Cruising Rally to Guernsey - and beyond
Published 12:11 on 5 Jun 2025
Once again the weather gods smiled and three boats made their way to Guernsey for the first May Bank Holiday.
Tamarisk, a Rustler 36 with Adrian Parker and Theo Spink on board were the first to make the crossing, on Thursday 1st May, to be followed by Mulberry, the Moody S31 of Graham and Wendy Nurser on Friday 2nd. Several hours into their voyage, they were passed by Graham Rich and Sarah Purdy motoring at a rather higher cruising speed! All boats tied up safely on the outside pontoons at St Peter Port (no electricity, but Mulberry basking in recently installed heating) and a social fun weekend was in prospect.
We were generously fed and watered by Rallymaster Adrian on the Friday night and Tamarisk and Mulberry maintained tradition with a Rally Supper at La Perla on the Saturday. Sadly Graham and Sarah needed to be back on the mainland for the following week and with the weather threatening to deteriorate, they headed home on Saturday. Motor Cruisers travel quickly but do not enjoy a rolling sea!
Under Adrians expert guidance, an itinerary was agreed for the next few days. A NE wind was forecast for several days providing good sailing conditions so we headed for St Helier with an awareness of the need to cross the sill into the Marina by 15.30. In the event we need not have worried. The Jersey Boatshow was in full noisy swing so the Marina was closed to visitors and we were allowed to stay on the waiting pontoon in Albert Dock. Apart from quite a long walk to the shower block, this proved ideal. Anyway, the noise abated early evening. On arrival we were greeted by an aquabatic display from a chap on a jet propelled board that shot him twenty feet in the air, from where he performed somersaults and dolphins. Very entertaining from a ringside seat.
Mulberry had been experiencing battery problems all day with voltage so low that we lost the chart plotter. It should of course, have been a chance to get out the paper charts, pencil and dividers but a judicious use of phone, tablet and power banks saved the day. This problem dogged us until our return when a failed alternator was replaced.
The next day we hired electric bikes and enjoyed touring the island. In truth, we did not enjoy St Helier as much as St Peter Port but the Jersey countryside was beautiful. Our circular tour took us to St Aubin, La Corbiere, St Ouen and Castle Grosnez before a puncture encouraged us to call it a day.
The necessary paperwork was completed and our next port of call was Granville. This proved inspired passage planning. With one reef and a 10% reduced headsail, Mulberry briefly touched a dizzy 9 knots. Again, careful timing was required with the approach being over half a mile of drying mud and a 5m sill.
Granville is a very attractive place and worth a longer stay. However our schedule was tight and the next day we set o for St Cast. The Granville sill was open until 0800 and we joined a procession of boats heading in to the bay. Another good sail and we arrived at all-states-of-the-tide St Cast at 1310. As everyone knows, if you have two boats, you have a race, and Mulberry was very proud to provoke Tamarisk into raising her cruising chute. After that we stood no chance. Although Tamarisk is a more travelled boat than Mulberry, this was somewhere we knew but they did not. Its a delightful spot. A modern marina with a picturesque walk around the base of the clis to an elegant small holiday town with sumptuous beach, cafes and restaurants. Again a fleeting visit as it was important to catch the tide to our final port of call, a favourite of both crews, Treguier.
At 0548 on the 9th May our calm departure was quickly shattered as we rounded the breakwater and turned north on the journey to round Cap Frehel. Heavy seas hit us head on and we reared and plunged under engine. Nearly two hours later we managed to set a sail with two reefs but it was not until 0730 that we were able to stow mooring lines and fenders. Conditions slowly improved, the reefs were shaken out and Mulberry exceeded her previous speed by briefly hitting 9.2 knots.
Treguier is quite a tricky approach but our eorts were rewarded with an idyllic run under headsail up the Treguier river. The sun shone and all was well - at least it was until Mulberry got the waiting pontoon hawser between rudder and sail drive in a strong and awkward cross tide, The marina sta were their usual helpful selves and when the tide slackened at 1800 we were able to make our way in to the Marina. All slept well that night.
Two days in Treguier is not really enough but it allowed for a productive wine run to the Supermarket (free return transport), a good restaurant meal, some delightful walking and time drinking coee in the Cathedral Square. Treguier is wonderful. Think Vannes or Quimper without the tourists.
Adrian had reserved perhaps our biggest adventure for the last night. By motoring down the river and anchoring, we not only avoided the vicissitudes of that current but also saved a good hour on our passage. A delightful spot was chosen with a mere tidal range of 7m. Well beyond Mulberrys previous experience. All things considered, the Skipper had a decent nights sleep. Without electricity, he even quite enjoyed hauling in 25m of chain and 20m of rope in readiness for an 0600 start and now fully understands the meaning of weighing anchor.
After a relatively calm start, the wind freshened, two reefs were required and we made good progress. With the wind more forward than on earlier days, this was generally a less comfortable sail and we were pleased to see Salcombe rise out of the mist. In fading light we were on our mooring at 2020, with a dead battery this was some relief.
Over 10 days we had been underway for 44 hours and 30 minutes and covered 294.2 nautical miles. Thanks to the guidance and company of Adrian and Theo, a holiday full of adventure and delight.
