Our forecast forty knot blow churns the waters of the Little Russel white. Misting the air with salt spume. . . . .
. . . .mingled with rain. From its associated cold front. The berths of St Peter Port as empty as Stargazer's skipper has ever known them. A sight which the Harbour Master confesses is "simply depressing."
For, August Bank Holiday weekend is (usually) his busiest of the year. Soon, the system sweeps by. To leave sunshine and an abnormally brisk breeze.
Which brings Stargazer a new berth mate, from across the Bay of Biscay. Last landfall Porto Spain. A family of four making their way home to Dover. To complete a three year circumnavigation. Pausing for respite, in St Peter Port, whilst this heavy weather passes.
Her skipper's verdict is that his Lagoon 50 was "the perfect boat for the trip." Despite the marque's reputation as 'Condo-Cats,' favouring condominium scale accomodation over sailing performance. "It was mostly downwind. Only the Red Sea was a problem. This boat is ideal as a long-term live-aboard,” he adds.
A view probably shared by a cool-as-a-cucumber solo German skipper (with whom I prove to have insufficient language skills to hold a meaningful conversation). Also in from Porto (was as far as we got). He pirouetted his eight metre beam craft, within the confines of the harbour, by running one engine forwards and the other in reverse. Coming sweetly alongside, as the breeze built, single handed.
To dwarf Kimbula, the other occupant of 'cat corner.' The shallowest part of the harbour. Also, as her mirror reflection testifies, the most sheltered. Tight in beneath the intersection of two tall granite quaysides.
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