Parkstone Yacht Club Cherbourg Dash opened the 2009 Cruising season with a bang. Calero joined the fleet of 16 boats for this early season passage.

Following an exhilarating over night sail in a fresh SW wind Calero arrived off Cherbourg to find that we had picked up a discarded fishing net and were therefore engineless. Raised a PAN PAN and the French came to our assistance. Our thanks to yacht Mora and her crew for coming to lead us in and eventually tow us into the Outer Harbour. Thank you to Chantereyne Marina for using their RIB to berth us.

We managed to dive in and free the offending net but thanks again to the French divers and many others who offered to help.

It was Carnival time in Cherbourg. On Saturday night we filled the Cafe de Paris with 50 hungry crew for a delightful meal.

On Sunday  we awoke to a misty morning which cleared to reveal a beautiful sunny day for the return to Poole. Unfortunately no wind so we motored all the way. However the Calero crew were able to relax and the skipper had time to play with his “boys toys”.

Close to home HM Customs gave us a visit and having checked our credentials let us on our way.

Pat and Bruce. I hope you enjoyed yourselves. Thank you for your help and good company. Pat I am sure your Day Skipper course will now mean a whole lot more. Good luck!