We thoroughly enjoyed a weekend sailing on Lutine with Skipper & Commodore Tim Blackstone last year so organised a long weekend to visit the Channel Islands (conditions permitting) this year.

Tim reviewed the tides and planned a trip with a short hop over to Yarmouth on Friday evening so we could head off early Saturday morning for the sail to Guernsey. Then a sail to Alderney on Sunday and back to Gosport on Monday.

We met on a sunny Friday evening and loaded the provisions procured by Quartermaster Neil Buckley. After a safety briefing we headed off to Yarmouth in order to make our dinner reservation at The Bugle Coaching Inn!

Light winds meant a 5am start to ensure we reached the Alderney tidal race in time, and the combination of little wind, and it being on the nose, meant we needed to motor for much of the journey to Guernsey. However, the sun was shining and the crew enjoyed the fine conditions as well as learning safe crossing of the shipping lanes.

We arrived at the pretty St Peter Port late afternoon and managed to find a spot on a pontoon with sufficient water.

After another good meal at The Old Quarter (there’s a theme here!) we had a relaxing start to Sunday with a full English breakfast ashore before refuelling and setting off for Alderney in a good breeze.

We had a great sail to Braye in Alderney where we picked up a mooring buoy in the harbour before heading ashore for excellent fish & chips (Braye Chippy) and a walk up the hill for a stroll around the elegant streets of St Anne.

Another early start on Monday morning before sailing back to Gosport in a gentle breeze which freshened as we crossed the Channel.

It was a fabulous weekend and thanks need to go to Tim Blackstone for all his hard work to ensure we all enjoyed the weekend.           

Jeremy Cross