Our second attempt at getting to Jersey. We left Port Sablon in bright conditions at 9.30, put the main up – unfortunately it is so badly torn that we have to have two permanent reefs in it. It was really exciting to see the Brittany Ferries pass us on its return trip and to think, here I was now on a tiddler in the same stretch of water! Dhara was concerned that we needed to take great care passing the Minquieres rocks on the right side. With the wind building and huge waves, the day started to get rather exciting! I still can’t believe that I was on the helm keeping us on course while huge waves crashed all around and over us. Poor Astrid was pretty sick and I managed to be ok as long as I kept my eyes on the horizon. It was a long day and we enjoyed finally changing course with St Helier starting to come into sight. The change of direction meant that the wind was directly behind and I felt that we were in a children’s cartoon book – sitting in a little boat perched on the top of big waves before sliding down to the bottom. Thrilling! At 8pm UK time we moored alongside other boats on the waiting pontoon.
We all felt we deserved dinner out – slightly difficult as Dhara and Astrid are vegan and Astrid also gluten free. We found a brilliant Indian restaurant and a Cobra slipped down very well! Then highlight of the day – I received an email from Tom – I was over the moon and so happy. The end of a brilliantly enthralling day. I had cracked it – this sailing lark was fun.