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Featured Port
In this issue of the Yearbook we look at Alderney and Braye Harbour.
This year we are heading toward the Channel Islands and specifically to Alderney with its capital, St. Anne and its harbour at Braye. Alderney is the northernmost of the Channel Islands and is only 8 miles from France and is 20 miles north of Guernsey. It is 65 miles from Dartmouth and it is therefore possible to make the crossing in daylight hours during the summer (although many will want to initially go to nearby Guernsey before tackling the approaches to Braye for the first time).
Alderney may seem a daunting prospect however it has beautiful scenery, wildlife in abundance and seems to lag a little behind modern times. Indeed, in this sense, it is very similar to some of the islands off the west coast of Scotland.
The safest approach to Braye harbour is from the North East and great care should be taken when approaching along the north side of the island up the Swinge or along the south side through the Alderney race. Both of these races should only be attempt- ed at slack water due to the strong tidal streams (up to 9 knots in the Swinge and 11 knots in the Race). A good pilot guide should be used and the very useful ‘Sail to Alderney’ guide is recommended. It can be downloaded from
www.visitaldernet.com.
One must be prepared to be fairly self sufficient when visiting Alderney. There are no pontoon berths but there are seventy yellow visitor’s mooring buoys and rafting up is possible in settled weather. There is an anchorage in the middle of the harbour and it has good holding in sand with occasional areas of weed and rock. Remember to use a good scope of anchor line as the spring tides can be up to nearly 23 feet (7 metres). Shelter in the harbour is good except in strong N-NE winds and, at times, in a heavy SW swell.
Braye harbour is protected by a 3,000 foot break water built in the 19th century to 21
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