En France 91

 

A pharaonic trumpeting, of air-horns, announces that the fishing fleet is putting to sea.

One by one, the colourful cavalcade break away, from the raft beside the quay.

Tender farewells are said to families. Ribald insults are exchanged between crews.

Before the roar of engines, and cacophony of sirens, drowns out all possibility of speech. And the boats race for the harbour entrance.

A low sun casts an eerie glow, along the shingle shore.

The sea is calm, off the Dieppe breakwater today. With fifteen to eighteen knots, of south westerly breeze, forecast for the morning. A fair wind, on which to cross the Channel.

Sailors think similarly, when faced with a forecast.  The Rival 36 Arkaway also plans to cross tomorrow. Heading home to Suffolk, after a summer in Spain. Nursing a cracked rudder, following an altercation with a pod of 'interactive' Orca, off A Coruna. A companion for Stargazer's passage up Channel.