The MBM fleet reach Cherbourg
Bonjour Cherbourg
Position 49° 38.69 N 001° 37.25 W
Cherbourg Marina
Richard Poat and Claire, aboard the MBM Control RIB Time Flies were the first to leave a gloomy Portsmouth at 0810 hrs. Their mission, to head out and report back on the conditions out in the Channel. With blue-skies overhead, the wind was in the southwest averaging 12-13 knots, and the conditions were slight, with a short chop on the nose. The decision was made to go by 0900 hrs and the first boat departed as planned at 0930 hrs. The fleet had departed Portsmouth by 1100, shepherded by Cruise Leader Neale, aboard Calm Voyager.
By early afternoon and mid-channel, the sea had flattened off considerably. The sun had shone nearly the whole way across, but 30 miles off Cherbourg the cloud thickened and the blue-sky disappeared. This didn’t affect the sea conditions and boats pushed on to their destination at their various cruising speeds, the first boats entering the harbour just after 1530hrs local time.
Most boats proceeded straight to the fuel pontoon being operated by Richard, while Claire co-ordinated the berthing on the marinas visitors’ pontoons as the steady stream of boats arrived.
By 1715 the MBM fleet was happily assembled at Cherbourg Marina. It was the first time in French waters for some. Congratulations to the nine boats who made their first channel crossing today. A pontoon briefing was held in the rain detailing tomorrow’s passage to Saint Vaast, just 27 miles further along the coast. The weather is looking windier tomorrow but all boats were issued departure times from 0930 onwards and a decision would be made in the morning.
Photo captions:
Time Flies departs Royal Clarence Marina
Aquastar ‘The Graduate’ underway
Fleet at Cherbourg Marina
