4 Kidneys and a Wonky Leg

We had set our alarm for 5am and on waking there was a heavy mist outside. Not a good start to the holidays after weeks of sunshine. But by the time we reached Buckshore, the day was clear and the sun was rising. We soon were on the boat and quickly prepared to go. 0620am we slipped the mooring. With Main and genoa set, we sailed into the gentle SW wind. Our holidays had begun.

After a couple of hours we hit a fog bank, not too bad at first, but slowly the visibility degraded down to about 20 meters. I had switched the radar on but there was very little in the way of traffic. We were nearing halfway across the channel when we popped out from the fog to find two large ships passing within 2miles of us. I rechecked the radar, nothing. Not good. No phoning the IT department here, so switched everything off and on again, and even I was surprised to find everything started working again.
It was just as well, because shortly before crossing the traffic separation lanes the fog returned. Picking our way through several ships by radar navigation we got to the midpoint of the lanes. Then the engine faltered and died. The wind had long since died and we were fast approaching a call to the coastguard for help.

Fortunately a quick fuel filter change and the engine sprang back into life. I had thought about returning home but it was just as hazadous to go back as to continue on, so we carried on. Finally things started to look up. The fog cleared, the wind filled in and as we reached the Alderney race it picked us up and dragged us toward Guernsey at a respectable 12 knots. On arrival we were placed on the waiting pontoon and were first to go into the marina once the tide had risen.

Tired and slightly traumatised, it was a quick shower, dinner, then off to bed.
What we learned from this experience:
Always be prepared for fog, even if the weather forecast is clear.
Have a backup plan in case your radar fails.
Don’t be afraid to call for help if you need it.
It was an passage that I’ll not forget in a hurry. I’m glad that everything worked out in the end and we were able to make it to Guernsey safely.

If you’re planning a sailing trip, I recommend being prepared for anything. The weather can change quickly and you never know what you might encounter. But if you’re prepared, you’ll be able to handle anything that comes your way.