Our second full day of sailing took us to St. Peter Port on the Island of Guernsey. Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands. It is an independent country with special ties to the United Kingdom, along with Jersey, Alderny, and Sark. Guernsey is a major tourist destination and yachting center for the British, as well as an off-shore banking center. It was also the home of Victor Hugo for 15 years from 1855 to 1870. It was here in Guernsey where he completed his materpiece, Les Miserables.

We docked our boat in the Victoria Marina for visitors (Labeled #1 on the chart). They have a clever was of dealing with the tides. Note that tan areas (Label #2) are actually above water (dry) during low tide, but that the Victoria Marina maintains water at low tide. This is accomplished by a sill (a concrete/stone wall) at the mouth of the small inner harbor. During high tide, the water rushes into the Victoria Marina, and the water is high enough for boats to pass over the sill. At low tide, the water rushes out but a minimum level is trapped in the inner harbor which allows the boats to contunue to float at the docks. Boats which are moored in the tan areas are grounded during low tides. One can only get into and out of the inner harbor during high tide. Click here to see a photo of the sill at low tide.