The MBM fleet make Deauville
Position 49° 21.84 N 000° 04.18 E
Port Deauville Marina
The MBM fleet awoke to a crisp morning with a slight breeze in Port Guillaume Marina. Radios were on 0730, and Time Flies went out of the harbour first with Neale and Richard aboard to look at the conditions in the channel.
The conditions had improved considerably from the day before. There was a bit a swell in the entrance channel but once clear of the safe water mark the passage was certainly do-able. Time Flies re-entered the harbour, exchanged crews and was off out again. The first boat, The Graduate, departed at 0800 and everyone else had departed according to their speed by 1100. Neale aboard Calm Voyager remained at the back of the fleet, as shepherd.
With the wind behind them, the fleet of boats had rolled a little and surfed into Deauville. Time Flies was first in the Port Deauville Marina lock. Once secure Claire called boats into the lock as they arrived in the entrance, an arduous process as the lock holds only six boats at a time, and no free flow due to the swell. Richard, and his team of helpers, berthed the boats once they had locked through. With the high sea wall providing shelter from the southwesterly wind and swell, boats could maneuver easily into their berths.
Everyone was safely tied up in the marina by 1130 hrs and went of to explore the town or the 2 mile sandy beach, just the other side of the sea wall. The short hop had been well worthwhile and was complete in just under an hour, giving participants the afternoon to explore the many shops in town. In between the afternoon rain showers, the wind had increased considerably as the forecast had predicted. So much so, clouds of sand were being swept over the sea wall and onto the boats below.
A briefing was held at 1830 detailing the move to Fecamp tomorrow. The conditions are likely to be similar to today’s passage, however the team believes it’s a move worth making. With the wind forecast to go around to the southwest, a passage to Fecamp would mean 30 miles off the channel crossing. Friday’s forecast is not looking good, so the plan is to stay two nights in Fecamp, and cross the Channel on Saturday to Brighton.
Tomorrow, the fleet will bid a fond farewell to the two boats Flower Power and Carpe Diem. Both have important engagements back in the UK and need to return home early. The crew aboard Sealine S28 ‘Flower Power’ has decided to leave the boat at Deauville and will be returning to the UK by ferry;and picking up the boat at a later date. The Atlantis 42 ‘Carpe Diem’ will set out with the fleet tomorrow morning and make passage back to the UK.
Photo captions:
Neale addresses the fleet at the 1830 briefing
