The St Peter Port waterfront is dressed for the forthcoming Liberation (VE) Day celebrations. Stargazer is recognised on arrival, by the duty dock master, in his dory: "Usual place? Help yourself." To a ringside seat, for the festivities.
Stargazer left Cherbourg before first light. Well reefed. But all that remains of the gale is a slightly boisterous sea state. Full jib is soon unfurled. Stargazer romps west. Seventeen knots of breeze on the quarter, two reefs in the main.
With tidal assistance, the Cap de la Hague is soon abeam. We skirt the overfalls. . . .
. . . .before easing down into the Alderney Race. Slightly apprehensively. For Stargazer is an hour early and her skipper is unsure if southerly progress will be possible, before the turn of the tide.
Stargazer makes for the Alderney side. Where the flow is less strong. And where, coming north through the Race, we have found it to turn earlier than advertised, in the almanacs.
Stargazer turns south, off Alderney's Quenard light.
Soon clearing the southern tip, of the island.
A life boat thunders by. Otherwise, all is tranquilty. With a gloriously craggy view. The breeze a benign sixteen knots. Stargazer under all plain sail.
As we cross the northern tip of Herm.
Before gybing into the Little Russel. Following the channel picked out by its idiosyncratic, tide torn, markers.
Along the Guernsey shoreline.
Into St Peter Port. In party mood.
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