Dell Quay Sailing Club

Cruiser Reports

2016 RALLY ROUND UP

Dell Quay cruisers had another successful rally season with only 3 rallies cancelled due to strong winds and rain. A total of 22 boats enjoyed cruising to a variety of harbours and anchorages in the Solent, Dorset, France and the circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight. Cantata (Westerly Storm), Niobe (Westerly Konsort) and Parity (Moody 31) were the most regular ralliers attending 6 rallies each and the most popular rally was to Cowes and West Solent attended by 11 cruisers ranging in size from 22 to 35 feet.

Tuesday 12th April saw perfect conditions for the first rally of the season, a shake down sail led by Sue Pearson to Bembridge attended by Cantata, Fairwind of Dell Quay (Moody 30), Frith (Parker 27) and Niobe. All points of sailing and berthing skills were tested and engines too. Crews not daunted by the walk enjoyed a good evening meal at The Vine in St Helens. The Duver staff were as helpful as ever.

Alongside at The Duver, Bembridge

Wed 11th May saw rather different weather conditions for the rally to Yarmouth led by Tim Applewhite. Cantata, Niobe and Parity set out a day early but due to fog they abandoned plans to reach Cowes and turned in to Gosport Marina. The following day a further 3 boats departed from Chichester Harbour bound for Yarmouth but a call on VHF Ch 8 from Bill Greening advised that those in Gosport were concerned about poor visibility and were making for Port Solent instead so Harami (Nab 35), Moody Maid (Moody 27) and Pegasus (Hunter Horizon) changed their plans and joined them. About 15 crew were enjoying a meal in a restaurant in Port Solent when Opus IV (Westerly Centaur) made contact with Tim via mobile to advise he had radio problems but had made his way to Yarmouth in the thick fog and where was everyone? Most returned to Chichester the following day in better visibility.

The May Cross Channel rally was beset by strong winds and conditions were unfavourable for crossing. Instead an alternative cruise was agreed upon and Bill Greening aboard Niobe led Fairwind and Sandpiper (Westerly Centaur) to Newtown.

River, Studland Bay and Pottery Pier on Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour. Delightful walks and peaceful anchorages were enjoyed by all making a pleasant change from marina pontoons. Good breezes made for fast passages although Sandpiper’s progress across Christchurch Bay was slowed somewhat when the towed dinghy shipped some water and began to act as a drogue.

Saturday 18 June saw three of the smaller boats enjoy a harbour cruise to Thorney Island Sailing Club. David Jardine-Smith made the arrangements and reports ‘Scandal (Tamarisk 22) Cariad, (Newbridge Voyager) and Lalep-La (Hurley 22) left Dell Quay on the ebb, to explore around East Head and beyond before heading up to Thorney on the flood. Three visitor moorings were available to us just up from TISC's long jetty and our hosts had kindly given us permission to use their brick-built barbecue ashore which we did, enjoying a very peaceful evening and a new perspective of the harbour. A calm and relaxing rally, all in all - and we learned why Lalep-la is called Lalep-la... (DQ cruisers please note that prior permission from the military authorities, via TISC, is required to visit Thorney Island.)’ The short harbour cruise appealed to crews not too
keen on long passages and another harbour cruise has been included in the 2017 programme.

Bucklers Hard on the lovely Beaulieu River was the destination for the mid week rally on Tuesday 21st June. Cantata and Parity joined single handers Frith and Sandpiper mooring up alongside the mid river pontoon opposite the marina. It is a short dinghy trip ashore to The Master Builders for a meal in the evening and there is plenty to do and see in Bucklers Hard and further upstream in Beaulieu itself if you wish to spend longer in this delightful location.

The winds and sea state were too much for a channel crossing on Wednesday 13 July so Cantata, Fairwind, Moody Maid, Niobe and Opus IV made for Bembridge and enjoyed excellent curry night at Brading Haven Sailing Club. A good passage was made on Thursday motor sailing to Cherbourg in moderating seas. Fairwind picked up something on her prop en-route and had to proceed under reduced revs into the marina with Bill Greening in Niobe standing by. Tom and Ros Cunliffe joined us for drinks aboard Niobe and later a very impressive Bastille Day firework display was enjoyed. The marina was busy with the Tour des Portes de La Manche race boats. A good sail around Cap de La Hague and onto Dielette where the remaining plastic wrapping was removed from Fairwind's prop by Barrie diving in Roy’s wet suit. Good moules and frites were enjoyed in L’Escale. Cantata and Moody Maid then returned via Guernsey and Alderney whilst Opus IV, Niobe and Fairwind went on to St Helier, Jersey, staying overnight on he outside waiting pontoon ready for an early start next day. The weather remained warm and sunny for the passage south to Bas Sablons marina, St Malo. After a day spent exploring the delightful surroundings the rally locked through the EDF barrage and into the scenic and peaceful River Rance.

Fairwind and Opus IV locking through the barrage

La Richardais, R Rance

Picturesque village of St Suiliac

Two nights were spent exploring St Suiliac, the river and Plouer marina further upstream before reconvening in the lock and making passage west to St Cast-Le- Guildo with its splendid beaches. The rally returned north to St Peter Port, stopping over on the outside pontoons that are walk ashore in the summer, then onto Braye Harbour, Alderney for a BBQ on the beach.

BBQ in the sand dunes in Braye Harbour, Alderney

Next day a good breeze made for a quick passage across the channel with Fairwind and Opus IV heading into Studland Bay whilst Niobe went on into Poole Harbour. Niobe and Opus IV returned to Chichester and Fairwind sailed back to Bembridge in a good breeze. We enjoyed glorious summer weather, new destinations and it was a first time crossing for Opus IV.

Dick Hoare who led the Lymington rally writes ‘The Lymington rally was scheduled to start on Wednesday the 20th July, followed closely by a rally to Bucklers Hard up the Beaulieu river on the following weekend. With no boats registered for the Beaulieu rally, I decided to ignore the trip up to Bucklers Hard and go on from Lymington to the Newtown river on the Isle of Wight and then make our way east, calling into Bembridge on Saturday.

We left our berth in Chichester marina and quickly spotted Nikita as she left her mooring off Longmore. White Magic followed having come out of Birdham Pool a little later. Nikita unfortunately was called back home during our passage past Hayling Island. The weather was forecast to deteriorate later in the day, reaching W or SW 6 or 7, so the decision was made to divert into Gosport marina in Portsmouth Harbour, where we arrived around 3:00pm. When in Gosport, there is only one place to eat – the Great Wall Chinese restaurant. Eat all you can for £16.95!

Thursday morning dawned fine with SW 3-4 forecast. Yes, it was on the nose, so we motored west past Cowes and the Gurnard buoy, when the wind allowed us to sail for a short time up to the entrance to Lymington. Our passage took us through a classic yacht race which included one of the old J-class boats and a Bristol pilot cutter. The entrance to the river is very well marked with red and green posts; the first one is called ‘Jack in the Basket’. The story goes that the fishermen’s lunches would be placed in the basket for them to collect on their way past. However, the pilot book tells a different story. Apparently, those who offended the good people of the town were left in the basket to have fish and some other unmentionables thrown at them by passing sailors. I think I know which account I prefer.

Berths had been booked for us in Berthon Lymington marina, which is the second marina as you motor up towards the town. It’s a very well appointed marina (sporting probably the swankiest loos in the south) with the widest pontoons I have every seen. The staff made us all very welcome and were most helpful in every way. Local knowledge indicated that the Ship Inn, next to Town Key was not the place to eat. So we walked a short way up the cobbled street to the Kings Head and enjoyed an excellent meal and good beer.

We left Lymington quite early next day to be sure of getting a buoy in Newtown River. White Magic had to get back home, so Frith and Parity rafted together in the main river and enjoyed an idyllic afternoon watching the wildlife and other boats. We slipped our moorings the next day for the trip down the Solent to Bembridge with a strong tide to help us on our way. Frith departed for her home berth in Gosport.

Imagine our surprise, when as we turned into the harbour, we were greeted by a forest of masts, many dressed overall, all rafted along the Duver pontoon. We had inadvertently joined the annual Family Fun weekend. However, the marina staff worked wonders to get everybody safely secured, but had to turn boats away as the total reached 170 craft moored! The following morning, they again worked their magic and organised departures for all those wanting to leave on the tide. And so it was, we sailed all the way back to Chichester harbour under just our genoa in a south-westerly Force 4 breeze to bring to close a wonderful few days sailing in the Solent’. (Dick Hoare PARITY)

Newtown River tranquillity

Family fun weekend in Bembridge

Tuesday 23rd August bought fair weather and calm seas for the Round the Wight rally led by Dick Cole. Cantata, Harami, Frith and Moody Maid headed for Yarmouth (best to reserve a berth). A drink in The Royal Solent Yacht Club was followed by a meal for the crews in The Bugle. After a good trip around the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, the rally arrived in Bembridge in time for another excellent Wednesday curry night at Brading Haven Sailing Club.

Tuesday 13th September, Cowes and West Solent. This was the best attended rally with 11 cruisers taking part. It was led by Phil Slader who writes ‘Niobe, Opus IV, Zephyr, (Jeanneau 281) Frith, Cantata, Parity, Sandpiper, Pegasus, Harami, Kekeno (Seal 22) and Sunbeam (Newbridge Venturer) all travelled to Cowes on Tuesday. The 23 crew members went to the Island Sailing Club where they had kindly let us use the conservatory for a hatch supper and we stayed on for a talk on ‘Winston’s Island’.
The rally was to Cowes and West, so on Wednesday: Opus IV went west towards Studland Bay; Zephyr, Kekeno and Sunbeam went NNW to Hythe and enjoyed a meal in La Vista Italian restaurant taking advantage of their mid-week offer; Frith, Cantata, Parity and Sandpiper went to Gosport where Sandpiper reported ’Superb Chinese cuisine and good Dell Quay banter’, Niobe went to Bembridge whilst Pegasus and Harami returned to Chichester’.

On Tuesday 4th October the last rally of the season was led by Bill Greening who reports: ‘7 boats signed up for the Lay Up Rally. Of these Parity cancelled at the last moment as her alternator died during the Hardway Rally a few days before, Harami cancelled as her crew unavailable and it was too windy for single handing. Cantata’s “elderly crew” decided to wait for better weather. With an inshore forecast giving F5-7’s for Tuesday and Wednesday Moody Maid, Niobe, Mandalay (Moody 31) and Friday’s Child had a great sail across to Bembridge in SE 18 - 25 knots. Bay Watch on The Beach was only doing evening meals at weekends during October and Brading Haven S.C. does not open on Tuesday and was not doing evening meals on that Wednesday (as it was the first Wednesday in the month) so we ate very well in the Vine. On Wednesday at 08:30 we thought the wind was OK to go to Gosport, but by the time we could leave (11:30) Chimet was reporting a full east F7 and the sea outside Bembridge looked horrible. Fridays Child came home, the rest of us stayed in Bembridge! But the sun was out! A lull in the early hours of Thursday morning dropped the sea state down and although we had a fairly consistent F6 for the NE to come home with, it was a fairly easy motor sail back. Quite fun really!

The weather was perfect for lift out on Saturday 15th October with Piers Chamberlain leading a well organised team. The start was delayed because high pressure in preceding days reduced the expected water level so the boats could not get close enough for the usual 7am start. Once everyone was in position, the huge crane and its skilful driver made the task of lifting 26 boats onto the Quay for the winter look easy.

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Cross Channelling 2015

The Roche Douvres were 7 miles to port, meaning we were half way between the French Emerald Coast and Guernsey, when Jersey Coastguard issued an “imminent” strong wind warning. It was supposed to be for the north of their area, and we were in the middle, so we might miss it and anyway it was for a south westerly – behind us. We had 5 hours to run, and it was a lovely day for the first 3. Then the mist and drizzle came in, and the wind got up. We were, however, soon in the Little Russel and in Guernsey’s lee, although we did catch some 35 knot gusts coming off the cliffs. The arrival beer in St Peters Port tasted especially welcome!

Despite this, the wind this year has been relatively kind to us for Cross Channelling, although inevitably plans were changed to give ourselves relatively comfortable passages.

In May 7 boats rallied in Newtown Creek – a feeder rally for crossing the Channel. We had hoped to bbq on the beach, but a cold wind decided otherwise, so we had to split and meet up on different boats. Newtown was as picturesque as usual and we all found mooring buoys – very civilised!

What was not civilised was the 04.30hrs start for the 4 boats (Fairwind – Sue and Barrie Pearson, Moody Maid – Dick Cole, Wild Heron – Frank Wilson and Niobe – Bill Greening) heading across Channel! But after a motor sail to the Needles and a bumpy patch over Bridge, the wind allowed us to virtually lay Alderney, albeit with a little help from our engines. So the early start resulted in our arrival in Braye by 18.00 hrs and a gentle evening!

The next day was misty with some drizzle, so exploration was limited. However the Alderney Sailing Club where we all gathered for an early evening beer was as welcoming as always, and little changes at the excellent First and Last Restaurant, where the indomitable Rita still presides!

A glorious Bank Holiday Saturday gave us a picturesque motor (absolutely no wind!) down the Swinge and then south to St Peter Port, which had 2 large cruise ships anchored off. The town was therefore crowded for what turned out to be our first visit of the year but Niobe’s crew found good walking on the west coast.

The passage to Dielette was another motor sail, but I am pleased to report the mussels on the Quay are still as good and plentiful as ever! We knew that higher northerly winds were forecast for 3 days out, so our plan was to sail to Cherbourg for a final French meal before heading home ahead of the northerlies. But the following morning the forecasts (is the internet a help or not?) suggested that the northerlies may come a day earlier, so a comfortable crossing won and we made straight for Chichester. The northerlies did not come early!!

In July another 04.30 hrs start saw Fairwind, Niobe, Harami (Time Applewhite) and Mouette (Keith Holder) tie up in Cherbourg by 19.00hrs after a motorsail in a rolly sea in the morning which tested stomachs, but calming in the afternoon. The following day at a more reasonable 06.00hrs we left for Carteret and enjoyed fine weather but only a short time purely sailing.

We had planned a rest day there, whilst a higher headwind than we would have liked blew through. In the end we stayed 4 days as the winds resolutely refused to abate enough for us to thrash against them south to Granville with no real alternative ports on the way. This is the first time many of us had really explored this area, with Barneville having a fine Saturday market, great coast walks and even a pleasure train to Port Bail! And, of course, French cuisine on tap!

Unfortunately Mouette had to head for home from Cateret, whilst the rest of us enjoyed the best sail of the trip, 30 miles to Granville. We left in mist and drizzle, and arrived in bright sunshine, with Fairwind and Harami diverting to admire Isles Chausey. It was an all too brief overnight stop, as the following day we had a brief window of easterlies to cross to St Cast, the real beginning of the Emerald Coast and the objective of this trip.

St Cast Le Guildo was new to Fairwind and Niobe. It is a modern marina connected to the pleasant sea side town by a new half mile promenade under the cliffs. Since Harami’s last visit in 2010 the facilities have been completed and various restaurants and shops built on the marina itself. Very convenient.

After 24 hours in St Cast came the highlight of the trip for me, motoring around Cape Frehal, through the Erquay Passage and down to Dahouet. The scenery is magnificent, with cliffs and beaches, off lying rocks and plenty of greenery. The entrance to Dahouet looked quite interesting in the pilot book, but, as usual, proved simple in practice.

Niobe was the first boat in, and unusually for this trip we were not met and the visitors pontoon was almost full of local boats. Harami had rafted on us when Fairwaind arrived, was met and taken to another berth. This was as Kip Moore, Niobe’s “kitty” man, arrived back from the Capitanerie with the news that the port was closed for dredging and we should have seen notices up in St Caast (we had not looked!). However, with some persuasion, “monsieur” had agreed that we could stay for 1 night only! As it was already evening, we did not see much of Dahouet, but it looked an attractive place and well worth another try.

So the following morning we set off relatively early to sail the 10 miles across the bay to catch the tide into Binic. This coast has a tidal range in excess of 10 meters, with most harbours gated and only accessible a couple of hours on either side of high. Binic was lovely, with an old harbour nestling in the town and fully equipped with marina facilities. However, it was lucky Barrie checked with the Harbour Master by VHF on the gate closing time, as it was shutting 30 minutes earlier than suggested in Reeds! We had to motor the last mile to get there in time.

We enjoyed our 2 days in Binic. More coastal walks, good restaurants, a boulangerie just round the corner from our mooring and even a Carrefour supermarket 6 or 7 minutes’ walk away. It is another pleasant small holiday resort with, when the tide is out, stunning beaches.

From Binic it was St Peter Port, and for Niobe’s crew a day walking Herm in glorious sunshine again. Another motor sail again to Cherbourg for Harami and Niobe where the Café de Paris provided a superb last night dinner – undoubtedly the best meal of the trip and all for 29 Euros! The trip home provided 2 or 3 hours pure sailing, but an easy run a day ahead of high winds arriving. For once, they came at a relatively convenient time. Only Fairwind, who had left Guernsey for Alderney and then Studland, was affected, having to hole up in Poole.

Not a bad year!

Bill Greening

Niobe

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Tall piles for the 10 metre tidal range at St cast

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Sunset at Dahouet

Binic dries a long way!

DQSC Cruiser Rally reaches Roscoff

What a welcome to the Pink Granite Coast!

(Photo's below)

The day had begun in Jersey’s St Helier Marina with an 07.30 hours start to catch the tide for the 40 mile trip to Lezardrieu. After a day off walking the coast to Gory, we were well rested following the 2 days trip out via Cherbourg. Eight hours later we had passed the Isle de Brehat, motored up the beautiful Trieux River and were amazed to find that all three boats could moor on fingers alongside one another at the north end of the marina. We then realised that it was Bastille Day (14^th July) but fortunately the local restaurant that we have favoured in the past could still fit all eight of us in.

Now the crews of Fairwind (Sue and Barrie Pearson) and Niobe (Bill Greening with Kip Moore and John Wharf) were sitting in Cantata’s (Esmond Pope, Harry Loewe and Roy Dyton) cockpit drinking a laced coffee and enjoying the late night fireworks being set off on the gravel wharf just down river from us. And what an excellent display it was!

We had made the relatively new marina at Bloscon (Roscoff) the objective of our trip as none of us had been there before. The next day we motored along the Pink Granite coast, inside the Sept Isles and across the Baie de Morlaix to find the marina tucked under the small Bloscon commercial port which is just big enough for 1 ferry to either Plymouth or Ireland and a few fishing boats. The marina houses some 600 boats and has all the usual facilities including a surprisingly useful general store. It is about 1 kilometre from Roscoff Old Port, but during the peak holiday period (which we were in) a free shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes. The French are really trying!!

Roscoff itself has an interesting drying port and plenty of restaurants and shops for tourists. We spent a pleasant day exploring and on our second day caught the passenger ferry to the Isle de Batz which is 3 miles long by 1 mile wide and about 1 mile offshore. I have sailed through that channel a couple of times with a friend and can report very strong tides and masses of rocks. It was much more relaxing to let the locals take the strain! Niobe’s crew hired bicycles to explore the Island – very “Last of the Summer Wine” as my wife insisted. There is very little motorised traffic with a pleasant mixture of small cliffs and sandy beaches. It also boasts a surprisingly good small supermarket – much better than Roscoff where the main supermarket has closed.

We enjoyed a leisurely sail back across the Baie of Morlaix to Trebeurden for a walk and a night in its marina before heading to Ploumanac’h, surely the heart of the Pink Granite coast. Its lovely entrance is through an area of impressive rocks until crossing the sill leads into an enclosed harbour where you moor on trots of dumbell buoys. Fortunately the harbour master was there to assist so we did not have to figure them out for ourselves!

Although Lezardrieu, Trebeurden and Ploumanac’h are old favourites, none of us had been to Port Blanc before, so that was our next night’s stopover. It was only 7 miles along the coast. We picked up 3 of the 5 visitors’ moorings in mid-morning and headed ashore to explore. Imagine beaches looking offshore into a multitude of rocks and plenty of moored boats, backed by the odd hotel and other facilities. Again, it is very attractive. However the moorings are open to the north, and as a w.n.w. wind increased to all of 10 knots we experienced moderate rolling during the night. We all complained of lack of sleep.

The next day it was time to start heading for home. As strengthening north easterlies were forecast for the end of the week, we only lingered for 1 night in St Peter Port (which has upgraded its outside pontoons to walk ashore), stopped for a night in Cherbourg as we would then have a daytime Channel crossing and arrived at the Bar Beacon after a 12.5 hour motor sail and before the north easterlies had strengthened. We prefer to do our cruising in comfort!

The weather had been excellent, we had some pure sailing, although as always not enough, and of course the company had made it. It is some years since we have been to the Pink Granite coast, and I, for one, hope it will not be so long before we return.

Bill Greening

Niobe

Port Blanc

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Ploumanac'h

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Trebeurden

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Bastille Day Fireworks

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The Tale of two Dickies, or Jeckles at Hythe

What a difference the weather makes to a rally. The forecast for the 1st July had looked pretty gloomy for most of the previous week but on Tuesday 1st July it was bright and breezy. There were six boats registered for the rally but we were joined by Esmond Pope and his team in Cantata for the first leg to Bembridge. Esmond had set up third attempt at a helicopter rescue exercise. It was not to be, Esmond felt his three-man crew was too light, so we still look forward to an uplifting exercise.

Seven boats, including Wild Heron from Haslar, were soon safely berthed in friendly Bembridge. It had been a lumpy passage up the twisty channel into Brading Haven and it must have been a testing time for our single handers Peter Elford and Martin Watson.

Facilities in Bembridge are improving all the time and we were able to group together on either side of the long pontoon and enjoy Bill's hospitality on board "Niobi". It was a merry gang that climbed the hill to St Helen's and good pub meal in the "Vine".

One of the good things about Bembridge is that you can't leave until the tide rises enough for you to get over the bar. That meant that we could have a lie-in. Esmond left first, brave fellow! The main fleet followed and turned north towards Southampton Water. The promised easterly 4 never arrived but it was a good sail up past Deans Elbow ( fl r ) and to the well marked channel up to the Hythe Marina lock.

We were in, in two batches and soon sent off, by the friendly and the helpful lady lock-keeper, to berths in this surprisingly attractive setting. Boat moorings are grouped together in clusters that are themselves overlooked by flats, houses and gardens. The effect is vaguely reminiscent of some Dutch harbours. Facilities ashore are good too. Drinks on board "Parity" where followed by a stroll to an anticipated meal ashore but we were disappointed by the on-site Italian restaurant; fortunately the surly service there encouraged us to find an excellent Thai restaurant in Hythe village. Great food good company.

A bright Thursday morning and reasonable water over the cill into the lock encouraged us to make an earlier than planning start down Southampton Water.

Westerly winds were forecast so Dick prepared "Parity" for her cruising shute and a brisk down wind sail to the Bar. Much to the disappointment of the remainder of the fleet it proved to be a reach and we all enjoyed one of the best sails of the year.

Our pleasure on "Parity" was only spoiled by being rapidly overhauled by "Harami" *. We were later compensated a little by managing to edge past "Niobi". All in all it was a great day's sail rounding off a really enjoyable rally to an old favourite and a visit to a new venue.

Dick Cole July 2014

*(photo) by Tim Applewhite
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DQSC RALLY VISITS ARROMANCHES

(see photos below)

It was a poignant moment when four cruisers from Dell Quay visited the Mulberry Anchorage at Arromanches in May. We may have been three weeks ahead of the 70^th anniversary of D Day, but that did not prevent us contrasting the beauty of this spot on a warm spring afternoon with the horrors of the past of which the remains of the Mulberry units are a great reminder.

Sandpiper (Peter Elford, Dick Cole and Sue), Harami (Tim Applewhite and Spence), Fairwind (Sue and Barrie Pearson) and Niobe (Bill Greening and Kip Moore) had made an easy passage to St Vaast 2 days before and then spent a day enjoying everything that port could offer. St Vaast had few visiting yachts in this second week in May which made it more special than usual. We were now on our way to Ouistreham and conditions were just right to fulfil an ambition to anchor in the limited shelter of Arromanches and wait out some foul tide for a few hours.

Having locked into the canal at Ouistreham in the late evening, we spent the night in its pretty marina and then joined the morning convoy (well, it was us and one other boat!) to Caen. This involves waiting at the Pegasus Bridge for “Monsieur” to open up and let us through, before doing the same at the other two bridges before Caen. Here we spent two nights right in the middle of the city. Kip and I visited the Memorial Museum on the outskirts of town and found it to be one of the best on the Second World War we had seen.

Going north again we were the convoy! We were joined by a few other boats in the lock before enjoying they best pure sail of the trip for the 5 miles east to Dives-sur-Mer and its modern but attractive Port Guillaume Marina. Dives claims that William the Conqueror left from there in 1066 and there is a large tablet in the church listing the nobles who sailed with him. The centre of the town is very attractive as are the neighbouring holiday towns of Houlgate and the more modern Cabourg.

The weather was starting to break up, but we were blessed with southerlies for the next few days. Sandpiper and Harami had to make for home from Dives having run out of time and made an early morning start. Fairwind and Niobe planned to make a final stop in Deauville/Trouville, but on hearing that the yacht club there was full with race boats, decided on another day in Dives. In fact it was 2 days awaiting a sensible forecast, but in the event all 4 boats made fast passages home in southerly winds of force 4 to 5.

Arromanches had been a first for all of us, and only 2 of us had been to Caen by water before. The sun shone for the first 2 thirds of our time away, the food was good and the company excellent. As Peter said, “what more does a man (or woman) need!”

Bill Greening

Niobe

Anchored at Aromanches

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