Dartmouth to Sark

Up at 6 with a departure in mind for 7. We were well prepared. The boat was full of water, gas and fuel (well half a tank to be precise, more than enough to get to the Channel Islands, where it is half the price of Dartmouth). Bit of a grey morning which was a surprise after such a glorious day the previous day, but there was a noticeable breeze.

We cast off at 7 and tootled slowly out of the marina. The lower ferry was the only obstacle and we skipped past easily.

I thought stripes were slimming?

After a little motoring, we put up the sails, and were immediately whisked off towards the Channel Islands. Our target was Sark; we know some great spots to anchor or moor. Our general plan was to explore the Brittany coast, but to do this in a single hop would mean an overnight passage. Fine normally, but short handed approaching an unfamiliar coast when tired was not sensible. We like Sark and the Channel Islands, so a few days mucking around there would get the trip off to a good start.

We sailed pretty much all day. With 14 kts of wind on the starboard beam the boat sailed beautifully. Other than tankers and cargo ships in the shipping lanes we saw no one. The shipping lanes were no problem. Plenty of ships, but with AIS it is easy to miss them. We figured that you would need to sail 100 times across the lanes blindfold before you hit anything. Some pretty ropey mathematical assumptions upon which you rely at your peril.

As the day wore on the weather began to change. A sea mist is probably the best way to describe it; it kept coming and going. When it was with us visibility reduced dramatically. There was a yacht passing behind us under half a mile away (we could tell with the AIS), and we saw no sign of it. We saw nothing of Guernsey or Sark until we were right on top of them. The fog lifted to reveal a surreal vision of islands shrouded in mist, but with glorious sunshine. We headed to la Greve de la Ville on the north east side, well out of the westerlies.

I had expectations of being at anchor, and therefore a sleepless night. We were pleased to see a vacant visitors mooring buoy, quit close in, but with plenty of water. David hooked us on easily, and managed to hold onto the boat hook – this time!

First night out it had to be fish pie! Bob, our missing crew member was with us in spirit...!