St Vaast rally

[iangrant]

You all turned up, went way and came back again. We thought your plan was to toddle off further round the coast. We didn't get a chance to ask what happened?

I take it you all got back to England OK though?

Ian (the surrounded yottie on the C pontoon)

 

[kimhollamby]

Unfortunately, in what had already been a re-arranged schedule thanks to earlier weather problems, we made a short-term plan to push the fleet into Grandcamp but the harbourmaster there had an apparently optimistic view on what space it takes to park 25 assorted motorboats, plus the usual weeding problem in the harbour was so acute this time around that it took out one engine on the lead boat due to overheat and clogged the weed trap on the other engine. Deauville had also had to cancel, due we believe to unforeseen congestion.

So our thanks to the good folk at St Vaast who took it all in their stride, albeit by allowing us to overcome the reversal without warning by giving us the freshly remade and dredged wall berths at the far end of the harbour for the last night, which all worked very well indeed. Minimum 2.2m or so depth, for those who previously saw that end of the harbour in its shallower life. A day spend out at the Iles St Marcouf on anchor was the big bonus or a rapidly re-arranged day.

The return Channel crossing was indeed delightfully uneventful for all concerned and the only question remaining at the end of it was how there should be such a big difference between Met Office synoptics and Met Office/Coastguard forecasts on the day. The latter were right, which meant for a more pleasant Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday than should have been the case if the 984 low on the synoptics had stayed on the track indicated. The only consolation being that we know, on any other occasion, that the synoptics could just as easily have been right and the Force 0 gusting 1 statements incorrect!

kim_hollamby@ipcmedia.com