A weather window, which had yesterday hung ajar, slams resoundingly shut. At this morning's dawn forecast check, eighteen to twenty knots, of north easterly breeze, has escalated into twenty five to thirty. Strongest on the French shore. Clear of the lee of the English mainland.
It is a three day (perhaps four or five on the French side) blow. By the time it is predicted to have eased, the (by then neap) tides are running westerly from daybreak. Factors which Stargazer's skipper may be able to turn to her advantage.
Stargazer's purpose is to spend summer on the Atlantic coast of France. Dieppe is merely a staging point. Putting in our westing on the English shore is an alternative. Perhaps a 'Plan B' crossing, from Chichester to Cherbourg? Or a 'Plan C' routing, from Poole to Guernsey to Roscoff? Plan C holding the added attraction of reducing the number of Schengen border crossings (now further complicated by the EES roll out) from three to one.
A financial point, in favour of Plan C, is that Stargazer's (Marina Developments Ltd) Chatham berth contract grants us free stays in Northney (Chichester), Cobbs Quay (Poole) and St Peter Port (Guernsey). Once in France, we are able to use our Passeport Escales nights (five per marina).
As of today, Stargazer has paid so much in day rate, to Sovereign Harbour, that they have kindly agreed to waive further fees until early May. Although we freverently hope not to depend upon the largesse, of the Premier Marinas group, for so long.
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