Dandelion 21

 

Guernsey Liberation Day celebrations are in full swing. On the St Peter Port quayside, upon Stargazer's arrival.

This morning she slipped out of Cherbourg. Under the towering bows of a liner. Which dwarfs the Gare Maritime.

Stargazer is become 'chasse-maree.' Hunting down the favourable inshore eddy. Which turns fully four hours ahead of the 'main' Channel tide.

Ghosting through the outer breakwater, at a stately three knots. Under cruising chute.

Wind and tide gather pace. Sweeping Stargazer west. Toward the Cap de la Hague.

We skirt the overfalls. The day blissfully summery. A heat haze hanging in the air.

Stargazer forges south, through the Raz Blanchard. The sea breeze up to fifteen knots. A sluicing spring tide beneath her. Making eight and nine knots, over the ground.

Alderney away to starboard.

Until Stargazer slices across the northern tip of Herm. Reaching fast.

Before bearing off, into the Little Russel channel. The tide still in spate beneath us.

Stargazer is square before the wind. 'Chute handed.

Making for the Brehon Tower. With the green jut, of Jethou, beyond.

We round up, into St Peter Port. Beneath the battlements of Castle Cornet.

As the, eighty strong, Tresco Cup fleet arrives from Morlaix. Making the most of the French double Bank Holiday. Catching the Harbour Master 'a bit on the hop,' as he puts it. From his dory. whilst he, and his team, dart about industriously, in search of berths for us all.

Two hours, a pot of coffee and an extensive chinwag (with the crew of a Najad out of Dover), later; the inner harbour is rafted solid.The buzz, of the worker-bee dory outboards, our constant accompaniment. I begin to resign myself to the idea that the delighful inner harbour is full to capacity.

However, Stargazer and her skipper have been recognised. (I think that it is really Stargazer that is recognised; but her skipper's habit, of wearing Guernsey jumpers, may help). A finger berth, beneath the bandstand, has been left empty, for our use.