4
Memorable cruise in the channel islands
Guy
Aug 2011
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Excellent welcome from the rental team's staff who provided us with plenty of navigation documents (detailed maps of the islands and currents) and did not penalize us for the small damages we caused (broken plate, cabin key broken in the lock...).
The marina in Saint-Cast is brand new, well-equipped, and just a 10-minute walk from small shops, and 10 minutes by car from supermarkets for substantial provisioning. There is a very large parking capacity directly near the entrance to the docks.
The boat was clean and very well equipped for navigation (GPS, autopilot...). We encountered a few problems during the week due to insufficient maintenance by the owner and slightly inadequate equipment for anchoring when conditions are not ideal. There were no consequences on the stay except for one or two bad nights where conditions required active monitoring of the moorings... It should be noted: limited equipment for a cruise in the Channel Islands since there was no liferaft, and limited equipment for wine lovers since there was no corkscrew on board ;-). I blame myself more than the rental company, who would undoubtedly have resolved all this if I had done a more detailed inventory before departure!
Finally, the sound of Chausey is a superb anchorage, the port of Gorey is not bad either, but the visitor buoys guarantee a restless night with southeast winds and few alternatives to protect against it at the last minute. There was a fairly good welcome in Saint Helier, which turned out to be a good shelter after a restless night (note that the marina is a bit expensive: minimum £20 per day). Lastly, in case of calm weather, it is worth spending a day on land in Jersey where the bus service allows you to explore the island in all directions for a very cheap daily fare.
Fair winds to all.