Up very early to race to Blaye in time for the sailing of the Irene. Last minute taking on water. (They forgot water. A cargo of fine wine - who thinks about water?) Laithwaites Wine Management out in force Simon, Glenn, Justin, Thomas, Susan, Barbara. And of course Anne, zipping about sorting chaos into calm.
And Alain Vauthier of Château Ausone has come to see us off. Now that's a very nice gesture.
We also have a worried Libby and her nervous Mark who was volunteered for the trip. He made the wine. He must be unique as a winemaker; sailing his own wine to market in London. You would have thought someone who grew up on Jersey would know all about this sailing stuff.
Finally the tide turns and as management heads for the airport, the Irene pulls away from the dock. I have the honour of casting them off; "Let Go Forrad" I heard. So I did.
What a tide. One minute roaring in, next roaring out. Brown, strong and dangerous waters. Irene goes up river a little then turns and hoists sail. The wind is brisk and easterly. Perfect.
Barbara, Libby, friends, photographers and I go out in David's powerful launch. Red Johnston is with us filming the magnificent sight. We circle and whizz about. We get wet. Nervous moments as David the local waterman shouts and waves frantically about "mind the … something … sandbanks". They shift about do sandbanks here. Maps no good. You need a David.
At last she's safely between the islands in the main channel. We crash heavily alongside and Red with his camera braves those great brown waves to leap from launch to ship. Sooner him than me.
Bon Voyage Irene. She glides quickly away to the west. Mark seems to be pulling enthusiastically on some rope. Hope its the right one.
Ah well.
We scud back at high speed to port. Dry land is really nice, isn't it? Readers should now switch to Mark's blog - Chai blog - to find out how it’s going aboard. We have a plan to meet her in Cowes … but we'll see.
And Alain Vauthier of Château Ausone has come to see us off. Now that's a very nice gesture.
We also have a worried Libby and her nervous Mark who was volunteered for the trip. He made the wine. He must be unique as a winemaker; sailing his own wine to market in London. You would have thought someone who grew up on Jersey would know all about this sailing stuff.
Finally the tide turns and as management heads for the airport, the Irene pulls away from the dock. I have the honour of casting them off; "Let Go Forrad" I heard. So I did.
What a tide. One minute roaring in, next roaring out. Brown, strong and dangerous waters. Irene goes up river a little then turns and hoists sail. The wind is brisk and easterly. Perfect.
Barbara, Libby, friends, photographers and I go out in David's powerful launch. Red Johnston is with us filming the magnificent sight. We circle and whizz about. We get wet. Nervous moments as David the local waterman shouts and waves frantically about "mind the … something … sandbanks". They shift about do sandbanks here. Maps no good. You need a David.
At last she's safely between the islands in the main channel. We crash heavily alongside and Red with his camera braves those great brown waves to leap from launch to ship. Sooner him than me.
Bon Voyage Irene. She glides quickly away to the west. Mark seems to be pulling enthusiastically on some rope. Hope its the right one.
Ah well.
We scud back at high speed to port. Dry land is really nice, isn't it? Readers should now switch to Mark's blog - Chai blog - to find out how it’s going aboard. We have a plan to meet her in Cowes … but we'll see.
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