Today we sail home as the weather window is still just open. We expect NW, W and then NW winds of maybe 17knots. We woke up to rain though - which had not been forecast! and off we went at 0700 shortly after Mintaka - another CA member. The waves were a bit larger than expected, it was also colder and a bit more bumpy. At first the wind was more northerly than forecast but by lunchtime it had indeed gone round to the west. The sun also came out so the passage improved. On the northern side of the Channel we had a slight problem with a cargo ship which was not giving way. He did not respond on VHF so we had to change course which needed VHF conversations with two other ships, but soon we were on the right course again.
As we got closer to the Isle of Wight the wind died and we had to motor for a while but then the wind returned so it was back to sailing. Then we saw rain in the distance so the engine went back on and we hurried to get completely ready in case it rained for tying up. Luckily it missed us and we berthed at Hasler at 1930 CET. Then supper, showers and bed. Home at last - and it's colder!

Our last day in France this year. We hired Hydrogen fuel cell bikes from the Marina office (€20 for six hours). We cycled west along superb cycleways which go all along the coast and inland to some spots. We cycled out to the end of the Grand Rade wall which was huge, along a couple of beaches, up into a town to a viewpoint and along to a Vauban Fort we had seen from the sea which is now a Yacht Club and very big sailing training school.
We had lunch at a beach cafe (moules frites and croque monsieur frites) and then went out that evening to the Restaurant Marine for a good last dinner out. Our last day was nice, warm and fun.

We got woken up at 0730 by Stuart and Judi to say they were off across the Channel. They had been woken by a boat crashing into them and saw the forecast was not as bad as they feared. We decided not to join them as we were not ready, have more time for France and still thought the weather will improve.
We did some boat sorting ready for our return and then went to the Tourist Office to join a free walk around the town which was promoted for visitors. However, it was only in French which she spoke very quickly and indistinctly so we gave up after a few sites. Instead we had a long walk around the town ourselves and found the park that we had been referred to some while ago. Unfortunately the museum in it was closed (Monday) and the greenhouses of exotic plants a bit run down.
Looking at the weather again we decided to await Wednesday when there would be wind to sail though we would be hard on the wind. It is also cheaper and nicer to stay here than in the UK.

The forecast was for strong winds and rain. They were not wrong. We stayed onboard and did chores. Slipstream had VHF and AIS issues so tried to help them. We chatted to the paid skipper on a charter boat next door and learnt a lot about Hasler Marina as he had been there when it was set up. We had discussions about when to head for home; Monday was rejected as still too windy and might be a rough sea; Tuesday or Wednesday seem reasonable and before the North winds set in later in the week. Stuart and Judi joined us for dinner onboard.

Sue likes to deceive herself about times to make it seem more relaxed so she insists she went to bed BST but got up CET! Anyway, just around sunrise at 0530 BST we set off at high tide for Cherbourg. There was enough wind to sail and we made good speed up the Little Russel which was only a bit bumpy. It was a cloudless sky but not particularly warm. Once round Cap de la Hague the tide was starting to turn and the wind was behind us so we slowed down and eventually had to put the engine on or we would have ended up going backwards! On arrival we filled the diesel and then backed into a berth with the bow facing the weather that was due to arrive tomorrow. We rushed to Carrefour as it would be closed on Sunday. Then we ate on board before our friends on Slipstream and some other friends they had met on an Irish boat arrived from St Helier having stopped in Dielette for lunch! We all had drinks and cheese on Intrepid.

Another “day off” so a late start and tea in bed with Radio 4 for Sue. Then she did a bit of cleaning and then went shopping; bought two bags and some pink jeans she will have to remake so they fit! We had lunch in the cockpit and then took a long walk up to the German Signals Museum. This was hidden in a bunker so we had to ask twice to find it! On the way there we stumbled upon the Victoria Tower, two WW1 guns hidden underground until recently and an exhibition in the garden of the library on the life of Victor Hugo. The Museum though was most interesting with a video introduction from the German who managed it. It seems it was never bombed by the RAF because we knew it was there, were listening in and decoding everything and even knew all the staff by name!
As the day wore on it started to get windier and raining so we went and had dinner at our favourite restaurant in St Peter Port – La Perla. Ridiculous value for money.