Channel Islands - Saturday 11 August 2007

[AndyB007]

Biggles and I are watching the weather for a possible day trip to the Channel Islands on Saturday (probably heading for Guernsey as the tides are not favourable for refuelling in Alderney). No overnight stop – there and back in a day.

If anyone would like to tag along you are most welcome (departure details TBC).

I am also looking for at least one crew member to accompany me and share the driving (fuel contribution negotiable!). PM me if interested.

Andy

[Andy Moore]

Originally Posted by AndyB007

No overnight stop – there and back in a day.

A fairly long way to go and not to enjoy a pint the other end me thinks.

[brucehawsker]

interested. Pm me

[AndyB007]

Originally Posted by Andy Moore

A fairly long way to go and not to enjoy a pint the other end me thinks.

I think we'll be staying long enough for at least a couple!

Andy

[Tony]

you must say hello if you come....

[Zippy]

I would have been interested in this but am going to Twickenham to see us give the french a lesson in rugby!

i do fancy a channel islands trip before the season is out (or even in the winter if there is a decent window)

[Biggles]

A little begging,

I know Andy has managed to get a few boats lined up for this. Anyone with a decent camera thats going, I would most appreciate a good few shots of Zerstorer at high speed in the open seas. (With the sun behind the camera).

Also any ideas on breakfast ? Or do we do that before we leave ?

See you all Saturday. Nick R.

[AndyB007]

Nick,

Originally Posted by Biggles

Anyone with a decent camera thats going, I would most appreciate a good few shots of Zerstorer at high speed in the open seas. (With the sun behind the camera).

Surprised you think you need to ask! I'll have both DSLR and Video with me for this one (unless of course you don't think my Canon is 'decent' enough!)

Originally Posted by Biggles

Also any ideas on breakfast ? Or do we do that before we leave ?

Before we leave! If conditions are as good as they look like they're going to be I suggest a short 'coffee stop' somewhere outside of any shipping lanes. Not sure if we'll find a floating Starbucks in the channel so it'll have to be out of a flask!!


For anyone who wants to join our little cruise to Guernsey at this late hour, we will be leaving The Hamble just after 8:00am with a view to getting in to St Peter Port by 1:00pm latest; couple of hours stopover for lunch, refreshments and fuel, then departing 3:00pm-ish to be back by 8:00pm.

Channel winds are forecast 2 - 6mph, sunny and 17deg.

PM me for specific details.

Andy

[Biggles]

Andy,

Just off to stock up with some sarnies for tomorrow.

Can you check your PMs and see what you think of my idea.

Nick.

[Tony]

I've been out this afternoon and its a bit choppy near Alderney, but otherwise just fantastic weather.
Have a great trip and I will see you all tommorow.

[Neil Harvey]

Just got home after the return trip to Alderney.
Fantastic weather, lovely calm sea, easy crossing there and back, all in all a good first time across the Channel.

But, long way to go just for lunch

Hope everyone else made it home OK. Especially FarFetched who decided to go back to Lymington the loing way round from the Needles approach

Pics etc to follow tomorrow. I need some kip.

[Biggles]

First/ No Second post from the journey and as far as I know everyone got back safely.

Five boats RV'd off Lymington/Weymouth this morning and departed about 1000 hrs. Beautiful slight seas soon had us speeding on a steady heading towards Alderney. It was about a three hour trip with us arriving at 1300 hrs. Tied the boats up on a visitors can then it was time to report to the harbour Master and fill out the necessary Customs Forms. The rather large RIBNET group then split in to two with half of us eating in the Divers Inn. Sand all over the floor really didn't do the place justice. Food was cheap and adequate.
The other half of RIBNET ventured in to the town which we were told was about a 15 minute walk. But I've been told that many a time before to fall for that one.
Refuelling was a primitive affair and was not easy. I'd booked several hundred Litres for us and this turned up in plastic 25 litre cans piled in to the back of a small trailer and covered with cardboard to keep the heat off. Refuelling the five boats took close to two hours.
We departed about 1700 hrs on an even smoother sea getting back to the Needles about 1945 hrs.

I travelled about 165 NM and used approx 120 Litres of fuel. Cruising at 28/30 Knots and an engine speed of 4500 RPM trimmed out as much as possible.

Thanks to Andy for sorting this one. At one stage we had two plans and many different factors to consider to accomodate everyone. But due to the fantastic weather and some good boats and crews everything went well.


Pic 1 is AndyB007 in Braye Harbour with Darwin.

Pic 2 is Raleigh II in Braye Harbour.

Pic 3 is and overview of Braye Harbour looking North from the Customs/Harbour Office.

Pic 4 is The imposing Fort at the South end of the Harbour.

Pic 5 is another imposing Fort and some second World War bunkers to the east of the Harbour.

[Biggles]

1) The Beach next to the Harbour.

2) Another beach just outside the Harbour Entrance.

3) In the far distance you can see a large factory of somesort on the French Mainland. Looks a bit like a Nuclear Power plant to me.

4) "So where are we exactly ?" (Neil and Karen surveying the Harbour).

[Biggles]

Below are a couple of pics of the return trip.

[Biggles]

As Neil said its a long way to go for lunch. But its certainly doable as a day trip. But to get some decent island time an on the water start time of 0600 hrs would get you in to Alderney for 1100 hrs. Having done this and being impressed with what little I actually saw of the island I can see myself visiting again for a long weekend or maybe longer. It seems like the channel islands have much to offer.

Nick R.

[Biggles]

Karen,

Let it slip that Neil had spent some time on this fine ship when he was younger and he knew the Captain well.

I didn't like to ask anymore because you hear all sorts of stories about young boys and Captains. Most quite unsavoury.

So thats why he walks like that

NR.

[Neil Harvey]

Originally Posted by Biggles

Karen,

Let it slip that Neil had spent some time on this fine ship when he was younger and he knew the Captain well.

I didn't like to ask anymore because you hear all sorts of stories about young boys and Captains. Most quite unsavoury.

So thats why he walks like that

NR.

Cheeky git

That fine ship is Stavros S Niarchos, and I've never set foot on that ship, ever. I have sailed however on the even finer (IMHO) but almost identical sister ship Prince William, many a time for the Captain that was on Stavvie yesterday, Captain Liam Keating - an Irishman of very dodgy humour!

[AndyB007]

A small selection;

1. Raleigh II

2. Farfetched

3. Zestorer

4. Zonneschijn II

[AndyB007]

and a few more ....

5. The Lonely Sea (Zestorer)

6. Zonneschijn II, Raleigh II, Farfetched

7. Playing with the big boys (Zonneschijn II, Raleigh II)

[AndyB007]

Originally Posted by Biggles

... and being impressed with what little I actually saw of the island ...

The Divers Inn !!!!

Nick, by the way. Are you going to post those 'bikini babe' pictures you took?!!

Andy