Voyager & Serenissima

They left Portsmouth together last night and now they are at anchor together at St Peter Port. The Serenissima arrived first and as normal is anchored closer to the harbour entrance, with the Voyager further out. Even though the sun is shining not many yachts are out this morning as the Voyager prepares to put her guests ashore for their day in Guernsey. Tonight she will continue her cruise towards Madeira and the Azores

High tide at Rousse Tower on the North West corner of the Island, one of the 19th century fortifications restored by the States of Guernsey. Nearby is Rousse Kiosk a favorite place to eat, sit and enjoy the views. It is a short walk from a stop on the 91 and 92 bus route around the Island.

Even these two liners, small by today's standards, are world players. Voyager will spend early 2017 sailing in the South China Sea visiting Vietnam as well as Indonesia. The same dates will see Serenissima sailing through the Panama Canal after visiting Colombia. Amazing, two well traveled liners in our small Island.

Serenissima

First impressions count for a lot, so I don't think it went well for Guernsey as guests on board the Serenissima arrived at the anchorage early this morning to an Island covered in mist and drizzle. It's a Bank Holiday on Guernsey, and this is traditional weather for such a holiday.

There was a good crowd for the horse racing at L'Ancresse but not too many horses for the race in this photo.

THV Galatea is still at anchor and kept the Serenissima company for most of the day as the weather improved briefly. The 100-passenger liner is on an Island Life cruise of the Channel Islands and Isles of Scilly. The guests on board should enjoy Herm this afternoon, before leaving early tomorrow morning for Alderney and Sark. Let's hope they see some sunshine.

Arcadia & Serenissima

Not many tenders today from the more distant Arcadia anchored off St Peter Port as she is a conference venue for, I think, IT Directors. Originally intended to be Cunard's 'Queen Victoria' the liner was transferred to P&O, and certainly looked familiar after Queen Victoria's recent visit. The smaller Serenissima should have been in Herm this afternoon but conditions were not suitable so the guests enjoyed a longer stay in Guernsey. She will leave for Alderney early tomorrow morning.

Changes could be afoot for those guests wishing to take coach tours in Guernsey. Parking trials were taking place tonight to assess suitability. The walk  in the rain from the current parking area could not have been nice for recent guests from the Queen Victoria. The yachts in the Old Harbour are part of the Morliax Yacht Club annual Tresco Trophy Race.

It is unusual to have a "Conference Cruise" so close to the harbour, rather than at the southerly anchorage, so two liners staying overnight made for a unusual sight this evening. The view from the Blue Mountains, above the harbour, makes the most of this, along with Jethou and Sark in the background.

Serenissima

Looking a bit small and lonely outside St Peter Port today was the Serenissima, one of the more interesting visitors to Guernsey this year. Carrying a similar number to yesterday visitor, the Island Sky, this 1960s built workhorse of a ship started her career as a Hurtigruten ship sailing the Norwegian coastal waters until her retirement in 2001.

She became a hotel ship, then a cruise liner before the company owning the ship went bankrupt in 2009. The ship's history was well known and followed by her many fans which led to her being bought by Volga Cruises and having a complete restoration before being put into service in April 2013. "La Serenissima" is the name of the Republic of Venice from the word Serenissimo meaning most serene.

Not quite so serene will be the guests ride on the Zodiac tenders as they return to the ship to leave on their short journey to the Island of Herm, just to the east of Guernsey.