YM's Dave Pugh reports from the RYA Southern region's cross-channel 'Cruise in Company', sailing from Gosport to Cherbourg

YM’s Geoff Pack Scholar Dave Pugh has joined the RYA Southern region’s cross-channel ‘Cruise in Company’, sailing from Gosport to Cherbourg this week. Dave will be aboard Bavaria 36Sea Hawk, the lead boat of the flotilla, and will report regularly throughout the cruise.

The cruise is aimed mainly at people making their first Channel crossing, and provides an opportunity for yachtsmen to cruise in the familiarity of their own boats while delegating some of the responsibility. Yachtmaster Instructor John Wetton is skippering the lead boat, and his daily briefings on passage planning, sea and weather information will help to give confidence to newcomers to longer passages.

The cruise left Haslar Marina, Gosport at 0400 on Sunday 13 June, and sailed direct to Cherbourg. It is due to return home via the Channel Islands, calling at Alderney and Guernsey before arriving home late on Friday 18 June. It’s not all sailing however; the yachts will spend a full day in port at both Cherbourg and Guernsey, providing plenty of opportunities to eat, drink and make merry!

Latest news reports

RYA cruise departs Gosport 
David Pugh interviews the lead boat crew.

RYA cruise arrives in Cherbourg 
David Pugh interviews the owners of the Cataline 320Brainjuice 

Midsummer dreams 
David Pugh interviews the owners ofMidsummer II 

Preparing for Alderney 
Discovering the delights of Cherbourg’s Cafe de Paris and preparing for a run to Alderney in a NW 3-4 

Catching a tow 
The Legend 356Suzie Toohad to take a tow all the way from Cherbourg to Alderney, thanks to a defective engine. 

On passage to Guernsey 
Light winds left the fleet motorsailing from Alderney to St Peter Port although David Pugh aboard the long-keeledCaramorfinally got some sailing in. 

Thirty year ambition 
The RYA fleet relaxed in St Peter Port while David Pugh chatted to Dehler 36 owner Paul Tranter about his thirty-year ambition to cross the Channel. 

RYA fleet leaves for Gosport 
Six of the 10-boat flotilla are making the return crossing in company while the others are extending their holiday. 

Home and dry (ish) 
West to Northwesterly Force 6 winds provided an exhilarating Channel crossing.