Well, we found that out anyway, the hard way. When we thought we had half an hour of motoring to do at dawn to enter Cherbourg Harbour(large commercial hbr) in the dying wind, we found ourselves making 6,5 knots through the water but close to zero over ground! I e the tidal stream was about as strong as our 30 hp Yanmar diesel engine.

So, we found ourselves pretty much 'standing by' outside the entrance on 2700 rpm for a few hours. Then we diecided to at least take advantage of the turning tide, which kept us going at 10+ knots for a few more hours.

For a while e considered continuing one day more, but headwinds aren't our favourite treat, so we turned Bb to Guernsey when it showed up after dawn when passing Alderney, the first of the Br Channel Islands.

So, just after lunch we anchored in Havelet Bay,just off St Peter Port which is the largest town on this lovely island.

All in all, a much better alternative than Cherbourg and at least some 30 miles closer to the W part of the English Channel.

BTW, the area here at the Channel Islands, Cherbourg and last but NOT least, S:t Malo, is together with S.t John - Newfoundland; Canada the places in the world with the largest Tidal Range. Around here, seven meters Tidal Range at Spring tide is not at all unusual.

St Peter Port on the photo