3RD ANNUAL "ALAN" CRUISE
Guernsey - Lézardrieux - St Quay Portrieux - Paimpol - Guernsey
(An annual long weekend for aged rockers, hand picked by John, dedicated to the memory of Alan Whittle, the original "idle bugger", whose company and humour we all had the pleasure of sharing.)
By Anthony Davy
SCRIBBLER'S LOG
Thursday 22/6/06
Calvers and John ensure ample supplies are loaded on board tacKtic for the ritualistic "death by pig" to start each day and anticipated excesses of all kinds.
Fog and airlines all behave so the crew assemble on the island in time for lunch chez Whittle. Sally and Harry both on fine form 'though not sure who is more excited about Harry's imminent themed 4th birthday party.
In talking websites and emails with Andy, JW stamps his authority by demanding to be known as Most Revered Skipper. Calvers quick to shorten to MRS@ [ie MRSA].
Move boat from marina to visitor pontoon in preparation for tomorrow's off. Tender has to work hard to bring the 4 ashore - Calvers fretting about the 2 stroke reserve. Very enjoyable dinner at Absolute End with Sally before an emotional send off as the 4 slip back into the night - Calvers still fretting about the tender's 2 stroke.
Friday 23/6/06
After the morning slaughter, depart 08.30 for Lézardrieux in Brittany. Wind very light, so fire up the donkey and motor for hours in overcast weather. Provides plenty of time for the 4 to cogitate, procrastinate and opine on the state of the world as well as resurrect those rock 'n roll moves. The deck speakers and CD multi-changer are a luxurious advance on Bright Sparks.
Coastguard calls up 'tacKtic, tacKtic, vessel calling Mayday' while Andy is 'down below' playing with the Navtex on the VHF radio. The skipper is immediately summoned and responds to the Coastguard's interrogations about a distress call following a "fire and explosion" on-board the vessel. MRS@ is adamant that there is no fire on-board, though the Coastguard does not seem to believe him. Andy "It wasn't me" denies ever pushing THAT button! Whoops! The case continues.
Wind picks up so hoist the spinnaker and sail for 1½ hours towards the French coast before heading down the beautiful channel into port. A pretty harbour girlie welcomes us in and immediately there is a collective drool - how sad! Excellent dinner at L'Auberge de Trieux with friendly service (when did the French start doing friendly? Bon journée indeed!), walk back round the headland and so to bed after taking full advantage of the booze police being absent.
Saturday 24/6/06
A leisurely start with MRS@ admitting to a slight fragility. Anthony given a formal warning after whimping out of "death by pig" in favour of the delights of the boulangerie. Watched amused as Royal Navy ship with rookie crew spent an age slipping its mooring only to leave a bemused youngster behind on the pontoon. The Queen's finest put on a show in a foreign land...
Lovely sunny start to the day and gentle wind so set off on reach along channel south of Ile de Brèhat before hoisting the spinnaker and running for St Quay Portrieux. Andy kept everyone fully informed of progress with his GPS thingy, Ian helmed smoothly so as not to disturb MRS@, who was displaying admirable "idle bugger" characteristics (Alan would be proud), or Anthony who was hanging out on the boom listening to the music. Calvers decides to go topless giving rise to an instant new boy initiation for Andy, rubbing sun cream on his back [you can't even get out of doing that by volunteering to clean the heads!]. Not for the faint hearted!
Arrived St Quay marina mid-afternoon. After tidying up, Andy and Anthony set off on a hike (Anthony's version)/gentle stroll (Andy's version) along the coast path before sundowners in the cockpit and dinner in yet another friendly restaurant - most disconcerting!
Back on board MRS@, Anthony and Andy unanimously agreed over a bottle or 2 that Calvers' appearance would be greatly enhance by removing the moustache which had earlier stored peanuts and other assorted foodstuffs. Calvers begged to differ and displayed a touching attachment to his facial fluff by retreating early to the fo'c'sle cabin, his agreed safe haven.
Sunday 25/6/06
A gentle start (no need to overdo it but really, MRS@, emerging at 09.45!) and ritual slaughter of another pig for breakers. After a walk round the headland to a lovely sandy beach we set off at 13.00 BST for Paimpol, all of a few miles. Head to wind F3-F4 and fast fading sun. Good sail though!
Arrived at the lock 18.00 BST. Having watched a Brit boat make a complete horlicks in the lock ahead of us, MRS@ applies his guile and holds back so gates magically glide open for free flow thereby sparing the 4 any public embarrassment. MRS@'s skill further displayed in berthing as he masterfully slipped his ample tacKtic into a exceedingly slender slot.
Hit the town just as the rain started so missed sightseeing - shame really as looked a pretty place. Hooray, at last found a typical French restaurant with surly waitress, OK food and miserable fellow dinners! Bon journée!
Monday 26/6/06
Thanks to MRS@'s resolute refusal to acknowledge French time, crew confusion over how early to set the sparrow fart alarm. Slipped mooring 06.45 BST in perfect time for lock free flow again. Calvers displayed his abundant culinary skills yet again providing a "schweinfest to go" as we motored towards the open sea.
Wind NW F3/4 meant sunny reach to Guernsey. Calvers i/c the CD stack and at helm so treated to an early morning hard rock master class with White Snake on the deck speakers.
Wind shift so up went the spinnaker. Made good progress although slowed latterly as Anthony grappled with kite flying to Guns 'n Roses. Andy once again provided lots of info from his clever GPS thingy.
Guernsey shrouded in fog so not visible and closed in around the boat 3 miles short of target. Flew spinnaker until ½ mile from St Peter Port when visibility fell to 50m. Arrived 16.30 at waiting pontoon before entering marina.
All ship shape, the 4 enjoyed a good Indian at 44 before Sally came and whisked her man off home leaving Andy, Anthony and Calvers to reflect on yet another superb Alan Cruise.
Many thanks, MRS@ (and Mrs W), this break is a highlight of the year for us. And who knows next year 4 may become 5? Calvers has a spare berth in the fo'c'sle cabin, John S!
Distance Logged = 142Nm, 4 Days, Maximum Wind Force 3
MRS@ - John Whittle (Skipper)
Ian Calverley (Chief Extraordinaire!)
Anthony Davy (Scribe)
Andrew Brander (Nav+photos)
