Page 18 - Yachter Autumn 2021

18 CRUISING REPORTS
NORMANDY RAID BY WILD RIVAL
The RNVRYC’s summer rally to Cherbourg and St Vaast provided the impetus for us to cross the Channel in Summer 2020, post- Spring lockdown, with the aspiration of adding some further cruising in Normandy after the rally dispersed.
Watching the weather carefully, we opted
to head for Cherbourg a day ahead of the rally, as the conditions seemed a lot more pleasant. As we keep Wild Rival upstream of the two lifting bridges in Poole Harbour, we had considered moving to Poole Quay Boat Haven (PQBH) the previous evening, ready for an early departure but this was thwarted as PQBH was fully booked, with a waiting list; an indication of the number of British yachties sticking to UK waters. LW at 05:20 stopped us getting the first bridge of the day, but an 06:00 departure was a good compromise for making the most of the daylight for the passage. Pushing the tide down harbour, we reached the entrance around 07:45 and were off Swanage (near home!) by 08:30.
Once the wind filled in, at 09:30, we had
a good, reasonably fast passage. A reef in the main for comfort and reduced loading on the autopilot, coupled with the working jib, gave us 6-7 kts SOG most of the way. We arrived in the Grande Rade around 18:30 (19:30 local), to join another of our number in the Chantereyne Marina, who’d had the same idea! Unlike Poole, there was plenty of spare capacity in the marina, with significantly fewer British boats around.
In Cherbourg, we hiked up to the
Fort du Roule where Steve managed
to speak to another UK amateur radio operator via handheld UHF, replicating the communications used shortly after D-Day 1944.The rest of our rally arrived the day after us, and we tried not to appear smug as they recounted sailing into 30 kt headwinds and issues with diesel leaks into bilges etc. We also enjoyed socially distanced dining ashore, applying the French system of face coverings until seated at table, inside all buildings and in any crowded streets –
then relatively novel, it now seems to have become a way of life.
From Cherbourg, our fleet sailed
in company towards St Vaast, initially motorsailing, and then sailing around Barfleur, until the wind went light again.
Making the tidal window being essential, we motored the rest of the way. Food at the Tomahawk (Cathy’s delayed birthday meal) and La Marina (rally supper) were both as good as ever. Even with our rally (seven boats) neither the town nor marina seemed crowded.
The rest of our fleet departed the morning after the supper, but we opted to