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This brief report covers a most enjoyable cruise in company which took place mostly in bright sunshine with little wind
and much motor sailing. The quiet weather enabled visits to the lesser known rocks and beaches.
Route: UK, Cherbourg, Dielette, Carteret, Portbail*, Les Ecrehou*, Iles Chausey, Jersey (St Catherines, Gorey, St Brelades*,
St Helier), St Peter Port, Herm*, Alderney (Braye, Longis Bay) and Home. *= swims!
The 6+ participants are listed below and for the first time for some years included a smaller yacht, Seal 22 Skylark. She
lost her rudder mid channel to Cherbourg but carried on unperturbed! A new one was ordered at Cherbourg but meantime she
sailed on to Dielette and Carteret before the replacement arrived. On one of the few good sailing days she was first to
Alderney from St Peter Port with only a half hour start.
Abacus also had a character building event picking up a fibre bag round the propeller off Point Flamanville and being towed
5 miles to a beach by the 335s Lady J and Shemar. The benefit of cruising in company. The bag was successfully cut off,
but getting away from the beach, the waves built up giving Sally and I some anxious moments!
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Plenty of shoreside activities including sand yachts at Portbail, walks, train ride etc kept us active. The organised socials
were at Dielette at the quay side café (10 present), Portbail at La Repere by the harbour (14 present), the St Helier Yacht
Club for lunch (10 present) and the Guernsey Yacht Club (16 present). All are to be recommended if you sail that way. Portbail
(kindly researched in winter by Martin Hopton and John Coyle) is a delight.
As always, old friendships renewed and new ones made with interesting destinations making a most enjoyable fortnight for
sailors and non sailors!
Clifford Miller
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