September 4, 2008 - The Last Leg Home

Some detailed tidal planning suggested that we needed to leave the delights of Benodet at midnight in order to catch the Raz de Sein and the Chanel du Four in one hit. So after a superb fish supper, one and a half hours kip and we were away again, Midnight on the 26th. There was no moon on departure from Benodet and Nick was stationed on the bow for departure to make sure we didn't bump into anything in the Odet estuary. Buoyage seemed to pass very close. One false alarm, we just nearly ran over a seagull or in navy parlance "****e-hawk". It was with some relief that we slipped out into open water. However the boyage was still not lit and the depth was perilously shallow along the coast from Benodet. Once again the GPS provided comforting confirmation that we were where we thought we should be.

The plan was that we would do the notorious Raz de Sein at day break to push through to the Chenal du Four on the same tide, but the timing was critical, otherwise 8 knot tidal streams threatened to hit us from the opposite direction. In the event, we arrived early and sailed through the Raz at night at 8-9 knots. The visibility closed and the potnentially more treacherous Chanel du Four was shrouded in fog. In for a penny.......on we sailed and at the narrowest point of the Chanel, we clocked 10.5 knots. As a result the North West corner of France sped past at a vast rate and we
were soon out into the Channel and leaving the coast of France behind en route to Alderney.

The night of the 26th was spent at sea. Nick cooked a sublime Chilli con Carne and the cold air told us that the UK was fast approaching. However, the winds were fair and still behind us pushing us on. Only one more notorious sea passage between us and Alderney.....the Alderney Swinge, which was reputed to have up to 9 knot tides. Again the tides had to be calculated carefully. We reached the Swinge at daybreak as planned and surfed through the Swinge and 10 knots and arrived in Alderney on the morning of Wednesday 27th August....all looking a bit grey and bleak. Also we were knackered having had on average about 4 hours sleep in the last 36.

Andy re-joined us at Alderney, so once again we were a complete crew.  Diana Moran had been visiting the week before and had left a card wishing us bon voyage for the final leg. Andy caused a stir at the dinner restaurant as his ballooning comrade in arms, Colin Prescott, was well known to the owners and Andy was required to sign  pictures.......of the Breitling and Qinetiq balloons . What it is to be a celebrity!!

After a sloppy and rather noisy night on the swinging mooring, we set sail for Lymington at daylight (approx 6.30am). A full English followed and 30 minutes out the spinnaker went up, which is where it stayed for the next 8 hours. It was only removed once we had whistled past Hirst Point for fear of shooting past the entrance to Lymington.

By 1800 on the 27th we were safely alongside Berthon marina. Just in time for sundowners.  The ferry had tried to push us into shallow water, but we resisted the temptation and incurred the wrath of the ferry captain..........but better that than spend some hours on the mudflats.

It was sad to be ending a real adventure for all of us. Jem had done us proud and looked after us in all conditions. By the time we arrived in Lymington, the crew was pretty seamless and no orders or instructions needed to be given,...it just happened (...well most of the time). Jem was back safe and sound and the conclusion of such a voyage always brings some relief but also a sadness that this was the end.  For Chris, this was the end of his sabbatical and work loomed on Monday as it did for Nick and Andy.  Inevitably the talk over the evening curry was when we would be setting sail again and on what vessel!! 

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