Category Archives: 2016 Solent to IJsselmeer

Respite in Amsterdam … then down the home straight

Arrival in Amsterdam Sixhaven and the sun pops out on occasion but our second day is just 16 degrees. In early August. As soon as a cloud blocks the sun you need another layer with the cold air mass and northwesterly air … Continue reading

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“Sorry about the weather!”

Spot Khujada 2? Berthed in Sixhaven, Amsterdam (taken from ferry over the canal to the city centre) “Welcome to Amsterdam … sorry about the weather.” The greeting of our neighbour on arrival in Sixhaven at ~1100 on Tuesday 9th August. Worthy … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 Solent to IJsselmeer, Amsterdam | 1 Comment

Oyster piles, blitzkrieging birds and bacterial ooze

(Oysters, not mussels!) Just as an aside, we’re fed up with (sea)gulls. Not the noise they make – although in both Dieppe and Boulogne (and countless other ports we’ve not visited in this last week) their screeching is invasive to … Continue reading

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Short stay in Boulogne-sur-Mer

Free of tide restrictions we caught the tide all the way from Dieppe to Boulogne – with Calais closed to cruisers and the breeze still fresh to strong, rounding Le Cap Gris-Nez was not on the cards – and we … Continue reading

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Damp in Dieppe

Old school. Wet, windy but well protected harbour. Over-priced yet dated facilities – no hairdryer, nearest chandlery half an hour walk upstream (inland). Weird-looking denizens abound. Enticing restaurants surround the harbour front like sirens waiting to prey on those who … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 Solent to IJsselmeer, Destinations, Dieppe | 1 Comment

Flying with dolphins

Corny title maybe but our crossing of the Baie de Seine from St Vaast to Deauville was a spectacular day. The sun was out, and so, optimistically given we weren’t planned on sparing any proverbial horses and we were likely … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 Solent to IJsselmeer, Deauville | 1 Comment

St Vaast La Hougue

First up, it’s pronounced “Sain Va La Oog” – not “Vast”! After two days in Cherbourg provisioning, bilge cleaning, winch overhauling and le plouc’ing – after I got lost finding Le Pantagruel, our favourite restaurant in Cherbourg, it’s off to … Continue reading

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Winch cleaning and Carrefour by tender in Cherbourg

A fast sail with the current from Braye round the Raz de Blanchard into a damp Cherbourg was our last stretch with Secret Agent before they returned across the Channel leaving us to continue on our way by ourselves. Leaving … Continue reading

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Alderney (Aurigny)

On relaunch rather than return to our berth we sailed directly out of Portsmouth Harbour and took the tide down the Solent for a decent head start the following morning. Left our mooring just outside Yarmouth breakwater at 0530 with … Continue reading

Posted in 2016 Solent to IJsselmeer, Alderney | 2 Comments

Ready to cast off?

(the long version) Two weeks to go … After a long layoff it’s time to cast off once again. House warmed, new school settled into and life back on land more or less readjusted to but the summer is here … Continue reading

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