Having spent the night at anchor in Castle Cove listening to the wind and hoping it would moderate as forecast, I was glad to get away in the morning on Tuesday, though it was still quite brisk - even reefed down I was doing a steady six plus knots, and the radio finally admitted to force 5-7!
About mid-Channel it was bouncy enough for me to feel that a harness and two lifelines would be useful to stop being thrown around in the cockpit, and the various modifications I have made started to come into their own - extra handrails and post and navigator's seat - and made it possible to move around safely.
While I was waiting for a ship to pass in front of me, the tie holding the dinghy down broke and my faithful companion of many years was in danger of going overboard, so I had to make my way forward and wrestle it back into position and tie it down, keeping a wary eye on the ship passing ahead, and being soaked by waves breaking on the hull and covering the deck with spray. Somehow I managed to bash myself on something and by the time I got to the French coast and things were a bit easier, I felt like I'd cracked a rib, though it felt better after a good night's rest.
After a crossing ilike that, even if it was sunny all the way, I felt a few days of calm in Cherbourg were merited, among other things viewing the progress of the new Capitainerie, which I was invited to inspect by members of the Port Chantereyne team, Magali Hamon and dockmaster Thierry Digne.
Monday is removal day into the new premises, and things seemed well enough advanced to make that work for the long-suffering team, who have had to endure months of delay before this moment. Everywhere there is the suggestion of space, and visitors will find that the facilities are much improved. The copper roof is designed to match the characteristic green of the Gare Maritime roof as it oxidises, but that will take a few years...
The yacht club office is still besieged by workmen, though the bar and restaurant are now finished and open, and it is very pleasant to sit with friends in the sunshine and talk about the year ahead. The addition of a double-handed IRC result to the YCC Transmanche in May means that there may well be more boats coming to Weymouth this year - hopefully including some from WSC!
I arrived too late to find a place on a boat for Tuesday's YCC evening race, but was impressed by a turnout of 25 this early in the season - though it was already the second race of the series! One thing YCC like doing, and that's sailing...
Steve Fraser
Cruiser Class Captain
