To Jersey, the land at the end of a Rainbow!

We were itching to get going, having spent much longer in Guernsey than planned.  The forecast looked good for Saturday 22nd April and the tides were favourable through the afternoon, ready to whisk us off towards the largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey.

We had to leave the marina in the morning while the water was high enough over the sill and wait on a pontoon for the tide to turn in the right direction.  In the process of tying up the friendly harbour master offered us a hand because with the wind against us it was quite an effort to get the boat along side.  Chris called back "Oh, don't worry, we're fine," as I heaved on the breast line.  The harbour master's witty reply, "Ah, I see you have a blonde windlass," was, luckily for him, out of my earshot!

This trip was really our only chance of a glimpse of the smaller islands of Sark and Herm.  For a change the sun was shining and the light breeze was sufficient for us to sail at around the 5-knot mark.  I helmed for a fair while and Chris took control of the camera.  He didn't bank on the very long Atlantic swell that had about a 30-metre wavelength.  The view, as we rode the crests, was fantastic but we would all too soon drop down to the extent that the horizon would vanish from view.  A very new sensation!  This caused one or two of Chris' photos to be virtually all water and no islands.

Unfortunately, the wind really died and in order to get round Pointe Corbiere so that the tide would carry us round to St Helier rather than north of the island, the motor had to go on.  As we neared Grosnez Point the clouds gathered ominously overhead, but looking back towards St Peter Port the sun was still shining.  Typical!  Then the rain started.  The effect, however, was quite spectacular.  A double rainbow appeared with one end in St Ouen Bay and the other at about the point we would round Corbiere.

Despite having to motor, we were both very happy to be on our way, with the dramatic skyline and scenery for entertainment.  Rounding Corbiere we couldn't quite believe how close into the rocks we were, with a stunning scene of the waves crashing over them, but it was the right course.  Our pilotage notes were followed carefully and once we realised the bright orange marks were the leading lines (not mentioned in any of our pilots) we nosed our way into the channel leading to port control, past the old harbours and ferry terminals, perfectly timed to go straight over the sill into St Helier Marina, right in the heart of the town.  We had arrived, at last, somewhere totally new to us.