En France 75

 

Stargazer lies just west of the Baie de St Malo. Within striking distance of  The English Channel. (At the north eastern tip of the golden track line).

Already the tidal ranges match Stargazer's length (between nine and ten metres). If we play the resulting strong streams right, they will add both speed and distance to our daily runs. As they swirl in the Baie, with a circular motion, which is centred on the Channel Islands; and pour directly east or west to either side. Connecting the waters of the Atlantic Ocean with those of the North Sea, on their twice daily commute.

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A front is passing through. Drumming up some welcome breeze, beneath its clouds. Today it is from the east. But over the next seventy two hours it will veer north east and then north. Before settling into the north east (our least favoured direction, for this leg).

 

A northerly will allow us to 'lee bow.' That is use the inevitable six hours' foul tide (when Stargazer's forward progress will be slowed) to offset our leeway (sideways drift, of between three and five degrees, away from the wind). So saving ourselves some miles to sail. 

Stargazer plans to ride the fair tide where it runs the fastest : from Roscoff up to the Roches Douvres, at the start of our passage ; and up toward the Alderney Race, at the end. That tidal timing best coincides with daylight hours over the next two to three days. 

The early morning forecast review resumes. To seek out the window of northerly breeze.

Picture Credits

Base map for Stargazer's track courtesy of Google Maps