The RYA cruise in company spent an enjoyable half-day in Cherbourg yesterday – half because the crews, without exception, spent the morning asleep, and resolutely refused to adjust to continental time! We rounded off the evening with a visit en masse to the Café de Paris, which served an excellent range of fresh seafood and other classic French dishes. The manager’s eye became progressively more friendly as the crews demolished bottle after bottle of wine!

Today I will be spending the short leg between Cherbourg and Alderney on board Legend 356 ‘Susie Too’, sailed by owners David and Suzanne Chappell. ‘Susie Too’ is a light bilge-keeled boat, who normally sails from Port Solent. Wednesday will see me transfer to ‘Caramor’, a long-keeled Rustler 36 sailed by Geoff and Catherine Dunk. The voyage to Guernsey should provide an interesting contrast between the two boats!

The fleet sets sail with a forecast north to northwesterly 3 or 4, aiming to cross the top of the Alderney race at slack water en route to Braye harbour, where the crews will be entertained with a BBQ at Alderney Yacht Club. The wind is forecast to back westerly as the week goes on, which should give an exciting sail home on Friday!