The misty mauve undulations, of the Purback hills, fill the horizon. Emerald green scrub rises from crescents of silver sand. And the Wareham channel weaves its way sinuously upstream.
Past the Flying Boat jetties, at Dorset Lake. Where the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) base nestles improbably amongst beachside bungalows. "No photography allowed." Not even by the all-seeing-eye of Google Street view.
A quiet and intimate spot in which to contemplate Stargazer's next move. Sheltered from today's forty knot blast. Which will be followed by several days of light airs. The tides, all the while, moving from neaps to springs and advancing by an hour per day.
From Poole (A) to either the head of the Alderney Race (B) or the Casquets (C) is around twelve hours of sailing, for Stargazer. In order to continue to St Peter Port (D), we need the tide to turn south-going on arrival. This is more critical in the Race, where spring flows are five to seven knots, than off the Casquets where the tide rates are slightly less extreme.
Over the (too) windy weekend, just past, the tides have turned south between sixteen and eighteen hundred. Perfect timing, for a dawn departure from Poole and an evening arrival in St Peter Port.
It is likely to be the second half of this week, before the breeze has rested and returned refreshed. By then, the tide will be turning south at around ten in the morning and twenty three hundred at night.
The question is, how to harness the later tide timings to Stargazer's purpose?
The answer: an overnight passage, to catch the morning turn of the tide. Most likely at the Casquets. Where we might make some progress (or, at least not be swept backwards) if arriving early. Departing Poole and clearing the, pot buoy strewn, Anvil point before dusk. Benefitting from daylight, by the time we encounter shipping entering or leaving the Casquets Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS).
Unless the forecast should shift once more. In this most mercurial of transitions from spring to summer.
Picture Credits
Isle of Wight to Guernsey passage planning chart courtesy of the United Kingdom Hydrography Office (UKHO)
Long range forecast screenshot courtesy of the metoffice.gov.uk
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