White water rears high, in the Le Havre entrance. Swept in by a storm with no name. This steady forty five knots, of westerly wind, fifty in the squalls, is a Nemo, rather than an Alma or an Amy, so far as the UK Met Office's naming protocol is concerned.
The port pilots batter their way out to anchored merchantmen. Dave and Nige's ferry left this morning. But no cargo ships stir. A thunderous roar of surf mingles with the shriek of the wind.
Stargazer's forward hatches are battened down. Against the spatter of spray drift, from waves scaling the harbour wall. Her lines creak, as she surges with their scend. Our neighbour (a sadly neglected First 25, brought in by the lifeboat two days ago) chafed through her stern line. Breaking loose, to her own and Stargazer's mutual peril. Until she is secured, by repurposing her furling line and mainsheet.
It seems that the jet stream has come south, to hover directly over the Baie de Seine. Sending swift moving, upper altitude, air flows spinning down to sea level. Leaving Stargazer wondering where it may next alight.
Picture Credits
Jet Stream graphic and commentary courtesy of BBC.co.uk
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