Matakana Blue - Final passage home

My passage plan suggested an 8am start to arrive at the needless around 19.00 as the tide turns but talk over dinner of "first light" from Doodles and Omnishambles revise my plans and we depart at 7am,Ian calls me to say they left at 5.30 have 5 knots of breeze and are motoring.   Dolphins again come to say hello as we leave Bray or perhaps farewell as these are the last we see.  Claire texts, the overnighters are safely tucked up in Haslar and breakfast is at 9.  Fortunately wehave some preprepared bacon rolls warming in the oven. We motor sail for a while but shortly after 9am the wind hits 10 knots and I put out the gennaker. Over the next few hours the wind builds, giving us an average of 17 knots from 260 WSW and we are rompingalong soon arriving 10 miles off the. read more...

Matakana Blue - Day 10 Alderney

As we boarded the water taxi at 09.30, the large wave that crashed against the breakwater sending an enormous volume of water and spray over the top lit brightly in the morning sunshine probably bestsums up the night before.  Solid breezes certainly in the upper 20 kn blew steadily throughout, howling through the rigging and sending the boats rocking and skating in the churning waters produced by the swell.   The morning trip on the Alderney railway was excellent fun. Volunteer staff were extremely friendly sharing lots of stories and anecdotes on the history of the railway and allowing the children to playwith the engines whistle. We were given a tour of the sheds took a walk to the headland to view the Lighthouse and some of the World War II battlements. The fleet is. read more...

Matakana Blue - Day 9 Alderney

What a beautiful place.  We ducked the day walking tour and opted for an extra lie in.  After much debate I decided to blow up the tender which only leads to exhaustion and frustration as the outboardthat worked fine 10 days ago fails to show any signs of life.  We water taxi ashore and the driver, having witnessed my pain offers to take a look at it.   Back on dry land we are all amazed by the beauty and size  of settlement here taking a walk through the beautiful town before sheltering for lunch in a restaurant on the high Street. We follow one ofthe guided walks after lunch finishing up down on the beach just as the final rain shower passes through and clears quickly revealing azure blue skies.   The children take to the sea for a swim whilst Karen and I. read more...

Matakana Blue - Day 8 passage to Alderney

  Dolphins and bright sunshine accompany our departure from St Peter Port at 14.30 Omnishambles and Reflections just ahead under Genoa alone. We top up fuel though looking at the forecast for the week aheadwe won't need it!  I set one reef in the main and full genoa just in case the wind increases as we clear the shelter of the island but it does not, nor is the wind direction any good for my plan to head East around Alderney.  The wind is falling, little over10knots so I shake out the reef and hoist the furling gennaker.  We have good boat speed now but I need to head towards Ortac to get a good wind angle which takes us west of Pierreau Vraic. I drop the gennaker as we pass so we have plenty of time and controlin the Swinge   The tide is setting North and our. read more...

Matakana Blue - Day 6 or is it Day 7 we're losing track.

The island put on its best for our coach tour.  Glorious warm sunshine accompanied us and provided a splendid backdrop to the crystal clear azure waters and white sand beaches of the west coast. The fabuloussights included the underground hospital, the little chapel, former gun emplacements and the wreck of a Roman Galley.    Lunch at The Catch was outstanding, great value too the £10 a head moules al La creme included a glass of wine.  The girls enjoyed some shopping time, the boys provisioned and topped up tanks.   A spectrum of views on winds, weather, tides and passage plans led to lively debate throughout the evening skippers briefing. Friday is looking blustery and I don't think anyone is too keen to be on anchorin Bray.   We collided with. read more...