Late Summer Cruise 26 August - 07 September 2024 - 184 nautical miles
Monday 26 August 2024 - Channel crossing
Julia’s preventative chemotherapy finished at the end of August and we had a couple of weeks before she had to start preventative radiotherapy, (the cancer was removed in February) so we decided we would like to get away and make France if we could. We waited for the best weather forecast and got to the boat on Sunday. On Monday morning, I was up just before 0500 and away at 0545. Julia got dressed but wasn’t needed. I motored into the wind through the Solent and it was smooth enough up to Cowes but a bit naff after that. At the Needles it hit 20 -21 knots and was a big sea and did not settle for many hours. Julia was in the cockpit for a couple of those but had to go below. It was very slammy. Gradually the sun came out and the sea calmed but I had to alter course as we were going too far east, so that put us back into the wind and kept it slamming. I noticed that the UV strip on the headsail was torn, which is yet another expense when we get home. With 5 hours to go it did settle and Julia came up and listened to her audio book. We got in after 12. 5 hours and after quickly sorting the boat out, went up to the bar and had drinks. Back to the boat and Julia heated up Hunters chicken and we had some red wine. Watched some Netflix and bed.
Tuesday 27 August 2024 - Cherbourg
It was a lovely sunny morning. We got up and were at reception for 0900 which is the time the police were there back in May only to be told that the police now don’t come until 1030 – I should have asked yesterday when we paid! So we showered and came back for coffee, and we went back at 1030, and there was a scrum as a rally load of boats were leaving, but the police got through everybody really quickly. We then walked to Carrefour with our boat trolley in tow and did a large shop where we bought 10 wine boxes – 8 red, 2 pink. We then went back via Boucanniers - our regular bar in Cherbourg and sat in the sunshine and had a couple of beers (Affligem) and Julia had some rosé. We then came back to the boat and I cooked us bacon butties. We then both had a sleep and chilled. I did G&Ts at 1800 and we went for dinner at the yacht club at 1900. I had oysters and Julia a fish soup and we both had onglet de veau – a slab of veal with gorgonzola sauce which was yummy. We had a bottle of cote du rhone and came back to the boat and watched some Netflix.
Wednesday 28 August 2024 - Cherbourg
It was another lovely sunny hot day, but we were slower to get going today! Julia showered on board, but I went up to the main showers. We then walked into the supermarket again, and this time bought lots of French items along with 48 bottles of leffe. Then we went again back to Boucanniers and after one drink in the sun, it was too hot, so we had the second in the shade. By the time we got back to the boat and after unloading, I was really tired. Julia made quiche for lunch and afterwards I slept for 2 hours. Then it got cloudier and cooler, so I did the brochettes we bought in carrefour on the hob griddle pan along with baked potatoes and a veg bake rather than on the outside BBQ. The meat was though disappointing and a bit chewy but it was edible , just not worth what we paid. We watched some Amazon and bed.
Thursday 29 August 2024 - Cherbourg
We both had a nice long sleep and lie in and it was again sunny and warm. I was keeping a close eye on the weather trying to find the least wind for our return, which currently looks like Sunday so we won’t make it to Alderney as we had hoped! Julia was disappointed. I cleaned the teak, and whilst Julia cleaned the boat, and then I went up and paid for the next three days only paying for 2 as per their discounts. Then we walked into town and had a fabulous lunch at L’Anitdote which is tucked down an alleyway. I had kidneys with crayfish, frites and salad, and Julia had cote de boeuf with a gratin legumes. We started with a beer and rosé, and shared a bottle of cotes du rhone. We had a nice waiter called Siran – a young lad. We came back and slept for ages, by which time it had clouded over and gone cool, so we stayed inside. Julia did some painting. We had nibbles – sausage rolls, cheese sticks and pork pies for dinner and binge watched Fallout on Amazon to the end.
Friday 30 August 2024 - Cherbourg
It was another nice sunny day although there was some breeze though. We walked to the bus station and eventually found the right stop for our bus to Barfleur. We had a lovely ride along the coast road and we arrived in good time to make the Café de Paris where as planned we both had moules frtites which were lovely. We had a mooch around and caught the bus back, then popped into Carrefour and back again to the Boucanniers for a drink in the sun. We then went back to the boat and I moved one of the side panels as a wind break and we were able to spend a few hours outside in the sun but out of the wind. This was partially ruined by a drumming band that was incessant as they had set up an outdoor stage not far from the marina. Eventually we came inside and shut the windows and put our own music on. Julia served us another leftovers / nibbles meal and we watched a new amazon series Lady Jane.
Saturday 31 August 2024 - Cherbourg
It was windy in the night and grey this morning. We went to the marina and got our passports stamped out and then took showers. Then back to the boat for extra coffees and then into town. We got our shopping at the small Carrefour in town and went to Boucanniers for a final drink. Nicola bought us a round which was nice. Then back for lunch and we had a quiet afternoon. Finally we went up to the Yacht Club bar for drinks and then back at the boat I cooked a nice seafood paella. It was lovely Then after a few boat jobs we watched 2 x Lady Jane and retired.
Sunday 01 September 2024 - Channel crossing
We had a civilised time to get up but it was raining with thunder in the distance. We left at 0730 (BST) and motored out with thunder behind us. The sea was bigger than expected and right at us with close waves and the wind was on the nose too, so it was not pleasant. We managed some headsail for a while but it became more on the nose as the tide took us east, so I had to drop that, so we had no extra power the whole way over. Julia stayed in the cockpit for 3 hours or so, and then went to lie down. Later in the day with 25 miles to go to the Needles, things settled down and Julia reappeared. The AIS didn’t seem to be working too well on the French side but then it seemed to work again, so I need to investigate that, but it was still quite a bouncy ride. At 13 miles out, we encountered a Border Force big boat, and I had to swerve to avoid it. I didn’t have the VHF on, as I seldom do, and so as they wanted to speak to us, they followed us for a while and then a RIB came up alongside and we were boarded by three burly men. They were very polite and checked passports and ships papers and had a look around, and were on their way. We got to the Needles and the wind died and the sea went smooth, which was what the original forecast had said for the day, but there you go! We reached Hurst Narrows at exactly 10 hours run with 65 miles on the clock, and we were into Lymington Yacht Haven and tied up by 1800 – 10. 5 hours overall – not bad considering we had no additional sail power. We went up and paid and then I had a beer, and Julia cooked tuna pasta with garlic bread. We then watched some sport – Grand prix, football and Americas cup highlights and then another episode of the amusing Lady Jane on Netflix before I had to go to bed. Julia read for a while.
Monday 02 September 2024
It rained through the night and was grey and drizzly first thing. We both went up to the lovely showers they have here and I languished for a while. Then we walked into town just in time for lunch at the Ship. I had an amazing pork belly with scallops and Julia had a chicken salad. We had a bottle of rioja and I had a Peroni. We were served by a lovely girl from Ukraine – Diana (I called her Ziana) who we chatted to. We then walked around to see the Bosun’s chair, which now does not do pies as it used to, and we then did some shopping walking up and down the High Street and back down the cobbles. We got back to the boat and we chilled. Julia re-heated a chicken dish with fried spuds and onion rings, and we watched the new series of Grace on ITVX. It stayed grey and drizzly all day, but the towels did eventually dry.
Tuesday 03 September 2024
It was another grey day. We both showered and walked to the bus stop in town and caught the X1 to Milford on Sea. We got off by the beach and walked all along the front, and then back into the centre. We stopped on a lovely bench by a stream and ate our wraps which we had made earlier and then walked around the centre. We saw the 1303 bus was running late, so rather than risk waiting for the 1403, we decided to take the first bus at 1330. We took that into Lymington and had a drink in the Kings Head. I had a beer and Julia an orange juice. We then walked back and I had a snooze. Then I cleared the speed sensor of all its accumulated marine life so that it will work again, tightened up the forward hatch hoping that may cure the leak we have in a big seaway and made green tea. Julia was painting. The sun finally came out, and so I made G&Ts and we sat outside. While doing this, Gordon and Christine texted to say they were in Lymington, so I suggested they came to us for drinks. So they came and we sat outside and then I suggested that I could stretch dinner to 4, so they stayed as I cooked up the monkfish, calamari and prawns in my monkfish sauce accompanied by new spuds and green beans. We had cheese afterwards and a lovely evening was had by all.
Wednesday 04 September 2024
There was a bit of sun here and there, and the sea state was flat calm. We left at 1055 in very little wind and motored into Cowes and went to the fuel barge, where we had a great chat with John, who used to be a jockey and Billy a Scottish guy with a beard. Then into the Yacht Haven reversing all the way into W10, South basin, port side to in reverse. I had a beer and then made scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Whilst I was sat out in the sunshine I saw Jackie from Arabesque, and she invited us round for tea later. We then went up the High Street and booked the Heron, and then sat on the balcony at the Island Sailing Club in the sun – lovely. We then came back and went to Arabesque and saw Bob and Jackie – they greeted us like long lost friends – very touching. We then came back and had drinks and Julia made us some French chicken things, with rosti and corn on the cob. It started raining at this point as forecast. We watched some more Lady Jane as we couldn’t get ITVX to work - they had a fault with logging in.
Thursday 05 September 2024
It rained all night and was windy and was a horrible day. We showered on board, and the power went off, but after I went up to the office, it was quickly back on, so we could have coffee. Then we headed off for Ryde in the rain!. We met a lady from a Legend called Vicky who said there was a Legend Rally tomorrow for the weekend. We chatted as we caught the chain ferry and walked to the number 4 bus together. However, all our Legend names did not ring with her and hers not with us either – a lot of change! She was going to Osborne House and we carried on all the way to Ryde, where it was really chucking it down. We waited for a bit, but it wasn’t going to let up, so we had to walk to the Duck in pouring rain. We dripped in and got a nice table for 4 over in the bay window. We had a beer and a pink prosecco and a bottle of Portuguese wine – Dao. I had Korean chicken bites and Julia had an amazing garlic mushrooms. Then I had Mexican sirloin steak which was lovely and Julia had meatballs from the specials board, which she said were amazing. Although they had crumble on the menu, I was too full up, so Julia had a coffee and I had a brandy. We then ended up having to walk quite fast to get the bus back, but as least he rain had eased, but it was still raining. It eased enough for the chain ferry and the walk. Back on the boat we had green tea and a long sleep, and then chilled. The rain started again in earnest around 1830!! Yuk – it is quite awful and dark out. A pity for all the rallies around us. We had duck spring rolls and mozzarella sticks and watched a Grace and finished Lady Jane.
Friday 06 September
We both slept ok. It rained first thing but was then just grey but rained on and off most of the day. I was concerned about being boxed in, so I went to the office and they moved us across from W10 to W11. Later after coffee, we slid back a bit to allow a boat leaving before us on the end. At 1200 we went to the Compass Bar for a drink or two, and then back for lunch. Julia painted, and I slept and read in the afternoon. At 1800, I did G&Ts and we got changed. We had dinner at the Heron, where I had the ribeye steak which was perfect, and Julia had pigs cheeks. I had cheese and Julia and affogato. Back and watched a movie and bed.
Saturday 07 September 2024
We had a lie in and read the Saturday papers. The boat in front left at 0930, so we were clear to exit. We left at 1030 and motored back in a flat sea but with a little wind on the nose. Our berth was clear and we moored easily. Then a big trolley load to the car, after taking the genoa off and flushing the bilge. We stopped for lunch and then took the last two trolley loads to the car. We went to Port Solent and dropped off the sail for the UV strip to be repaired, and then into Marine Superstore where we bought more Bilgex, some water-proofing for the sprayhood and a Breton cap. Then we drove home. Lots more unloading. Julia went to Sainsburys. We had an indoor BBQ as it was miserable – it had rained on us whilst doing the final loads off the boat. We watched Who do you think you are and bed. The end of a nice trip.