no need for flak jackets or ducking - your advice and comments always welcome.

From Poole the run out to Alderney is only 60 odd miles, 50 from the open water once you clear Anvil Point and the shelter of Portland Bill. Generally I use about 10 miles off here as a decision point for the prevailing SW conditions. Added benefit is that from here a 20 degree course change to the East can provide the difference between conditions that keep a small planning boat running well and having to drop back to 9-10 knots for comfort with all the issues that brings - and you are then heading to Cherbourg so that;s OK !

Re buddies we had a couple of tries this year using mobiles to keep in touch - both times we called off the night before but has crews ready.

Personally I ran over to Cherbourg last weekend and joined the Scuttlebutt dinner, having called off at 0830 we headed out to fish Sat lunchtime and found conditions acceptable sso ran over..........., then ran on to Alderney and on to the Casquet Banks just north of Guernsey before returning to Poole Sun evening (well it was dark when we got in..........).

So this forum enabled a lot of people to plan and discuss conditions etc, as well as a couple of really helpful souls who called me up from St PP and elsewhere with 'sit reps' when we were considering trips, and offers to accompany boats back if required - thanks to those.

However due to August's poor weather (for small PBs) we didn't succeed in the objective of introducing people to the delights of CI cruising in small powerboats - maybe next year!