Dandelion 99

 

St Peter Port slowly awakens around Stargazer. As the morning sun dries the dew from her decks. And her skipper breakfasts in the cockpit.

Reliving, over a pot of coffeee, yesterday's champagne sleigh ride, of a sail, up from Roscoff.

Stargazer set her cruising chute, in ten knots of westerly breeze, off the ferry dock.

With an autumnal sea mist hanging in the air. 

Stargazer rides the ebb, north east, out of the Baie de Morlaix. Pushing the last of the west going tide, as she reaches the open sea. Making three to four knots, over the ground, as we pass the Triagoz reef tower.

Les Sept Iles are a gauzily veiled silhouette, away to starboard. 

From here, wind and tide join in a joyous harmony. Sending Stargazer skimming across a cobalt sea. Her skipper requiring no more than a polo shirt and shorts, for comfort in her cockpit.

Stargazer is making between seven and eight knots, over the ground. With fifteen knots of breeze on her quarter. And a knot or two of tidal assistance.

By early evening, the wind is up to eighteen knots. I hand the cruising chute and unfurl the jib. Stargazer romps on. Her pace undiminished. But her helm lighter.

By sunset we are racing past Les Hanois. (The south eastern corner of Guernsey).

In the dusk twilight, Stargazer makes her landfall, at St Martin's Point. On the south western tip, of the island. Hardening up, into the Little Russel Channel. Between Guernsey and Herm

The Commodore night ferry, a blaze of light, sweeps past and turns for the St Peter Port entrance. The pier head 'traffic lights' turn red. But by the time I have stowed Stargazer's sails, they are green once more. The ship docked. Stargazer follows suit.