Stargazer's decision to set sail is swiftly taken. On Wednesday, over her skipper's supper. After the evening forecast update is issued. In which the cards, of the weather forecast pack, have been well and truly shuffled.
Thursday afternoon's thunderstorms have been cancelled, to the north if not on the Breton shore. With the big Bank Holiday blow brought forward to midday Friday. Stargazer sails from Treguier an hour before dawn, on Thursday.
Bursting from beneath the darkly brooding river banks into the more open waters, of the Jaudy estuary, as the sun rises.
Greeted there by ten knots of breeze from the west. With just enough south in it, for us to lay the channel on a single tack.
By midday, Stargazer is abeam the Roches Douvres reefs. Feeling the full force of the west going tide. Which runs hard, hereabouts. But less slowed by it, than her skipper had feared.
The southern shore of Guernsey is within sight, ten to fifteen miles off, by the time a mid-afternoon pot of coffee is brewed. Les Hanois at its western tip (left hand side.)
The Little Russel channel opens before us. Marked by the Brehon Tower. All breeze now blanketed by the high-set islands (Guernsey and Herm) on either hand.
Sparkling like jewels, backlit by the soft light of a setting sun, the towers and minarets of St Peter Port straggle up its steep hillside. Which will be Stargazer's bulwark, in the stormy days to come.
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