Adventuress Sailing: Brittany via The Channel Islands

In persistent optimism we sailed to Alderney, timing the 4 knot tide to sweep us around the corner of Normandy and into Braye Harbour at Alderney, Channel Islands. There we spent a few rainy days and ordered a new diesel pick up tube from USA, the last part of the supply line from tank to engine. that we had not replaced. Her are some pics taken in a few windows of sunshine:

The mooring field at Braye Harbour is quite large...

...and here is the view from the boat, back to where the above pic was taken.

Many remnants of the Victorian fortifications from the Nineteenth Century, and of the German occupation in WWII are scattered around, giving Alderney a "goose bumpy" feeling to its history.

Exploring one sunny day we found some interesting short cuts and enjoyed stretching our legs.

Then we were off to Guernsey, through the tidal race of The Swinge and on 14 NM to Beaucette Harbour, where we waited outside for half an hour until the gauge showing the water depth over the entrance sill reached 1.7 metres - about 5 feet 6 inches: Adventuress draws 5 feet. While we waited amongst the rocks outside the diesel continued to have air bubbles in it....and so we were relieved when we finally docked inside, in a lovely spot.....

...berthed in Beaucette in a prime spot: thanks Ricky and Steve for a second great stay in your unique marina!

We showed you this view in last year's blog, but this pic shows the water at low tide, and you can see the rocks at the waterline. It is an entrance that requires a bold heart, and ideally, no air in your diesel supply!

Nancy composed this pic, and I just simply pressed the button! Here you get an idea what happens when you have a tidal range more than 20 feet.

Almost low tide in Bordeaux Harbour, Guernsey, and the local tiny fishing boats are just afloat.

St Peter Port Guernsey was calm in the early morning after we had a big celebration the night before. What were we celebrating? Read on:

When our new pick up tube finally arrived from the USA we were disappointed but not surprised to find it was definitely not what was promised in writing: it was just a new duplicate of our existing original defective part! So off we went by bus to St Peter Port, the main harbour in Guernsey, where within an hour a machine shop made a new pick up tube to JFK's specifications. We took it back, fitted it, and that very day we went on a sea trial the four miles back to St Peter Port: PERFECT! No air in the diesel. Finally! And all we have to say here about the outfit in the USA is: shame on you.

And to our Island Packet friends: ask and we will tell you all the sorry details!

With a fully functioning engine off we went back to France, this time further West, to Brittany. We found lovely uncharted anchorages, and here in the river sails past a traditional schooner on its way into Morlaix harbour.