ALMA IN CHANNEL ISLANDS

Now in St Peter Port, Guernsey after a brief stop in Alderney - both in the Channel Islands, both very English despite being so close to France - only 8 miles from Alderney to France! (Alderney made a great decision in 1204 to side with England even though English possessions in France had been lost.) Had a wonderful sail both from Cherbourg to Alderney and then from Alderney to Guernsey. Cycled round Alderney - some wonderful beaches, extraordinary bird islands (puffins which we didn't get close enough to see as it's nesting season and gannets which we saw thousands of - there are about 6,000 nesting pairs here - exceptional flyers, bit like the red arrows but they also dive into the sea) and also many forts and gun emplacements both from Napoleonic times and WWII. Alderney's population was evacuated in WWII and even now has only grown again to about 2,500 - so beautifully unspoilt, unhurried and friendly. Great history from Roman times, through Elizabethan (a leading Elizabethan warship recently found off Alderney) and Napoleonic times to WWII. Now about to explore Guernsey. Photos to follow. Next blog soon! Hope everyone well.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen

Arrived back in Cherbourg after a week in UK and about to set off on Leg 2 of our adventures. Weather permitting we plan to leave Cherbourg Thurs 21 or Fri 22 May for Alderney – just Helen and me on board this time so we’ll be very busy, esp doing the navigation to deal with the tides and rocks around Alderney – pilot books are quite alarming re rate of tide in the Alderney Race (channel between Alderney and the Cherbourg peninsula) and the Swinge (channel to the west of Alderney). We hope to arrive just north of Cap de La Hague (NW corner of Cherbourg peninsula) just before tide turns so we can cross over to Alderney (about 10M) at slack(ish) tide and then get into Braye harbour in Alderney before tide becomes too strong in the Swinge. Helpfully it won’t have reached full spring tides (last quarter of moon is on 17^th and new moon on 24^th). Will be happy when we’re safely moored up in Alderney.

Plan to explore the island for 2 or 3 days then set off for Guernsey – earlier the better before its spring tide but on departure from Alderney it should be easier to time the passage to get out of the Swinge at slackish tide then have favourable tide all the way to Guernsey (25M). Around the Channel Islands it seems all our schedules will be dictated by the tides – huge tidal range here (can be 10 metres rise/fall – yes 10m!!). Plan to spend a week or so in Guernsey (also visiting Sark if weather settled). Friends from the UK, Geoff and Shirley, are with us for most of the time in Guernsey then we set off for Jersey for another few days then on to St Malo where our friends Steve and Peta plan to join us to explore North Brittany. Should be a seafood paradise!

Life as you’ll gather is dominated by weather and tides – but better than worrying about the economy/markets or reading about MP’s expenses (I’m getting upset already just mentioning these!).

Next update hope to report on Alderney/Guernsey.

Best wishes

Iain and Helen

ALMA IN FRANCE!!

ALMA's first blog!! We're in Cherbourg after leaving Lymington Sat 2nd May - Geoff, Shirley, David and Doug also onboard. Had intended just a test sail on Sat and then spend Sat night in Portsmouth ready for a very early departure Sun am. However, everything seemed OK on boat and weather was super (although would have been good if it had been 15 to 20 degrees higher!!) so we just kept going through east Solent past Portsmouth and Benbridge and headed for France. Had a lovely night sail - generally clear and a great breeze - and arrived Honfleur around 0530. After a short sleep we got into inner harbour when lock opened at 0830. Got a great berth alongside restaurants (photos to follow when I work out how to post!) and spent a relaxing day exploring this lovely old Normandy port - beautiful old churches, interesting maritime museum (wish the kids had been with us to see it) and great shops and restaurants.
Monday dropped Shirley, David and Doug off in Le Havre then headed for Deauville - another great town but chic and so expensive - top prize went to a jar of honey at E30!!!
Tuesday - bad weather so spent day in Deauville.
Wed - still quite windy in the morning but off to St Vaast (64m); rough at first esp leaving harbour but sailing got better and better as weather improved. Arrived St V 1900 just after lock had opened and we were in restaurant La Chasse Maree by 2030 - great as always.
Thurs - 0730 departure for Cherbourg - a stunningly beautiful early morning and wonderful sail. In Cherbourg by1300 in time to close boat up and get 1630 ferry to UK. Leg 1 complete. Thanks to all the delivery crew and also to everyone who helped in getting ALMA ready this year.
Looking forward to leg 2 - Channel Islands cruise. Hope weather improves!
PS One point of historical interest - in the ferry terminal in Portsmouth there is a display commerating one of the very first VC's awarded - to seaman Thomas reeves in 1954 at the battle of Tinkerman Ridge (Sebastapol). This battle was shortly after the battle of ALMA on 25th October 1954!! VC's are apparently cast in bronze from Russian cannon captured at the battle of Sebastapol.
Next blog in a couple of weeks. Hope to hear from you and/or catch up with many of you soon.
Best wishes
Iain and Helen