Zen Again 159

 

Venus vies with the moon, for brightness, in a clear sky. Below, the lights of Le Havre shimmer. As Stargazer catches her tide. Fourteen knots of south easterly breeze on her quarter.

We sweep north, making seven knots over the ground. With the sun astir, behind the cliffs of Antifer. Painting the clouds in a fiery vermillion palette.

Before switching to soft honey shades, once it clears the horizon. Stargazer by now almost two hours ahead of prediction.

Which means that the turn of the tide will no longer rescue Stargazer, from the clutches of the Fecamp windfarm. Instead we are set toward it. Travelling three knots sideways to five knots forwards.

Hoisting the kite saves the day. Boosting Stargazer’s forward speed to six and a bit knots. Soon, the east going tide slackens east to two knots of side slip. We skirt the windfarm, about half a mile off, watched by a wary guardboat. Before resuming our rhumb line course.

Stargazer wafts north. The breeze begins to falter, in the heat of the day. Falling slowly, through the teens, into single digits. 

By afternoon the west going tide is working against us, further slowing mid Channel progress. Its effect visible as the 'S' bend, in Stargazer's unwavering ten degree rhumb line course. Which was revealed by our tidal triangle (Zen Again 158)

A flat calm falls, as Stargazer crosses the east-bound shipping lane. Twenty five nautical miles ahead, the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head glow golden. As elusive as Jason's fleece.

We motor toward the 'central reservation' of the TSS (Traffic Separation Scheme). Which is free from shipping. To await developments.

A hornet comes to call. Gorging on salt rime, from Stargazer's topsides. Then snoozes in the shade of the gunwhale. Vanishing with the welcome return of the wind, from the west.

Fourteen passage-making knots of it. On the beam. With the tide turned fair once more. Stargazer makes hay, whilst the sun sets. Her skipper prepares lines and fenders, on deck, for a night arrival.

Speeds build, as we cross the west-going shipping lane, and close the irridescent chalk scarp on the horizon. Six knots, seven, seven point eight, as Stargazer rides the north going tidal eddy, around the tip of the headland.

Sovereign Harbour has seen Stargazer coming. The lock has already opened, to welcome us, by the time her skipper radios in.

Picture Credits

Stargazer ground track screenshot courtesy of MarineTraffic.com