We set up ready to do our first English Channel Crossing. Topped up with water and fuel in Dartmouth. Steve had set up our passage plan. We provisioned for a few days just in case we could not find a supermarket in France immediately. Finally with mixed intrepidation and excitement we left in very warm calm seas and a slightly misty. Unfortunately this was not a good start as we needed some wind otherwise we were motoring all the way - a costly passage!
Steve had installed an AIS and a navigation system to help make navigation easier. This would mean we could see any other ships transmitting AIS and therefore avoiding a collision as the English Channel is renowned for being very very busy.
After 3 hours the wind picked up, we hoisted the sails, turned off the engine and had a cracking sail for over 16hours.
During the trip we spotted dolphins. Grabbing the GoPro we raced to the bow to film them. By the time we got there the single dolphin had turned into a pod of dolphins and then a super pod of about 30 dolphins, who all swam with us darting in and out of the bow wake, swimming under the bow and out the other side for over 90mins. It was our first experience of these beautiful creatures swimming with us and was such a magical moment - this is the life we dreamed 😍.
Our destination was L'Aber Wrac'h, Brittany. The trip took us 27hrs having sailed the 120nm overnight. Seeing land was exciting, not because we were worried but because we had crossed the channel and it was a foreign country. We had sailed through one of the busiest channels and made it. We took a mooring bout and sat and reflected on a wonderful first crossing.
We have many more seas and oceans to cross but that was our first and will one we will remember for the rest of our lives.
Amazing achievement. Super proud of you both xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you. We really enjoyed the crossing, amazing xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Gill
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