary Winnifred by myself was a bit daunting because the tide was already running fast but in the end it turned out to be rather easy. I was passing the pier on the shore of the river on a sunny day with kids saluting and waving. It felt great.
After having passed the bar the sails came up and we were able to go in the desired direction with a nice breeze from the northwest. The sea was smooth except for a large swell coming out the southwest but that didn’t bother me. We were making 6.5knots through the water and close to 8 with the tide. It felt like the first really nice sailing day without having to beat into the wind and pound into the waves… It was exhilarating. The Isle of Wight was on our starboard beam, I had never been this far west into the English Channel with Amy and things were looking good.
Of course the wind backed west and the rain came and with it the gusts and the seas. Pretty soon we were back to hammering into the waves and heeling over and reefing and unreefing.
We were still making very good speed in our direction until the tide turned. It was spring tide and we were now only making 1-2 knots over the ground and not in a good direction. We still had some time but we had a tidal window to catch at the race of Alderney next to Cap de la Hague.
The Reeds Nautical Almanac says it is not advisable to try this route for the first time at springs but rather wait for neaps. It also said the overfalls are to be avoided at all means.
I had wanted to be at the cape ner the turn of the tide when the currents are not as fast. And I would also need some more time to have a fair tide all the way to Guernsey where Zissi was already waiting.
I was three hours late. That meant the currents in the race were now running full blast and pretty soon I was making 14.5 knots over the ground in my direction. I was a bit scared and didn’t want to leave the helm. After changing course for a ferry of which I wasn’t sure that they would see me (it was 3a.m. on a rainy night), I made the mistake of keeping too far to the French coast and sailed right into the overfalls. It being pitch-dark the wave (or rather: the two waves) sthat turned Amy on her side came out of nowhere. Both sails and the main boom where now in the water and the life raft got kicked loose and was almost lost overboard had it not got stuck in the lifelines.
When Amy righted herself I was sure I would lose the rigg but magically all was intact. There were more very interesting waves but luckily we didn’t have to repeat our experiment..
I was still hoping to make it to St. Peter Port but the speed was now dropping and pretty soon I had the tide against me. I was now motorsailng with the engine in high revs and when it turned light I saw another sailing boat go in my direction. That gave me new hope. Maybe it could still be done.
The tide against us wasn’t as strong as I had feared and it didn’t seem to get much stronger. That was a good thing. I could now see Guernsey and the Little Russel Channel.
After 22hours and 118 miles I made fast in the Victoria Marina in St. Peter Port. Very tired and a bit shaken but also very happy. Zissi and I could now finally begin our vacation together.
