Braye Harbour, Alderney

Discovered that Salcombe charge £1 per metre for anchoring in the estuary even though well away from the Town!  Saved £11 because  they don’t charge for half a night and we intended to leave at 3 o’clock!!  Bargain.

Upped anchor at about 03:00 yesterday and enjoyed an excellent passage to Alderney.  Never winds about 11 knots and waves more or less to match.  Dull and a bit cold for most of the trip, but suddenly sunny and warm by the time we arrived.

Crossing the shipping separation zone is always  exciting and this time was no exception because they were, as ever, pretty busy.  Helped a lot by AIS because you can plan avoidance tactics long before the ship can be seen (2 miles). It can still give anxious moments though.  An interesting incident towards the end when messages from the traffic control began appearing on the chart-plotter with audible warnings.  Not sure what it was about, but I imagine that I had done something wrong.  No repercussions yet, though.

We crossed the Swinge with wind against tide, but only about 10 knots of wind and neap tides.  The sea disturbance, even in those light conditions, does make you wonder what it’s like there when things get serious!!!

Braye Harbour, Alderney, in sunshine

Picked up a visitors’ mooring and enjoyed a well-earned rest after a 14 hour (ish) crossing.  Today, we go ashore and hire bikes to ride around the island again.  It is never tiring.

I have just updated G’s Take.