Dielette marina is equipped with an automated sill which opens and closes whenever there is sufficient water. For three hours either side of high water the sill is open, allowing free access into and out of the marina. This also seems to create a lot of disturbance for moored boats whenever there is movement in the outer commercial harbour. We had to endure another rough night here, until the sill closed again at around 6am this morning, when there was brief respite from the ropes creaking and the boat jerking before the morning alarm.

A mixed bag of weather including a longer period of rain before we set off gave an ideal chance to screen a DVD in the cockpit cinema whilst boat maintenance took place in the main saloon - another triumph for the MarineView screen.

Once the sill opened for the afternoon high water we embarked for the short passage round Cap de la Hague to Cherbourg. We timed the passage to coincide with the weakest period of northerly going tide, although we still had up to 5 knots behind us. We could keep close inshore at this state of the tide, and the only hazards were the poor visibility and the fishing markers dotted along the coast. As we monitored Joburg traffic on the VHF, we heard them contact a US warship in the shipping lanes, and wondered what news we might have missed.

We planned to rendezvous with the MBM fleet at Cherbourg and join them for the cruise along the Normandy coast, timed to coincide with the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of D-day. As we arrived at Cherbourg we remembered it was also the Bank Holiday weekend and the visitors pontoon was crowded with boats. We thought our mooring, on about two foot of pontoon and rafted to a yacht, was quite adventurous - but when three other yachts rafted alongside, it made our arrangements seem quite secure.

Cruising Statistics

Distance: 30nm

Total to date: 590 nm

Avg Speed: 15 knots

Duration: 2 hours

Wind: SE/SW 2-3

Diesel: 120 litres

Mooring: €30

Electricity: Included

Charts

SC5604