7th August – Thursday - Guernsey to Cherbourg

We had to wait until 13.30 for the tide to be in so that there was enough water to go out over the marina sill.  Ourselves and Malcolm and Eileen on Ultima and many others were all waiting for the gauge to read 1.6m over the sill.  Then once again everyone wanted to leave at the same time.  The small boats, ones with lifting keels and obviously the big motor boats with shallow drafts all attempted to leave at once.  There were also the children in the dinghies who had been having a fine time rowing around, which put my heart in my mouth until the families recalled them.  A sort of order ensues and we are off.

The major issue in this passage is the Alderney Race, between Alderney and the French mainland.  The tide runs through very quickly and you have to time it right so that the water is going in the same direction as you intend to, otherwise you would end up going backwards.

The photo shows our instruments indicating a boat speed of 5.6 knots (right), and a SOG (Speed Over the Ground) of 11.1 knots.  Meaning the tide was running at 5.5 knots.  Surfing.

There are also the over-falls, which is where two bodies of water collide and have a punch up under your boat.

Malcolm (The Oracle) had taken the outside track nearer to Alderney and had his feet up when we arrived at 21.00 French Time.  He did tell us so, and proved it.  You live and learn, we will also be going that way next time.

Info:  Cherbourg old harbour was blown away by a gale a few years ago and they have built a lovely new one.  Great facilities, free showers with gentle Jetons.  Comfortable seats in the office.  Good cafe and shop.  Euros 83 for 7 nights with RYA discount, then 16 Euros for an extra night.  We think they got it wrong, but everyone else said it was cheap too, so it would be rude not to stay a while. 

Supermarkets - Carrefour City and Carrefour Hypermarket (keep the water on your left and look for ‘Les Eleises’ shopping complex).

8th August -  Friday

Had a walk round town today and found this Italian Theatre.  Cherbourg was very badly hit in WW2 and so we were surprised this survived.

Mick fixed the GPS, with steady handed electronic wizardry, managed to put a new battery in the GPS which is said to be nay on impossible.

9th August – Saturday

‘Cite de la Mer’ is a museum on the Cherbourg harbour-side, housed in what was the Transatlantic Liner terminal.  I hope the next two pictures show just how big it is.  The marina looks like its very close but its a very long walk around the harbour just to get to it.

Mick is stood next to the yellow submarine in the main hall.

The museums main attraction is a de-commissioned Nuclear Submarine ‘The Redoubtable’.

Commander Bond at the helm.

Visitors walk all the way through the submarine with a headset explaining everything.

Cherbourg was one of the last embarkation points for the Titanic, so there is also a Titanic exhibition.  The picture below is of the main baggage booking hall and displayed films of people from all over Europe leaving the port.  36 million people left Europe for America from 1824.

There is a 3D attraction ride which you get a timed ticket for and an Aquarium and Underwater exploration exhibition.  All in all a full day out, we were there for 6 hours.  42 Euros for 2 people including headsets, is not cheap but still great value.  Highly recommended.