A low pressure stole our nice high while we were around playing on land.... We waited for the return of favorable winds at Wight at anchor. We were far enough from shore (tides oblige..) that it was impossible to row the dinghy against the tides. A west-north west wind do not incite us to go on along the South UK coast. But we felt restless, and decided to go South, toward the Cotentin peninsula in Normandy, instead of jumping south from a more western point in UK.
A fresh breeze gives us a nice and fast crossing in a Channel not at all as busy as everyone says... Though it is spring tides (full moon) and as we arrive toward the coast to Cherbourg a strong tidal stream stop us. Running the engine, we gain only 1 or 2 knots for several hours. The wind is against us also of course... At the change of the tide, we gain 3 to 4 knots in the right direction and we decide to forget a night arrival in Cherbourg. Instead we keep going west riding the tide and taking advantage of the strong tidal stream along the coast. After a rought night motoring tide against wind in a confused sea we arrive in view of Guernsey which seems very appealing. With the tide on our side, we anchor in St Peter. We have learnt a lessons : never under estimate the power of tides in the region which with New Foundland has the most tidal amplitude.. Avoid having them against you that is all !
No comments:
Post a Comment